Huron High School junior Ryan Bezas recently won an Ann Arbor District Library photography competition. His winning image, which showed Catholic Central basketball players in the middle of a game, won an award for its eye-catching color and movement. Bezas claimed that the contest theme, which required entrants to use various hues of blue in their work, encouraged him to be more creative.
“I really wanted to capture a moment that felt alive while still honoring the theme,” Bezas said. “I think it brought out a nice balance between emotion and design with the blues in the jerseys and the lighting I played with.”
A faint lighting gradient frames the players as they move, drawing attention to their uniforms. Among the scores of entries that high school students from all throughout the district submitted, the picture stood out.
About a year and a half ago, Bezas got his first professional camera, sparking his passion in photography. He has progressively developed an eye for presenting stories through photography as a result of the innumerable hours he has spent practicing and editing his photographs.
“I got really into it after I started learning editing techniques,” Bezas said, “It was just a cool camera at first, but everything changed when I learned how to shape an image after I took it.”
Bezas has previously won awards. He won a “Sparty” award at a media summer camp during the summer and he also received praise for another visual piece at a journalist camp.
Huron staff and students are seeing his accomplishments.
“Ryan has an amazing eye for photography,” junior Anjali Nadarajah, a classmate who collaborated with Bezas on a previous project, remarked. “He’s telling stories, not just taking pictures.”
Bezas says he is eager to continue experimenting with photography, but he is unsure of where the art form will lead him.
“I just know I love doing it,” Bezas said “I’ll keep trying to get better shots, whether it becomes a career or just remains a passion.”
You may view Bezas award-winning photo on exhibit at the Ann Arbor District Library or through their official contest gallery online.
