William C. Smiley has 35 years of experience teaching university level woodwinds, theory, electronic music composition and administration. He received degrees in music from Jackson State University(bachelors), the University of Illinois(masters) the University of Arizona and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro(doctorate). He completed post doctoral study in Oberlin Conservatory’s electronic music program. He has done numerous live recordings of choirs, big bands and recitals.
William Smiley has been involved in freelance photography for over thirty years. He has done both wedding and journalistic photography but now focuses primarily on photography as art. Influences and inspiration have come from many sources that include the photography of Gordon Parks, Ansel Adams, and Ben Poole. The old FAWM Camera Club provided many opportunities to interact with and look over the shoulders of seasoned photographers. Ben Poole was very instrumental in teaching Smiley darkroom and lighting techniques. The techniques learned in color printing continue to be applicable in the digital domain. He is a member of Triad Outdoor Photographers. Carolina Nature Photographers, and Photographic Society of America.
Smiley’s photos have been on exhibit in the art gallery of Stillman College, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro Public Library. African American Atelier Gallery and many businesses. Leroy Holmes, former chair of art at NC A&T State University, and Bernard Baird would often provide criticism and comments about Smiley’s photography. Artists Leander Canady and William Brooks regularly provided advice on artistic composition and design. The philosophy behind this work is more about presenting photography as art rather than portraiture or documentary photographs. The photographs are an attempt to show a small portion of our environment as seen through the eyes of one person.