Liam Kieliszewski | 2026 Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipient
Back in August, The Sunset Project was honored to announce Liam Kieliszewski of Alpena, Michigan, as one of nine Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipients for 2026!
Liam is a photographer focused on sports, events, and street photography, with an emphasis on capturing emotion and perspectives people may not normally see.
We recently sat down with Liam to discuss his unique story, why he applied for this year's grant cycle, and what he hopes to use the funding for.
Hey Liam, can you quickly introduce yourself to those who may not know you?
My name is Liam Kieliszewski. I’m from Alpena MI, and I’m a photographer.
How would you describe your creative interest to someone unfamiliar with it?
Photography is a way to frame and then present the world around you. In sports, I target emotions of players. With a long lens and a position on the field or in front of the glass, I can capture athletes much closer than the typical person will ever see with their own eyes. For event photography, I try to force myself to observe like an artist. Maybe it’s just good for my brain, maybe it’s just what I need to get good photos, but either way it’s a crucial part of my creative pursuit.
What initially inspired your interest in this space?
I’d be dishonest to say I didn’t think the older folks around me with a camera seemed really cool. Primarily though, I was raised by a couple of very creative people, and while I’ve explored many avenues of art, photography is the only one I’ve enjoyed that is also easy to pick up and go, and can be applied to just about everything in my life.I’d be dishonest to say I didn’t think the older folks around me with a camera seemed really cool. Primarily though, I was raised by a couple of very creative people, and while I’ve explored many avenues of art, photography is the only one I’ve enjoyed that is also easy to pick up and go, and can be applied to just about everything in my life.
What's one of your most memorable experiences or milestones from your creative journey?
I hold my senior photoshoots very close to me, as I feel honored to represent my friends in such a way. Similarly, every shoot I’ve done for The Sunset Project has been very eye-opening to the community we have here. I’ll never take it for granted.
How have challenges or setbacks helped shape your creative process?
I’ve been forced to trust myself more across the board. With so many other photographers in the area, doing a paid shoot or taking up a new opportunity to shoot in the community was often very intimidating, but I found that forcing myself into the space only opened up new people to meet and learn from. Confidence in myself has proven crucial to trying new kinds of photography, and I’ve loved the process every step of the way.
How do you envision your creative interest evolving over the next year?
I’ll be heading down to UMich in the Fall, and I hope to dive further into street photography as a side hobby. More directly, I will do my best to work into the media teams that shoot sports down there. My end goal is to capture the UMich Men’s Hockey games.
How do you plan to utilize your grant funding to further your creative interest, journey, and process?
A quality tripod will make a world of a difference in my sports and nighttime photography. Similarly, a quality bag will be a huge improvement over my current, which was meant for a canon rebel half the size of my current camera body and any of my lenses. A pancake lens will make street photography more comfortable for the busy streets and community of Ann Arbor.
Do you have any advice to share with someone looking to pursue their own creative interests?
Like anything good, force yourself to get outside your comfort zone. For photography specifically, you have to get over the thought of competition among other local photographers. The average photographer wants nothing more than to lift you up, and same goes for just about everyone you’ll encounter along the way.
Are there any social media profiles, websites, or other resources where our readers can follow your journey and support your work?
I post all of my photography to my Instagram @mailkiel
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