Bill’s Bio

Bill Young was born and raised in Colorado Springs. Bill has had a number of cameras over time and when he was 10 years old his neighbor gave him his first 35mm camera for his birthday. This was the birth of a new interest. The camera only lasted a few months but, led to the ownership of other cameras in the years to follow. Bill won an award for his photography while in grade school, and then didn’t enter any competitions until he was an adult and joined the “Pikes Peak Camera Club” at the urging of his friend and fellow photographer Ethel Major. The only formal training in photography that Bill received was an introductory course at Pikes Peak Community College.

In 1991 Bill picked up his first digital camera. It was a Logitech Fotoman black and white camera. This was a fun camera but, fell well short of the images expected from a digital camera. In September 2000 Bill picked up his first Nikon Coolpix 990. This was a wonderful 3.3 megapixal camera. In November of 2000 Bill convinced his friend Mark Kirkland to start “Peak Digital Imaging Society” With him. The two of them held a number of meetings to talk about what the club would be all about and then in January of 2001 they invited people to be members of the club. In January of 2007 the club had more than 250 members on the web site membership list. Bill now has three of the Nikon 990 cameras. He uses two of them for stereographic images and is planning to convert the third into an infrared capture device. Bill also has a Nikon D2h. This is his current workhorse. He also Uses a Nikon d200 and a Canon Power Shot A95 as a camera to carry around with him every where he goes as Jay Maisel suggested to him.

Bill has images on permanent display at the observatory in the Czech Republic — “archaeoastronomy of the American South West.”

In the permanent collection of the Pioneer Museum in Colorado Springs — “Images of the Pioneer Museum show 2003.”

Several covers of “Active for Justice” a local publication in Colorado Springs.

Bill has had images on display in Colorado, Montana, Virginia, and the Czech Republic. He has been published in publications specific to Colorado, National publications, and International publications. He has won well over 100 awards for his photography and continues to compete both locally, nationally, and internationally.

Special projects include:

Official photographer — Hayman Fire in Colorado, the largest fire in recent history to impact the state.

Official photographer — archaeoastronomy of the American South West.

Official photographer — Active for Justice.

Year in the Life of a Camera — This was a project of the Circle of Confusion camera club in Colorado Springs. Each photographer used a Canon camera for one week. Then at the end of the project each of the 52 photographers presented three images and had one image each juried in to the show. This is a traveling show — If you are interested in displaying this show please feel free to contact me in order to make arrangements. FigurativePhoto@aol.com. We also have a book out – Year in the life of a camera – http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/179931.

Image series’:

I’m Liken Lichen — Images of Lichen from around the world.

The eyes have it — Photos of eyes, some everyday people, friends, and models.

Sports images.

Fine art nudes.

Body art – tattoos, and piercing.

Images similar to the paintings of Boris Vallejo.

Archaeoastronomy – Summer Solstice American South West.
If you would like to participate in any of Bill’s photo projects please feel free to contact me at FigurativePhoto@aol.com

2007 Honors and Awards:

January – Grand Prize – Open category – Peak Digital Imaging Society – Grace at Night.

February – Roy Scott Award – Best Image Ever – Peak Digital Imaging Society- Painted Suzie.

May – 1st Place – Fashion – Peak Digital Imaging Society – Swim suite model, San Diego.

August – 2nd Place – Open – Peak Digital Imaging Society – Sun Palace Mesa Verde

August – 3rd Place – Confined Space – Peak Digital Imaging Society – Stem and Blossom

2008 Honors and Awards & Events:

February – State of the Union Show – Smokebrush Center

State of the Union Talk – Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commition and The Big Picture Group.

“A Year in the Life of a Camera” book published February 13th, 2008 – Published by Blurb!

The Art of Peace talk – Business of Art Center, Manitou Springs, CO – The Big Picture Group.

“BIG” – Photo show at the Smokebrush Center – Large Scale Images for a Bigger than Life World. – Opening June 6th, 2008.

“Shelter” – Art show at the Smokebrush Center – Opening June 6th, 2008.

Projects in the works!

“Zendagi Migzara” – Fashion Show and Photo Show combined! – Smokebrush Center – Opening July 11th, 2008.

“Studio 4c” – Magazine spread! – Due out

“Collaboration” – Book published by Alanworks.net – Due out

“In The Beginning there was the word & Then there was Light” book with images by Bill Young and poetry by Judith Harrington.

“Here Comes the Sun – archaeoastronomy of the American South West Summer Solstice.” Images and text by Bill Young.

If you want to stay on top of what is going on at Figurative Photo join our list serve http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/figurativePhoto/.

“Art is in the Artist, not in the medium!” — Hal Gould