The Buzz Magazines’ 2024 Photo Contest

Congratulations to all our winners, and especially to our grand prize winner, Donnie Marion, for his winning image, Best Sign in Rodeo. Donnie will receive a Canon EOS R10 digital camera and lens kit from Houston Camera Exchange and a staycation package compliments of Blossom Houston hotel.

This contest would not be possible without the generosity of our contest sponsors, Houston Camera Exchange and Blossom Houston hotel.

Grand Prize, Best Sign in Rodeo

Grand Prize, Best Sign in Rodeo 

Donnie Marion, 65, captured this image of an unknown cowboy calf roping at the Gilroy Ranch Rodeo in Gilroy, California, on Aug. 6, 2023. “It was a hot day, and there was a trailer next to the arena where I hoped the calves would run and be caught right in front of me. Planning makes it look simple, being lucky makes it look cool. Being close to the ground gives a different perspective.” 

Judges’ comments:

Best Sign in Rodeo is a visual delight with action, color and storytelling. There are so many wonderful factors coming together in this “perfect timing” capture. While some of the details that caught our eyes might have been serendipitous, this was a technically challenging image to shoot. Light and shadow are well balanced, and strong diagonal lines lead the viewer through the story, dropping compositional gems along the way. We loved the low camera angle; it looks like the photographer was almost down in the dirt, allowing for a great composition with the rider right in the middle of the Gilbert Rodeo sign. It’s framed perfectly. The harsh, crisp lighting throws the rider’s face in shadow, creating a little mystery and highlighting the action of the horse. The shadow in the bottom third adds a balanced contrast to the clear blue Texas sky. The dynamic action and tension of the moment was caught at precisely the right moment: the calf fighting the force of the rope, and the hooves of both animals turning up the dust and dirt. You can only plan that out to such a degree; there is some pure luck involved. Just a great image all in all.

About the Photo Contest: 

Although The Buzz Magazines’ annual photo contest is not for professionals, the quality of photos we receive astounds us each year. With any contest like this, the process is inherently subjective. However, there are basic principles of photography that must be met, such as lighting, focus, exposure, and composition. Each judge prioritizes different factors in their deliberation, but they all look for images that are purposeful, powerful, and stand out in terms of the uniqueness of the shot. The judges consider the level of skill required to capture each photo and take the time to scrutinize the smallest intricacies. And there are personal elements to consider, some difficult to define: a photograph’s essence, the emotions it evokes, the artful nature of its expression. Judging for the photo contest is blind, as the judges do not see names or information about the photographers.  

Always, there are excellent photos left behind. We’d like to thank all the talented photographers who submitted images, and our expert judges for their careful deliberation, time, and expertise. 

The final results are not all up to the experts: our readers have a voice in the contest as well. Each year, the top finalists are posted to our Facebook page, and the photos with the most likes become our Readers’ Choice winners. The top 50 finalists were posted to our Facebook page, and the photos with the most likes became our Readers’ Choice winners. 

The Buzz Magazines’ annual photo contest is open to local amateur photographers. If you have a knack for photography, keep our contest in mind this upcoming year. Look out for our call for entries on our website, social media, and in our March 2025 print issue.

Category: Animals

Sunset Run

First Place, Sunset Run 

Michele Wright, 54, took this idyllic shot of a group of Camargue horses in the Camargue, which is on the southern coast of France. “I had been dreaming of photographing these horses for many years. They are beautiful grey/white horses living in that region of France, and I think they are stunning. They live naturally in this marshy region and have been in that area for hundreds of years. I love how the evening’s setting sun lit up all of the dust. The horses were so powerful and a bit frightening as they ran straight up to me.”

Elk in the Rocky Mountain Mist

Second Place, Elk in the Rocky Mountain Mist 

Luke Chapman, 22, took this photo of an elk he came across in Rocky Mountain National Park. “This past summer in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, we were hiking and it started to rain… Then a whole herd of elk came out of the woods, which was awesome. This one in particular posed well. There was good light shining on her face, and the leaves framed her well.”

American Bison

Third Place, American Bison 

Scott Kinsel, 46, caught this herd of bison approaching on a snow-covered road during a blizzard in February 2024. He says the temperature was -20 degrees Fahrenheit. “I was there [in Yellowstone National Park] with a ranger photographing the reintroduced wolf packs. The entire herd moved slowly past us without incident. Behind them were two males from the Wapiti Lake Pack.” 

