Jay Shaffer (b. 1956) is an American fine art photographer, filmmaker, and educator whose work explores the profound relationship between humanity and the atmosphere. With over 30 years of experience creating cutting-edge media content, Jay’s multidisciplinary background spans the roles of producer, director, and editor for narrative and documentary films. His expertise extends into the auditory and digital realms, having worked as a music producer, audio engineer, and sound designer for films and games, as well as a multi-media web designer and developer. For 11 years, he shared this breadth of knowledge as a multimedia instructor at Front Range Community College in Colorado.
Now based in the high-desert region of Northern New Mexico near Taos, Jay’s current practice is a dual meditation on the sky, drawing inspiration from the vast, enchanting horizons of the American Southwest and the influence of artists as diverse as Maynard Dixon and Mark Rothko.
In his series We Live in the Sky, Jay captures the immersive, dynamic energy of the daytime atmosphere over the Taos Plateau. This work explores the belief that we are defined by the expansive air we breathe and the ever-changing light that shapes our landscape, treating the day-sky as a living, breathing entity. Parallel to this is his series Into the Night, where Jay utilizes long-exposure photography to reveal the hidden rhythms of the cosmos. This body of work serves as both a celebration of nocturnal beauty and an urgent call to preserve our endangered dark skies against the encroachment of artificial light and satellite constellations.
By documenting the sky in its totality—from the glowing peaks of dawn to the star-filled depths of midnight—Jay’s imagery urges viewers to consider the cultural and environmental cost of modern expansion. Through his art, he seeks to inspire a renewed commitment to protecting our environment, our wild places, and the sacred, shared heavens that connect us all.
Contact Jay
Phone: 303.875.3958 (Business inquiries only)