About William Steiskal

As a young photographer, I shot pictures of things. In a lecture I attended given by the great photographer Wynn Bullock, he focused on the properties and aesthetics of light. The slides he showed that day were beautiful abstracts of light. No objects, just light. This was a key to unlocking my understanding of the core element of photography.

It is not enough to just photograph an object. Photographs represent space and time and these elements give that object meaning. How is space and time defined….LIGHT!

Light is the paintbrush of God. Wave or particle, neither completely defines it. Most every scene or object we have been inspired by or witnessed was bathed in light. Its absence adds to the power and drama. It’s many forms, color and shapes are sublime. 

I still photograph objects but I am always looking at its relationship with the light. If the light doesn’t speak to me, I am uninspired and won’t photograph. It really is about the light. As Duke Ellington so eloquently wrote…”It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing”

When I began to write poetry, I created a few rules/guidelines that I wanted to follow. I wanted to be concise when possible. I wanted to keep metaphors to a minimum. I wanted my readers to have access without having too many references that they might not be familiar with. I did not premeditate the form of each poem, but allowed it to emerge to convey meaning. And, I would not write unless I had something to say. The inspiration had to exist before I would pick up a pen. But if it was there, wild horses couldn’t keep me from writing what was in my heart.  Lastly, I see poetry throughout the art world whether it be in music, words, painting, acting, sculpture, dance, and of course photography.