Snek

Fourth Place, Snek 

Chip Charlton, 17, found this snake hiding in a small bush while on a hike in Rocky Mountain National Park in July 2023. “I took this photo because I enjoy taking photos [of] nature and animals. I had also gotten a macro lens that I wanted to try out, and the snake was a good subject for it.”

Three's a Crowd

Fifth Place, Three's a Crowd 

Luke Chapman took this photo of three bighorn sheep. “This was this past summer in the front range of the Rockies in Colorado. I was driving down a mountain road when I saw some rocks fall onto the road from the cliffs above and looked up to see a whole group of bighorn sheep on the steep cliff. It had just begun to rain so the atmosphere was great for taking photos of these strong animals, although nailing focus was hard through the trees on the mountainside.”

Category: Landscapes

Nightfall on the Lake

First Place, Nightfall on the Lake 

Elaine Matte Mut grabbed this shot at the end of March on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas. “My husband Alan Mut and I have been coming to the lake since the 1990s and he has been camping on the lake since he was a boy. We now enjoy houseboating here year-round, and no matter the weather or time of day, the views are always special. While sunsets are usually the most spectacular captures of our stays, this scene communicated the serenity I feel here. Although light pollution is a growing problem for viewing the night sky, in this case I took advantage of the glow from a city about 20 miles away to illuminate the clouds and trees. Android phones often get a bad rap, but my 4-year-old Samsung has often proved to be just the right tool for the job!”

Worlds Colliding

Second Place, Worlds Colliding  

Darren Inoff, 56, captured this photograph of a sunrise in the Tetons, a Rocky Mountain range in Wyoming, one early morning in October. “Sunrises in the Tetons are magical. You have to keep getting up early because you never know what you will see – as evidenced by this photograph. I’ve never quite seen a sunrise like this.  The sun came over the horizon behind me and lit up the wall of clouds to my right. It reminds me of a dust storm advancing towards the Tetons. Almost like two worlds about to collide.”

Tre Cime

Third Place, Tre Cime 

Seth Miller, age 46, shot these three distinct mountain peaks – known as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo – framed by an elevated cave. The Tre Cime are located in the Dolomites of northeastern Italy. Seth took this photo in August 2023 after hiking up to the cave with his family. He says he had seen other attempts of photographing the Tre Cime and wanted to try it himself.

Unusual Sightings at the Pecos River Bridge

Fourth Place, Unusual Sightings at the Pecos River Bridge 

Loyd Dalton, 76, says he discovered the Pecos River Bridge, the highest highway bridge in Texas, on a trip to West Texas. “I traveled all the way to that bridge with a friend in order to take Milky Way images using the bridge as a foreground. I used a low-level light to light up the underside of the structure and used a long exposure in order to bring out the Milky Way in the image. The unusual part of the image is the perception that an asteroid or meteor is screaming across the scene with a light trail behind. But in reality, the planet Mars is the bright spot and its location that night just happened to be at the end of a wispy cloud when I took the shot. It made it appear to be a star streaking across the sky! Sometimes you just get lucky!” Loyd also notes, “taking images of the Milky Way in total darkness in an unfamiliar area is not for the faint of heart… In order to take this image, my friend and I climbed down from the highway to the underside of the bridge to get into position to take the image. As we began to set up and take some images, unknowingly, a small herd of wild goats silently moved in very close to us and they let out a series of loud bleats that pierced the night air. Talk about wanting to run! Whew! I lost ten years of my life that evening!”

Stormy Sunrise over Pleasure Pier

Fifth Place, Stormy Sunrise over Pleasure Pier 

Loyd Dalton says, “Of all the landscape compositions that I have taken in my photography life, my most cherished, anticipated and the ones that give me the most joy are the sunrises. No two sunrises are alike: each has its own personality, character, and uniqueness. I have been known to travel hundreds of miles to take just one sunrise, hoping for that perfect image. Getting up before daylight on a cold morning and traveling hours to your special sunrise spot and braving the cold sometimes pays off. That February morning on Galveston Beach at the Pleasure Pier was one of those mornings. Every element one looks for in a perfect sunrise composition unfolded as the sun peaked over the horizon. Dynamic clouds, intense color, subtle sunrays, reflections in the water, and lots of interest in the scene. On that day, I’m so glad I made the effort because this sunrise image is my favorite – so far.”

