Ryan Synovec is an award winning fine art photographer from Seattle, via Chicago and Minnesota. Since 2008 he has been shooting exclusively with a Holga plastic "toy" camera. Ryan’s projects Ethereal, Faraway, Mijo, Palouse, and Chicago-in Contrast, were all shot with a Holga and infrared film, a combination used by a very limited group of photographers. This technique can be extremely challenging, but when successful, the result is a uniquely beautiful, dreamlike image.
Ryan has emerged as one of the leading photographers using this technique. His Holga infrared images have been published several times in B&W Magazine. Several images appear in the 2nd edition of Michelle Bates book “Plastic Cameras, Toying with Creativity”. Ryan’s work has been shown in galleries and exhibitions, as well as permanent installations, throughout the country.
2022 awards
23rd Annual International Krappy Kamera Competition, Soho Photo Gallery, NYC
Honorable mention for "Pike Place Market"
2019 awards
21st Annual International Krappy Kamera Competition, Soho Photo Gallery, NYC
Honorable mention for "Mijo the Sentinel"
21st Annual International Krappy Kamera Competition, Soho Photo Gallery, NYC
People's Choice Award - overall
2018 awards
Plastic Fantastic IX International Exhibition - Juror's Award 1st Place
Schack Art Center 19th Annual Juried Art Show, Everett, WA
Honorable Mention - 2D category
2017 awards
Black & White Magazine Excellence Award winner for "faraway" portfolio, 4 page layout in August issue
2016 awards
18th Annual International Krappy Kamera Competition, Soho Photo Gallery, NYC
Honorable mention
Schack Art Center 19th Annual Juried Art Show, Everett, WA
Honorable Mention - 2D category
2015 Awards
1st Place - 5th Annual International Holga & MORE Out of the Box Photo Competition Exhibition, TCC Photo Gallery, Longview, TX
2011 awards
Bucktown Arts Fest
Best in Show
Gold Coast Art Fair
Third Place - Best in Category
2010 awards
B&W Photography Magazine
2010 Portfolio Contest
Merit Award - 4 images published
2009 awards
B&W Photography Magazine
2009 Portfolio Contest
Merit Award - 4 images published
St. Charles Fine Art Show - St. Charles, IL
Best of Photography
Arlington Heights Promenade of Art
1st Place - Photography
Eastside Millennium Art Festival - Chicago, IL
Merit Award - overall
Northbrook Art in the Park - Northbrook, IL
1st Place - overall
Mayslake Peabody Art Fair - Oak Brook, IL
Best in Show
Lubeznik Center For The Arts Lakefront Art Festival - Michigan City, IN
1st Place - Photography
47th Annual Invitational Fine Art Exhibition - Oak Brook
Merit Award - overall
Wilmette Arts Guild Festival of Fine Art
Honorable Mention - overall
2007 awards
Art In The Park - Elmhurst, IL
2nd Place - All Mediums
Deerfield Festival of Fine Arts - Deerfield, IL
Award Of Excellence
"Art In Your Eye" Fine Art Show - Batavia, IL
Purchase Award
2006 Awards
44th Annual Fine Art Exhibition - Oakbrook, IL
1st Place - Award of Excellence
"Art In Your Eye" Fine Art Show - Batavia, IL
1st Place - Photography
Deerfield Festival of Fine Arts - Deerfield, IL
1st place - all mediums
Glenview Art Fair - Glenview, IL
Award of Merit - all mediums
