Hello, I’m Cliff Schiappa. For 50 years, photography has been my profession and my passion.
I’ve always been a visual person. I revel in how light dances, shaping the appearance of everything, including shadows. I look at people’s lips as they speak so I can hear and understand them better. I consider photographs as a reflection of reality, at least the images I make.
Growing up during “The Wonder Years” in the suburbs of New York City, my first job, other than mowing the neighbor’s lawn, was making pictures for the local weekly newspaper, “The Long Islander,” which was founded by poet Walt Whitman. I moved to Missouri (the Show-Me State, appropriately enough) for college and career and my cameras became my ticket to witness the incredible show of life.
After 23 years at The Associated Press and a few earlier years at The Kansas City Times and The Providence Journal-Bulletin, I migrated over to the nonprofit arts world. I’ve now retired to my corner of paradise in Palm Springs, California, allowing me to make photos near and far that appeal to my sensibilities.