Bill Owens
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bill-owens.jpg)
A short biography about Bill and his work along with a visual timeline.
A Short Biography
Bill Owens was born in San Jose, CA September 25, 1938. Bill with his cameras is known as the foremost chronicler of Suburbia, made famous with the publication of his book by that name in 1972.
In 1983 after working several years as a photojournalist, publishing a series of books and producing two children Bill began his brewing career. He established Buffalo Bill’s, one of the nation’s first Brew Pubs which he operated until he sold it in 1994.
From 1993 to 1995 Bill published BEER the magazine. Moved by the spirits Bill went on to found The American Distilling Institute (ADI), the oldest and largest organization of small batch, independently owned distillers in the United States which he continues to lead and cultivate.
Astonishingly, all the while Bill has continued to make, exhibit and sell his photographs.
A Visual Timeline
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_JqvPstaeht-1.png)
1938
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_eIpTvv1cDn-1.png)
1939
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_tgh93dNzGq-1.png)
El Cerrito, California, 1940
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_zgOxlSWR2w-1.png)
Family Partrait, Citrus Heights, California, 1945
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_EysLoTbc2w-1.png)
My Brother and I, Citrus Heights, California, 1952
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_6c9jvuWw3q-1.png)
Graduation from Elementary School, 1952
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_bJFbSsEOaJ-1.png)
Changing the Sprinklers, Citrus Heights, California, 1955
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_yJCkyuVFkA-1.png)
Citrus Heights, California, 1957
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_IZMnXkHxiY-1.png)
High School Clown on the Gymnastic Team, 1958
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_gp5GfPU9zk-1.png)
1957
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_CxFRJhgllb-1.png)
Alliance France ID Card, 1960
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_bWXlnLAryy-1.png)
Hitchhike Around the World, 1961
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_3sF3Jb7odP-1.png)
Peace Corps, 1961
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_88HbRKzUcd-1.png)
Teaching Credential, Chico State, 1963
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_8pa07biR2O-1.png)
Photo Journalism, 1968
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_wThzgu4bCQ-1.png)
1971
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_oNGeSLibFh-1.png)
Bill, Janet, Andrew and Eric Owens, 1972
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_s6ICopOIdi-1.png)
“Our Kind of People”, 1975
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_BojkpANILg-1.png)
Photography Baseball Cards by Mike Mandel, 1975
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_7bCzwUjyoh-1.png)
Publish “Working”, 1976
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_0VWqL0W5PG-1.png)
Documentary Photography, 1978
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_gPPPKglQdt-1.png)
The Beginning of “Leisure”, 1979
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_2C7zGknZ23.png)
Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale, 1985
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_Yygxg6yCYM-1.png)
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_4icJqzwXP0.png)
Buffalo Bill’s Brewery Cover of “How to Build a small Brewery”
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_iRkyQrN3DL-1.png)
Beer: The Magazine, 1993-1995
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_cO0HtZlLtX-1.png)
Reissue “Suburbia”, 1999
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_hVMYZ8nAfm-1.png)
Digital Odyssey, 2000
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_UExvVDBeYU-1.png)
Italy, 2001
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_LhUoJ7fi13-1.png)
Trip Across the USA, 2003
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_t6BoCBKIeW-1.png)
Art Opening, 2004
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_s0rAugOozd-1.png)
Distilling, 2004
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_XLwih1Ttlo-1.png)
“Leisure”, 2004
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_c0OQ6E2qqi-1.png)
Bill at Work, 2005
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_28QjLPOr5u-1.png)
Bill’s Home Office Staff Meeting with Amber Hasselbring, 2006
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_dqVt6v11NU-1.png)
New York City, 2007
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_ZTwlffJURw-1.png)
Bill Owens & Claudia Zanfi at Solo Show, Bristol, 2008
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_27O28VmBXm-1.png)
Amsterdam, 2009
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_EAMk3iijR4-1.png)
Hayward, California, 2010
![](http://www.billowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chrome_xnMB82YUzr-1.png)