EDGE OF THE CITY Apple Store Chicago - Limited Edition of 21 Print

The world, as seen through the lens of William Dey, is a reflection of incisive visual observation. Dey has a gift for composition, an innate awareness of which visual elements must remain in order to complete the image - and the discipline to remove all that is extraneous. This is evident throughout his work, be it the thunderous silence of the barren desert in winter, his stark juxtapositions of life in Palm Springs, lush reflections on the glory days of Detroit design, the chic, structured tableaux of Dey's fashion photography, or his innovative and revealing portraits. When creating a photograph, Dey looks for the angles - both literally and figuratively. He constantly seeks a means to observe the world from the edges, to record unnoticed the moments that comprise the narrative threads of our being, or of our having been. His hands may hold the camera, but Dey's interest is not in becoming part of the picture, nor in influencing the outcome. His sole purpose is to allow each thoughtful, artistically composed image to fully manifest itself and then to speak its own unique truth. William Dey began his career by working as a fashion stylist in Chicago, and this provided him with his first real exposure to the professional photography process. He was surrounded by talented professionals who were at the top of their game, and each new shoot brought important insight and practical career experience. He relocated first to Miami, and later to New York City, and in both places he had the opportunity to work with important photographers from the United States and abroad. Dey's own compositional awareness was rapidly evolving during this period, and by careful observation of the professionals he was working alongside, he was able to develop the comprehensive understanding of lighting and angles that have become hallmarks of his work. Dey believes that he looks at, and records, life around him in a different and deeper way than most photographers. He is constantly engaged in visual exploration and analysis, looking for the small details, the subtle messages that can be revealed in the composition. He feels that it is not always a good thing to confront a photograph head-on, that the essence of his work is searching for the angles that are more revealing of the true essence of the subject. When asked about the importance of a visual narrative in a photograph, Dey answered, "I have an internal vision that expands and evolves as I develop the composition.