Luis Bezanilla (born August 15, 1973) a Latin American photographer and visual artist. He is known for his portraits, editorials, and architectural and landscape photography. His photography has been featured in national and international magazines, including National Geographic, Architectural Digest, Rolling Stone, Fucsia, and Cromos. His photography has been exhibited worldwide. He has been honored with national and international awards for his work, while also lecturing and providing photography seminars at universities throughout Bogotá.

Luis Bezanilla was born on August 15, 1973, in Miami, Florida.[citation needed] His secondary education was completed in 1992, when he graduated from the Colegio San Carlos. In 1989, while studying advertising in high school, he began pursuing a career in photography. His initial photographic interests were based on the surrounding urban landscapes. During high school, he began working as an assistant photographer, where he began developing technical skills in commercial photography. He continued working in photography through 1992.

After graduating from high school, Bezanilla enrolled in the architecture program at Bogotá's University of the Andes in Colombia. He transferred to Jorge Tadeo Lozano University graduating in 1999, with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design and Advertising. In 1998, he incorporated medium and large film formats into his work.

As of 2013, Bezanilla is based in Miami, Florida and New York City, where works as a freelance photographer. He is also involved in artistic and curatorial projects and in photographic education.

Professional background

Following his graduation from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Bezanilla began working with national and international publications. His first photographic editorial commission was for the Latin American edition of Architectural Digest magazine.Bezanilla has work with various advertising agencies, including Lowe and Partners, Bates, and Ogilvy & Mather. His work has been featured in Phaidon Press's The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture. His fashion, portraiture, architecture, stills, and reportage photography has also been featured in various magazines, including:

Rolling Stone
Fucsia
Cromos
Soho
Revista Axxis
Semana
National Geographic
Photo District News
American Photo Magazine
Popular Photography
Photo Life
Communication Arts
Canadian Geographic
National Geographic Adventure
Pacific Yachting
Beautiful British Columbia
Americas Magazine

In addition to his photography, Bezanilla has also lectured and provided photography seminars at universities throughout Bogotá, including Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Politécnico Grancolombiano, Universidad de Bogotá, Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Universidad Central, and Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas.

Honors and awards

2001: Juried Group Show winner, British Columbia Festival of the Arts
2002: Juried Solo Show winner, British Columbia Festival of the Arts
2002: American Photo Photography Contest winner for Waves Over Stones, single image
2003: Banff Centre for the Arts photography contest winner for Goldstream River Autumn, single image
2003: Photography Unlimited, Best Photo of the Year winner, second place for Waves Over Stones
2003: Communication Arts Award of Excellence winner for Seeing Water series
2004: Absolute Photography Competition winner for Northern Lake, single image
2005: Applied Arts Award of Excellence winner for Seeing Water series
2006: Banff Centre for the Arts photography contest winner for Carmanah Creek, single image
2008: Applied Arts Award of Excellence winner for Turning Leaves series
2009: International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention for Beyond Here series
2009: International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention for Granite Barrens series
2009: International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention for Granite Barrens II series
2009: International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention for Seeing Water series
2009: International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention for Turning Leaves series
2009: International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention for Shoreline Tulips, single image
2009: International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention for Beech Tree, Winter Night, single image
2009: Black and White Spider Award winner in the Landscape category for Granite Barrens series
2010: International Garden Photographer of the Year Contest, highly commended in the Portfolio category
2010: International Garden Photographer of the Year Contest, third place in the Garden Views category
2010: PDN Photo Annual Contest winner, Personal Category, for Starling Net
2012: PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris, Gold Medal, Nature Category for Beyond Here series