Eric Cheng

{{short description|Taiwanese American entrepreneur and professional photographer }}

{{Infobox person

| name = Eric Cheng

| image = RagnarTh_Holuhraunseldar_20_sept_2014-296.JPG

| caption = Eric Cheng at the Holuhraun volcano eruption in Iceland, Sep 2014

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|1|9}}

| birth_place = Madison, Wisconsin

| alma_mater = Stanford University

| other_names =

| known_for = Aerial & underwater photography

| occupation = Entrepreneur, photographer

}}

Eric Cheng (born January 9, 1975) is a Taiwanese American entrepreneur, professional photographer, and Emmy-nominated executive producer{{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2020/outstanding-interactive-extension-of-a-linear-program |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=July 29, 2020}} specializing in virtual reality, underwater photography, and aerial imaging. He is Head of Immersive Media at Facebook Reality Labs.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=159295391675474 |title=Eric Cheng - Oculus Connect |website=Facebook |access-date=2020-08-24 |year=2018}}

Eric frequently gives talks about drones, photography, marine ecosystems, and technology, and has spoken internationally at events including: TEDxBerkeley,{{cite web |url=http://tedxberkeley.org/portfolio-item/eric-cheng |title=TEDxBerkeley Eric Cheng |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150209163913/http://tedxberkeley.org/portfolio-item/eric-cheng |archive-date=2015-02-09}} the Churchill Club,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_D-W8ZVPZ8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/i_D-W8ZVPZ8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live |title=Consumer Drones: The View from Above |website=YouTube |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015}}{{cbignore}} LeWeb,{{cite web |url=http://leweb.co/speakers/eric-cheng/ |title=LeWeb Speakers Eric Cheng |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208070618/http://leweb.co/speakers/eric-cheng/ |archive-date=2015-02-08}} Photoshelter Luminance,{{cite web |url=http://www.photoshelter.com/luminance/videos/cheng |title=Luminance Speakers Eric Cheng |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015}} CES, and SXSW{{cite web |url=http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_IAP12623 |title=SXSW Light Field: Turning Light into Living Pictures |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015}} and others.

In 2016, Eric appeared in the Australian television series Tales by Light,{{cite web |url=http://petapixel.com/2015/03/18/tales-by-light-canon-and-national-geographic-join-forces-for-six-part-tv-series/ |title=Tales by Light: Canon and National Geographic Join Forces for Six Part TV Series |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=15 November 2016 |work=PetaPixel |first=Michael |last=Zhang}} which is available on Netflix for international distribution.

On February 3, 2015, Eric piloted a DJI Inspire 1 drone into the Holuhraun volcano eruption in the Bárðarbunga volcanic system in Iceland, broadcasting live for ABC's Good Morning America.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/gma-flies-drone-erupting-volcano-live/story?id=28685301 |title=GMA Goes Inside a Volcano With a Drone |website=ABC News |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015}}

Eric started Wetpixel, an underwater photography community website, and is active as a marine conservationist. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Shark Savers (a Program of WildAid),{{cite web |url=http://www.sharksavers.org/en/blogs-news/shark-savers-blog/shark-savers-announces-new-board-members/ |title=Shark Savers Announces New Board Members |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015}} and on the Board of Advisors of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.{{cite web |url=http://www.seashepherd.org/who-we-are/board-of-advisors.html |title=Board of Advisors - Sea Shepherd |access-date=2009-06-18 |year=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706033001/http://www.seashepherd.org/who-we-are/board-of-advisors.html |archive-date=2009-07-06 |url-status=dead}} He was head photographer for Operation Musashi, Sea Shepherd's campaign against the Japanese whaling fleet in Antarctica in late 2008 / early 2009, which was also documented by Animal Planet for Whale Wars Season 2.{{cite web |url=http://www.seashepherd.org/operation-musashi/photos.html |title=Photos - Sea Shepherd |access-date=2009-06-18 |year=2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607014035/http://www.seashepherd.org/operation-musashi/photos.html |archive-date=2009-06-07}}

Aside from lecturing and writing about photography, he is a concert cellist and software engineer. Eric has been seen on stage with Vienna Teng in San Francisco, San Jose, Houston, and New York.

Previously, Eric was Director of Aerial Imaging at DJI and Director of Photography at Lytro.{{cite web |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1839335/light-field-camera-tutorial-lytro-director-photography-eric-cheng |title=Fast Company Light-Field Camera Tutorial from Lytro Director of Photographer Eric Cheng |access-date=2015-02-07 |year=2015}}

Eric was born in 1975 in Madison, Wisconsin, to immigrant parents from Taiwan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=35328 |title=Interview with Eric Cheng}} He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science from Stanford University.{{Cite web |url=http://www.taiwancenter.com/publication/yam/en/2009-yam-spring-en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-02-24 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085054/http://www.taiwancenter.com/publication/yam/en/2009-yam-spring-en.pdf |url-status=dead}}