Cliff E. Bailey

Making art relaxes me.  I like to capture time and its essence and the thoughts that it provokes. When I take a picture of something it is because it impacts me. I have mild cerebral palsy.  This disability enables me to visualize things in a unique way unlike others. I’m not just interested in the thing itself. I’m interested in what came before it or what will come after it, what changed because of it or what it means.  A cup isn’t just a cup—it’s a cup of tea with a friend, hot chocolate on a cold day, its fullness or its emptiness.
In my photography, I usually use a 35mm camera with a wide-angle lens that creates some distortion and covers a large area.  I prefer black and white images over color in most situations because they are more simplistic and allow the viewer to focus on the content.  The use of film photography affords me the ability to create different effects by manipulating the negatives and varying the amount of exposure when I develop it, an area that I intend to explore further.
In some cases I will choose digital over film.  I use the digital camera to experiment with techniques just as I would normally use with a standard 35 mm camera.  When my subject matter is related to changes through time and overlay of the old with the new.

I see things differently and may be more aware of things that other people generally don’t notice.  I use my art to convey those different perceptions to those who cannot experience it for themselves. I place things in whatever context my thoughts lead me to, so that others can see it as I do.  My work is constantly evolving over time.  Who knows where it will take me next.