Category: Nature

Colorblind Owl

First Place, Colorblind Owl  

Payman Karimi, 56, photographed this young barn owl sitting on a stand perch in April 2024, at Carl Barton Junior Park in The Woodlands. He says it was “entertaining to watch how this young owl was getting easily distracted – in a playful way – with every noise in the surrounding woods; whether other birds, creaking branches, etc... I was attending a bird photography workshop where a non-profit organization was not only demonstrating different ’injured’ birds but more importantly providing educational information about preserving beautiful birds of our planet. It was fascinating to see up-close how beautiful each of those birds were – even in their injured, but well taken care of, conditions. I learned during this session that it is a common belief that owls are color blind, seeing only shades of black, white and gray. Being color blind myself, this connected with me, and I thought to myself, ‘what if I turn this photo to black and white?’ My attempt was to take away color distractions and bring the attention on the delicate textures around the face of this beautiful owl. And to somehow hint this message about the owl's limitation in seeing colors.” 

Motionless Survival

Second Place, Motionless Survival   

David Holland, 69, snapped this leopard tree frog in a rainforest canopy of Costa Rica in December 2023. “It climbed to this spot and struggled a bit to get atop this stem and seemingly stared right at me. I immediately took this photo. I shot this with a Nikon Z9, 105mm, f18, 1/250, ISO 800 and handheld with a flash.”

Singing in the Rain

Third Place, Singing in the Rain  

David Holland photographed this vibrantly colored bird in Costa Rica in December 2023. “This resplendent quetzal (Costa Rica's most prized bird) male perched on this curved limb with his beautiful long tail on a similar curve. The combined leading lines went right to this iconic bird and I took the shot. A light December '23 rain began to fall and he chirped away hoping for a female response. I used a Nikon Z9, 400mm, f2.8, ISO 1000 and 1/2500.”

Pink Rose

Fourth Place, Pink Rose  

This rose was captured by Mauricio Recinos, 53. “The picture is of a pink rose from a bouquet I gave my wife for our wedding anniversary. My wife put the bouquet in a vase and took it out to the balcony to spray some water on it. I asked her to keep the flowers outside for a moment. It was late on a sunny afternoon, and the natural light was good enough for a good picture. Flowers are always kind to photographers. When I got ready to take the picture, I noticed one of the roses had a single water droplet. One rose and a water droplet: sometimes the simplest of things are the most beautiful ones.”

Social Butterfly

Fifth Place, Social Butterfly   

John Anguay, 45, spotted this black swallowtail butterfly in front of his son Christopher. “This was taken in front of our house in West University Place on May 28, 2023. We had planted Milkweed from the Houston Arboretum the previous year and these were really attracting butterflies. This one seemed to be following my son. I think it was his pink shirt. Christopher is shy except when it comes to interacting with animals. That is when he becomes a social butterfly.”

Category: People and Portraits

Distorted

First Place, Distorted  

Ally Killgore, 21 and a graduate of Memorial High School, took this photo as an assignment for her photography class. She says it’s a twist on traditional portrait photography that is coined “distorted water portraiture.” “I focused my concentration on portraiture because it captures so many more details than the naked eye can process at a glance. What truly prompted me to explore this form of portraiture is how it challenges the observer not only to look at a person but to interpret their form. Distorted portraiture fascinates me because of how the water and glass work together to magnify certain features and minimize others, enticing the observer to take an active role in analyzing and understanding the photo. What I truly love about this photo is the message behind it, touching on the theme of self-image and judgment. By nature, people judge others by their appearance when what can be seen is not always all that is there.”

