Photography allows me to share my imagination with others. My camera is a tool used to create the scenes that my eyes see and my mind interprets. Whether it’s a warm sunset over a lake, dew balancing on a leaf, or light streaming through the trees, I can share the image with others that originated in my head, and it is so thrilling to transform a thought into a physical image.

My favorite photos have an otherworldly, ethereal, or fantastic look to them. They may be inspiring or frightening, but they still turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. I fully believe: “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”—Henry Miller

Born in Rochester, NY, I grew up across the street from Lake Ontario, attended Hilton Central schools, and later earned my bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the State University of New York at Brockport.

I am a self-taught photographer [But aren't we all?] shooting as a hobby since 2005, and professionally since 2008. I made the leap after winning my first photography contest, receiving an enormous upgrade from my Canon PowerShot G9 to a new Canon 5D Mk II. Thankfully, this gave me the drive to create my personal website, cwwphotos.com, leading to the rest of my career. I have also been fortunate enough to be featured in magazine publications, college textbooks, gallery exhibitions, and the cover photo of a Rochester, NY photography book sold in Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores (RIP Borders).

However, my favorite of all was being approached by two different high school students, from two different countries, to be the subject of their "favorite photographer" projects. (Thanks Levi & Heather!)

I have since left my hometown of Rochester, NY and moved to New York City. I am currently working at B&H Photo by day, and working on personal projects on nights and weekends. Living with my girlfriend of nearly 4 years (interestingly, the same as my photography career) she continues to support and push me into growing my talent and raising the bar.

In the future I will continue to expand my experience and knowledge, travel outside of the United States for the first time (of many), and continue to support wildlife and marine conservation through my nature photography.

My ideal career is to work as a scientist and photographer for the likes of the Discovery Channel and National Geographic with my PhD in Marine Biology and Master's in Photography. I've always been a student and always will be!

I am most inspired by my first photography professor Byron Wolfe; NOPATTERN's innovative Chuck Anderson; Flickr's Angelique(Liek) and Aaron Nace; the classic Ansel Adams; and Hungarian extraordinaire, Bence Mate.

All images in this portfolio are owned and © Copyrighted by Christopher Williams.