Photographer Spotlight: William David Walsh

Jamaica native William David Walsh thought he was destined for a career in fashion illustration before a single photograph persuaded him to pick up a camera.

"The first image that I remember having a major impact on me was Richard Avedon's 'Dovima With Elephants,'" says Walsh. "Such an amazing image, [and] it was after seeing that piece that I realized photography can elevate the simplest moments to something beyond the norm."

Indeed, his body of work might best be described as a study in beautiful moments. A devotee of black-and-white, Walsh imbues all his subjects with a sense drama and devil-may-care attitude through use of dramatic lighting and provocative — and at times aggressively erotic — postures. "I like to keep things simple," says Walsh.  "I believe a simple photograph can speak volumes about the photographer and subject."

If that's so, what the images say about Walsh is that he is a man who gravitates toward gritty glamour over conventional beauty. In terms of technical process, capturing that feeling often requires going the extra mile — literally.

"Be it in a forest with coyotes, freezing in the rain, or driving four hours just to get the perfect shot," he tells us. "It all comes down to making beautiful work no matter what it takes."

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