Blown in Your Face

Second Place, Blown in Your Face  

Payman Karimi, 56, spotted this local boy on a busy street in Havana, Cuba, making large bubbles with his chewing gum until one blew in his face. “When I initially noticed the boy, he was standing on a corner leaning against a wall full of graffiti and making large bubbles with his chewing gum. It was a crowded street so by the time [I] positioned myself to get a clear view of him, he moved to the middle of the street. I started snapping photos while aiming to capture a moment when a large bubble covered his face. I knew which picture would be my favorite pick when this huge bubble blew back on his nose. Our eyes crossed at that moment, and we both just exchanged a smile and departed as two strangers with fun memory.” He took the photo in April 2024. “We visited Cuba as part of the Support for the Cuban People travel category with the intention of having meaningful connection with ordinary Cubans and supporting civil society in Cuba.”

Lost in a Good Book

Third Place, Lost in a Good Book   

Dhara Agrawal, 15, took this self-portrait of her face blended into a stack of books for her photography class. “I took this photo in my room, in January. I take a photography class at Bellaire High School, and my teacher had recently assigned a self-portrait assignment. I was stumped until I saw my bookshelf. Books and photography make up major parts of my life, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. Photography is how I express myself to the world, and books are my [refuse] from the world. This photo is a way for me to combine the two completely different sides of myself.”

Tunnel Vision

Fourth Place, Tunnel Vision  

Amy McPherson, 39, snapped this photo of her 3-year-old son, Wesley, peering through a tunnel he constructed using Magna-Tiles. “I took this photo in late July of last year, capturing a moment on our floor, likely amidst a sea of Magna-Tiles and Hot Wheels – after all, he is one of four boys. As adults, we often forget to embrace our childlike nature, to appreciate the little things, stay curious about the world, and be present in the moment. At the time this photo was taken, my house was probably a mess, noisy and chaotic, and stressing me out as I rushed around trying to manage everything. But as I peered through that rainbow tunnel at my 3-year-old at his request, I was reminded of what mattered. That tunnel transported me out of my world into his.”

Elena

Fifth Place, Elena  

Bob Rosenberg, 71, captured this moment of little Elena lighting a Menorah at his son’s Hanukkah party. His son Aaron and wife Lauren have a Hannukah party for their children each year, and invite cousins and friends, like their niece Elena. “I was moved by Elena being mesmerized by the holiday lights and the grace of the candle lighting… Each child was assigned a Menorah, either theirs or one supplied by the family. Many of the Menorahs were child themed, such as a dinosaur, three bears and Noah's Ark. Each child lights candles signifying which night of the holiday is being celebrated, as is traditionally done. I think this is a beautiful depiction of an ancient holiday tradition by Elena.”

Category: Sports, Action, and Miscellaneous

Fighting the Waves

First Place, Fighting the Waves 

Luke Chapman, 22, took this photo of a college friend surfing off the coast of Massachusetts last December. “I went with a friend to take photos and videos of him surfing off the coast of Massachusetts. The waves and the weather were pretty rough, so he really had to fight hard to get out past the breakers before he could catch a wave. Taking out my drone, I was able to get this top-down photo of him in the aftermath of a big wave.”

Echoes of Loss

Second Place, Echoes of Loss   

Dana Katz, 47, took this photo in June 2023 during her family's visit to Auschwitz in Poland. “Amidst a pile of tattered, black shoes – echoes of the loss endured by those who perished – a single red shoe stands out. This vibrant, yet haunting, red shoe symbolizes the individual lives lost among the masses. There are approximately 110,000 shoes in the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum's (former German Nazi extermination and concentration camp) collection, a mere fraction of the millions who perished during the Holocaust.”

Dive In

Third Place, Dive In   

Twelve-year-old Thatcher Goss captured this moment of his younger sister diving into their pool in his backyard this April. “All of my siblings were swimming in our pool when I remembered this photo contest. I thought it would be a neat shot of my sister diving into our pool. I promised to split the prize with her if I win.”

View from the Cradle – Jamail Skatepark

Fourth Place, View from the Cradle – Jamail Skatepark  

Bruce Biundo, 55, took this perspective-bending photo in April. “The photo is of a skateboarder riding through ‘the big cradle’ at Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark, just outside of downtown Houston. I like this angle of the skaters seemingly defying gravity, frozen in time, with the downtown skyline in the background.”

Who’s Open?

Fifth Place, Who’s Open?  

Luke Chapman snapped this shot of a soccer player on MIT’s women’s soccer team. “This is from this past fall at Williams College in Massachusetts. That semester I did a lot of sports videography for nearly all of MIT’s fall sports teams, and I took this photo of one of their players as she looked to throw in the ball after it went out of bounds. You can see the fall foliage colors that are all over the northeast during this time.”

