Bill Valentine, '86 BFA

I was accepted at ASU under a different major and sort of fell into being a fine art photography major. It was the best thing that could've ever happened to me. At the time I was at ASU they arguably had the greatest photography faculty ever assembled with Bill Jay, Tamarra Kaida, Bill Jenkins, Jack Stuler, Jim Haijeck, Eric Kronengold, and a young Mark Klett. This faculty had all studied under some of the greatest icons in photography history. The knowledge that they shared was amazing. The people that they brought in for us to meet were incredible. All those experience launched my photographic career and one of the subjects of my Photo projects at ASU led me into a career and law-enforcement, which supported my photography for most of my life. The connections that I've made because of my time issue have been incredible. When I talk to Curators or other photography professionals today and I mentioned the people I was able to stun the other and meet while at ASU. They are jealous of my experience. I have been able to use my ASU education to bring more credibility to me as a photographer. I have work in several different permanent collections, including the Center for creative photography at the U of A, And I have had my working exhibited in approximately 60 exhibitions worldwide. In 1992 I published my first book on the San Anita Racetrac and Bill Jay provided text for that project. My most recent project since January has been documenting the wildfire damage in Southern California specifically from the Eaton Canyon wildfire that wiped out most of Altadena. I am forever grateful of all my experiences at ASU and I enjoyed my time there fully. during my last year at ASU I was able to participate in the revival of the yearbook and with that I spent a lot of time photographing and documenting Alpha Dr. in the Greek community at ASU and I have included one of those photos from the Sigma new Coors relay which was an epic an annual event. I've produced a small self published portfolio of this work and would one day like to also publish it in a more refined book format. The 80s at ASU were unbelievable forks up forever.