Photographer's work recognized

Photographer's work recognized

What many people would see as simply a flower or a funeral procession, photographer Walter Horylev sees through the lens of his camera as a work of art. "I try to find pictures that speak to people - the ones that illustrate the story assignment I'm out to shoot," he said. "Every time I click the shutter I am hoping to capture something that fulfills that purpose."

Horylev, a self-taught 45-year veteran camera whiz, said he picked up most of his techniques through membership in the Kodak Camera Club. "I learned a lot there and belonging to that was instrumental to what I learned and how I take pictures," he said.

While he said he doesn't take photos with the idea of winning an award in the front of his mind, his shooting earned him three prizes in the Photography Society of America's Ollie Fife Award in the Published Picture of the Year Contest. Submitted photos were judged by the staff of the Hill Country News with the main criteria of the photos being its journalistic value.

Horylev earned first place in the News category with "Saluting a Hero;" honorable mention in the Feature category with "Does it Tickle" and honorable mention in the Picture Story category with "Bringing Hope to the Blind."

He has been taking photographs and compiling photo essays for Westside News for close to 10 years.

Even with thousands of photographs shot, Horylev continues to seek out opportunities to show the world what it looks like. "I'd really like to take photos at a Buffalo Bills game and I'd also like to go on a safari in Africa and spend a week taking photos of the animals and the people."

"Walter has been open to grasping the possibilities for challenges that photography for any print medium offers," Westside News Inc. Editor Evelyn Dow said. "He is a repeat honoree with several previous awards for his work in our papers from the Photography Society of America (PSA). His photographs capture compassion, hope, sadness and joy; they explain, describe and often make one think. His photo essays tell a story that words alone could not. Westside News is proud that Walter's work for our pages has received such prestigious recognitions," Dow said.

The awards and the photographs

First Place, News - "Saluting a Hero," a full page photo on page one, January 15, 2006, showing the procession through Hilton village as the hearse carrying the body of U.S. Army Specialist Jason Hasenauer passed under a huge American flag attached to two raised fire apparatus ladders and firemen lining both sides of the street stood at attention and saluted. This article by Mark Ball and the accompanying photographs by Horylev also won second place in the Free Papers Community of New York contest in spring 2007.

Honorable Mention, Feature category - "Does it Tickle?" A butterfly lands on a 19-month old's arm, to her surprise, during a program at the Chili Public Library. Printed page one August 27, 2006.

Honorable Mention, Picture Story category - "Woodchopper's Ball," a photo essay depicting woodsmen contests at Clarkson Good Neighbor Day 2006. Printed September 3, 2006.

Honorable Mention, Picture Story Category - "Bringing Hope to the Blind," a two page photo and text layout of photographs shot at Camp Abilities at SUNY Brockport. Printed July 9, 2006.

Honorable Mention, News category, "House Demolition," a photo printed May 21, 2006.