I started photographing my friends who rode in the “extreme” sport of Bmx in the late 1990’s documenting, interviewing, writing about their passions, and got published. I decided to pursue photography, so after high school in 1999 I went to the nearby Community College (Tri-C). While studying Photography, Design, and Communication; I assisted the major local photography studios, translating what I learned and applied it to my assignments. Later, I went on to study at the International Center of Photography in New York City where I was able to absorb the history of photography and learned from some of the great photographers of our time.
“Trained at the prestigious International Center of Photography in New York, photographer Billy Delfs has captured some of Cleveland’s most famous faces” – Spaces Gallery, 2009, Cleveland Ohio
In 2009, I was awarded 2nd place in portraiture by the Press Club of Cleveland’s Excellence in Journalism Awards for my portrait of author Les Roberts. Now, between working for Regional and National magazines, advertising agencies, and design firms; I continue to explore the medium through personal projects.