Over many years – nearly 20 – photographer Walter Horylev has helped readers of Westside News Inc. newspapers see. He recently decided he would no longer be accepting freelance assignments for Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald newspapers. He won’t be hanging up the camera, though, and will be supporting various community efforts with his photography. That’s good to hear because talent such as his should be put to use (and that camera equipment should not gather dust, either).
As a contributor, Walter has always been interested, energetic, eager and a stellar representative of the company. He loves meeting people, making them comfortable in front of the camera lens, and hearing and relating their stories. Many times he had to readjust his personal schedule for the day to set up a shoot by deadline. A true gentleman in all respects, Walter can photograph people – octogenarians like he is – and children of all ages (his favorite subjects), landscapes, pets and buildings in all stages of construction or destruction. He’s a master at capturing the moments of fun on a carnival ride, seizing time’s passing frame-by-frame at festivals, portraying the solemnity of a military funeral.
It was often difficult for me to pick photographs from the many Walter submitted. I learned a lot about photography from him and I learned a lot about life, too. His enthusiasm inspired me to use his images to the best advantage for the publications. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs about all manner of things. He’s a constant learner with interests as diverse as the stock market, business practices, wind turbine electricity generation, local politics, religion, antique knives and coins … well, almost everything.
At some point in the last five or so years, Walter found out I have an affinity for cats – at least to the extent that a few have been part of my family over the years and they were loved by all while they were with us and are remembered fondly. Thus was the foundation for the endeavor by Walt and his BFF Jan Clements to scout out garage and estate sales for all things ‘cat’, doing so with me in mind. It took a good size box to move the collection from my office at the log building to my home office overlooking the tree tops of my Spencerport neighborhood.
Each unique figure was delivered with happiness and joy. One hand-carved cat came back in someone’s pocket from a warm climate island visited on a cruise. Several are wooden and carved in a rustic style, one is a music box, one is three feet long and hand painted, one is less than two inches wide by inch high. There are cat plates, mugs and note paper. The point being this: Walter is a thoughtful kind of guy and I often think when I see the collection that the two of them, Walter and Jan, made a conscious effort to think of someone else – me. I am happy I introduced them.
Thank you, Walter, for sharing your talent, intelligence, humor and grace with me and with the residents of the communities served by Westside News Inc. newspapers. You will be missed.
Evelyn Dow
Retired Editor
Westside News Inc.
