The World View of Ryan Bolger
Photographer Ryan Bolger in costume on set of "The Playboy Club" television series
By Barbara Voris Eastman
How is it that two people can look at the exact same thing and see it differently? Maybe it has something to do with that old adage, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Some have an innate ability to see things others may overlook, or see beauty where another sees none. A person who was born with and has spent years cultivating a discerning eye is photographer, Ryan Bolger of Michigan City, Indiana.
City Scenes
Ryan sees things that others don’t. And sometimes what he sees may be unsettling. Take his urban photography. In his gallery, located in the Uptown Arts District in Michigan City’s historic north end, he displays photos—many of them black and white—of old church interiors or the shells of long-forgotten buildings. What some would see as ugly or mundane, he elevates to a level of beauty. In his photographs of street people, Bolger aspires to record the human condition, warts and all, and bear witness to the resiliency of the human spirit.
The Majesty of the Lake
His gallery and website contain many images of Lake Michigan. While many of his lake photos are picture postcard pretty—taken on sunny days under blue, cloudless skies—some of the most compelling are those taken when the lake is churning wildly and the sky is ominous. Some of these images, especially those in black and white, are particularly dramatic.
The Beach Coast Years
Ryan was born in Chicago and spent much of his youth in Michigan City, where he makes his home. He commuted on the South Shore to Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, where both his dad and grandfather had gone to school. While working on the yearbook he became very interested in photography. After high school he went to Columbia (Chicago) and then to The Brooks Institute (Santa Barbara) to study photography.
Lights, Camera, Action!
When not taking pictures, he is appearing in them. Ryan caught the acting bug when he saw “Top Gun” as a kid. He—like every other kid who saw it--wanted to be Maverick. However, while others only dreamed of acting, he made it happen. He is currently appearing in the critically-acclaimed series, “Boss,” with Kelsey Grammer, and has appeared in close to 35 television programs and films.
Steve
Jobs Revolutionizes Photography
Bolger says that the best camera in the world won’t produce memorable work if the person behind the lens lacks vision and skill. Lately he has been blown away by the capabilities of the iPhone 4S. He was recently quoted in two articles and, while he continues to rely on several other favorite cameras, the iPhone 4S has opened up a whole new avenue of spontaneous expression to the young photographer.
In addition to fine art photography, Ryan enjoys commercial and wedding photography. He considers it a privilege to be invited to record the events of a day that is, for most brides and grooms, one of the most important days of their lives. Every frame is carefully considered and the resulting work has made him one of the most sought after wedding photographers in the region.
We suggest you find your way to Ryan’s gallery in Michigan City (but suggest you call ahead to make sure he’s there). His work is reasonably priced and we predict that once you own your first Ryan Bolger original, it won’t be your last.
The Ryan J. Bolger Photography Gallery
525 Franklin Street
Michigan City, Indiana 46360
(312) 607-3199
www.rjbimagery.com 
Follow Ryan on Facebook
Barbara Voris Eastman grew up in Michigan City and moved back to the area after spending nearly 35 years working in Chicago. She is both the editor and a regular contributor to www.thebeachcoast.com.
