William Bay - Parts Per Million
Artist Statement:
“Parts Per Million” is a photographic exploration of the severe pollution in the Tijuana River, where untreated sewage from Mexico flows freely into the Pacific Ocean. Photographer William Bay, who grew up surfing in Imperial Beach during the 1990s, often risked illness just by entering the water—ear infections, hepatitis, and gastrointestinal sickness were common among locals. Influenced by the punk rock energy of that era and its fierce resistance to environmental destruction, Bay uses this project to confront the lasting impact of political inaction, cross-border neglect, and corporate exploitation in the wake of NAFTA.
All photographs were taken at the mouth of the Tijuana River, where the tide blurs the line between river and ocean, creating striking patterns, textures, and forms. But beneath the surface beauty lies a toxic reality: each image in this series represents one of 28 contaminants identified in a 2018 Border Patrol report—many at levels far exceeding EPA safety standards.
Each one is unacceptable
Artist Bio:
William Bay was born in Yokosuka, Japan to parents from Eastern Oregon who were stationed overseas, and moved to Imperial Beach, California at the age of two. Growing up in this border town during the 1980s and ’90s, he developed a deep appreciation for the cultural interplay between the U.S. and Mexico—frequently crossing the border to skate, surf, and explore the vibrant nightlife and landscapes of Baja.
His journey into photography began as a freshman at Mar Vista High School, where a black and white darkroom class sparked a lifelong passion for the medium. Influenced by masters like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Sebastião Salgado, and Jock Sturges, Bay’s work remains rooted in black and white, though he occasionally embraces color for select projects. Today, his photography focuses on border and environmental issues, as well as life in Baja California, capturing both the challenges and quiet beauty of the region.
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