Clay grew up in Maine, got his M.S. at Sam Houston State and attended the University of Tennessee for post graduate work.  He retired from teaching in the Oak Ridge School System a few years ago.  As a P.E. teacher, he incorporated his love of nature into his classes, sponsored photo clubs, shared his slide documentation of worldly travels with his students and with the community.   Clay has been passionate about  nature and wildlife photography for about thirty-five years.  Capturing the wonder and diversity of wildlife, the environment, and other interesting subjects is now a full-time career.   He currently works with Nikon digital equipment using lenses from 12mm to 600mm.  Besides practicing his photography full time, he teaches  workshops for groups and private individuals, gives presentations to the public, judges photography competitions and shows and sells his work throughout the eastern U.S. 

Clay has won many honors for his photography in competitions and fine art shows.  He presented his work at the North American Nature Photographers Association Conference in 2008 and has been published in several national publications.  He makes his home in Fountain City (Knoxville) with his wife, Bobbie Crews and where they share  their photography and painting.  Clay says: “Even though our art takes us in different directions, we both seem to grow from each others support and abilities”.