Philly Spotlight: Greg Bezanis' Photo Essay “Echoes of Light (from Philadelphia)”
By DaVonne Armstrong

The passion of any art form is discovered as a child. The initial desire to create and the fire to entertain is more than likely traceable back to the frail, impressionable years of one’s youth. Even if someone promises that their professional interest was found as an adult, there is always a glimmer of what a person will invest their life’s energy toward buried somewhere in their childhood.

For 31-year-old Greg Bezanis, he finds his calling was wound alongside the film in a disposable camera.

“My first camera was actually one of those disposable 35mm Kodak cameras. I remember my mom buying a handful of them at CVS and taking them to Greece with us.” Bezanis recalls. “I mostly took pictures of landscapes and architectural buildings. Once I started clicking I couldn't stop… I actually tried to compose shots in my mind before shooting. Unfortunately, at 10, they didn't quite come out the way I expected them to. Didn't matter though, I was having fun.”

As with any coming-of-age story, Bezanis drifted away from photography only to find his way back as a young adult volunteering for Pulse newspaper at the 2000 Olympics and Paralympic Village in Athens. It was during an unusual turn of events that he found himself receiving a crash course in digital photography and encouragement to study the art formally.

“I was sent out on an assignment to capture the essence of the village,” he says. “What I came back with was to change my life.”

Bezanis’ love for photojournalism and photo-art was pushing its way to the surface.

“During the course of the games, I took photos of daily life activities in the village and of athletes. Shots were both artistic and informative in a newsworthy sense. Some of my experimentation with reflection shots started out at the games,” he explains.

Bezanis’ next step was a formal photojournalism education at Temple University, inspiration from legendary Photographer Lee Miller, and a classroom assignment with boundless potential.

“Echoes of Light (from Philadelphia)” is a photo essay that contains hundreds of images of the City of Brotherly Love captured in a reflection. Bezanis illustrates major landmarks and familiar street corners in a light that is other wise ignored. SEPTA buses, Locust and Spruce, Independence Hall and even our beloved Eagles are given a surrealistic twist.

“My overall intention is to evoke awareness of the symbiotic relationship we have with our city by creating a ‘visual stimulus package’,” Bezanis explains. “Echoes of Light” is simply another perspective of what average Philadelphians take for granted everyday.

“In order for the mind to see, the eyes must be allowed to wander first. The photos presented before you are what my wandering eyes have captured.” Bezanis continues.

Wonka Vision Magazine has chosen only a small subset of the hundreds of images the photographer has captured of Philadelphia to showcase is signature style and uniqueness.

For more info, go to: gregorybezanis.wordpress.com