08/11/2026
Last night, friends, colleagues, and members of the Newport Beach community came together to celebrate and say thank you & farewell to someone who has spent years helping tell the story of our city — Ed Olen.
Through his photography, filmmaking, and storytelling, Ed has captured far more than images. He has documented the people, history, character, and moments that make Newport Beach so special, preserving stories that otherwise may have been lost along the way. Beginning with Newport Beach TV in 2007 and continuing through his work with Visit Newport Beach and countless community projects, Ed has given our city an incredible visual record of itself.
Most recently, his documentary Sin City: Newport Beach brought a fascinating chapter of our history to life, premiering to a sold-out audience at the Newport Beach Film Festival and later bringing nearly 400 community members together for a special screening benefiting two of our local historical organizations.
But perhaps Ed’s greatest contribution has been his ability to make people care about the stories behind the photographs — bringing awareness to our history, our community, and even causes far beyond Newport Beach through his work.
The Newport Beach Foundation was honored to recognize Ed last night for his extraordinary dedication to preserving the history, character, and spirit of Newport Beach. While we are sad to see move onto his next chapter, we are incredibly grateful for everything he has given this community.
Ed, Thank you for capturing our stories, preserving our history, and helping generations see our city through your lens. You will be greatly missed, and your legacy will continue to inspire.