Category: Readers’ Choice

Tre Cime

First Place, Tre Cime 

Tre Cime by Seth Miller received Third Place in our Landscapes category, and First Place in our Readers’ Choice contest.

Echoes of Loss

Second Place, Echoes of Loss

Echoes of Loss by Dana Katz received Second Place in our Sports, Action, and Miscellaneous category, and Second Place in our Readers’ Choice contest.

Grand Prize, Best Sign in Rodeo

Third Place, Best Sign in Rodeo

Our Grand Prize winner, Best Sign in Rodeo by Donnie Marion, also won Third Place in our Readers’ Choice contest. 

Lost in a Good Book

Fourth Place, Lost in a Good Book  

Lost in a Good Book by Dhara Agrawal received Third Place in our People and Portraits category, and Fourth Place in our Readers’ Choice contest.

Will I Make Eight or Will I Hit Dirt?

Fifth Place, Will I Make Eight or Will I Hit Dirt?  

Donnie Marion caught this pensive cowboy and student at the Cannon Bareback Riding School on April 23, 2023, in Brenham, Texas. “I noticed the light from the morning sun, with a young cowboy between me and the light. I wanted to work on a silhouette. When I looked at his face, I could imagine he was thinking through his upcoming ride. Sun and straw hats make an interesting combination.”

Judges' Bios

Eric Forsythe

Eric Forsythe has been a full-time photographer for over 15 years. His work has been featured in several magazines and regional journals, including Time, The Ferrari Club Magazine, and Success magazine. His images have been shared on Larry King Live, Piers Morgan Live, Good Morning America, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, to name a few. Eric’s clientele includes automotive icons such as Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini, as well as entertainment companies like MGM, Paramount Pictures, Capitol Records, and Integrity Music. He is based in Houston, but his passion guides him to continuously explore in search of optical stimuli. He believes that photography is not motionless and tries to establish a sense of movement in his photos.

www.forsythefotography.com, [email protected]

Nikky LaWell

Nikky LaWell, certified professional photographer and master craftsman photographer from the Professional Photographers of America, holds a BFA in photography from the University of Houston and owns a boutique studio specializing in family portraits with a personal perspective. Nikky has been the keeper of memories for the most important of moments, from babies and graduations to weddings and promotions. She is known for listening closely to her clients and coming up with ideas for intimate and creative photography sessions. Her awards include “Best Portrait of a Senior Professional” from the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston, “Best Wedding” from the Southwest Professional Photographers Association, “Best Wedding” from the Texas Professional Photographers Association, and the illustrious Kodak Gallery Award.

lawellphoto.com, [email protected]

Jack Opatrny

Jack Opatrny is an award-winning Houston photographer whose experience ranges from portraits and fashion photography to architectural, commercial, and food photography. Originally from Ohio, Jack relocated to Houston in 1990 and quickly established himself as a distinguished fashion and business photographer, locally and nationally. With more than 25 years of experience, his achievements have included top honors at the Art Directors Club of Houston’s Annual Show and many other industry publications. His talent has been recognized in projects in fashion, high-end portraits, renowned commercial products, architecture, and humanitarian causes. In addition, Jack is a talented musician. His personal interests include charitable causes that range from animal rescue, environmental protection, and breast cancer awareness. His heartfelt love for dogs inspired his recent project, “Street Dogs of Mexico,” highlighting the massive problem of homeless dogs. Proceeds benefit local animal rescue and adoption operations.

www.jackophoto.com, [email protected]

Terry Vine

Terry Vine, recently named one of the 200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer’s Archive, is an advertising and lifestyle photographer who specializes in creating custom images for the healthcare, hospitality, and corporate industries. His ability to capture the essence of an experience as it relates to a destination has landed him assignments around the world and earned numerous awards. His work has been featured in Communications Arts, Graphis Photo, Print, American Photography, Applied Arts, and PDN Photo annuals. Terry’s fine art images are in many museum and private collections around the country. Having grown up in Ohio, Terry now lives in Texas with his wife, two children, and a rambunctious Golden Retriever named Ranger. 

www.terryvine.com, [email protected]