The Buzz Magazines’ 2025 Photo Contest

Although The Buzz Magazines’ annual photo contest is exclusively for local amateur photographers, 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 – local professional photographers – 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. 

As always, there are many 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 results are not entirely up to the experts: our readers have a voice in the contest as well. The top 50 finalists were posted to our Facebook page, and the photos with the most likes became our Readers’ Choice winners. 

Congratulations to all our winners, and especially to our grand prize winner, Catherine Yüksek, for her winning image, Salt Cure. Catherine will receive a Weekend Getaway Package for two, compliments of our contest sponsor, The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa.

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 2026 print issue.

Grand Prize, Salt Cure

Grand Prize, Salt Cure 

Catherine Yüksek, 44, took this photo of her daughters, Serena and Sage, with their friends Sage, Stella, and Vivi, in Galveston during the last weekend of Sept. 2024 on a brief getaway to celebrate Stella’s 10th birthday. Catherine says, “After enduring a derecho, Hurricane Beryl, and months of relentless heat, the temperature and humidity finally dipped just enough that spending hours on the beach felt not only tolerable but joyful. This welcome break in the weather happened to coincide with one of those rare, magical Galveston days – something I’ve only experienced three times in my life as a native Texan – when the normally opaque Gulf water transforms, Cinderella-like, into an almost-blue-if-you-squint, crystal-clear oasis. It’s a brief, beautiful phenomenon, and within hours (or a couple of days if you’re lucky), you’re back at the sink scrubbing tar stains out of your bathing suit, wondering if it was all just a dream.

“That weekend, and this photo speaks to the magic of childhood. Time (especially summertime) seems to stretch out indefinitely, and it feels like there’s room for nothing inside your small body but a giant imagination and an even bigger heart – both of which allow you to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

“The name Salt Cure is a reference to one of my favorite quotes by Isak Dinesen, which I love (and live by), ‘The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.’” 

Comments from Our Judges

Catherine Yüksek submitted this photo at 11:58 p.m. – just two minutes before the Photo Contest deadline! – and we’re so glad she did. Here’s what our judges had to say about Salt Cure: 

“This black and white photo grabbed me right away – it feels iconic the moment you see it. All the girls are looking right, but one glances slightly left, catching the wind and stealing the scene. That subtle shift gives the image its edge. It's composed with care but also has attitude. The photo doesn’t just capture a moment; it declares one.” – Dylan Aguilar

“What truly makes this image stand out is its narrative depth. There’s an unspoken story between the girls – a bond, a moment of shared experience, or simply the innocence of youth in nature’s playground. The range of expressions and body language – joy, contemplation, distraction – make the viewer linger longer, inviting interpretation. Salt Cure is a masterfully captured moment that transcends mere portraiture. It is evocative, timeless, and deeply human – a true standout in its category.” – Eric Forsythe

“The light is highlighting the blonde hair of the girl on the right, who seems to be in her own little world while the other four are reacting to something off to the left of the frame. Great B&W tonality, a candid, camera-unaware moment beautifully captured by the camera being right down on the same level as the subjects. A great slice-of-life moment.” – Michael Hart 

Category: Animals

First Place, Baby Elephant

First Place, Baby Elephant 

Scott Kinsel, 47, took this photo in the summer of 2024 in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. “We were en route to a local school to do some volunteer work and came across a very large herd. I had never seen a calf that small, so we spent a little time at a safe distance watching them. Always fun to see the little ones trying to figure out how to control their trunks. Thankfully, the position of our vehicle allowed for great composition. Often that is something you can’t control. Lots of luck involved.” 

Second Place, Buck at Dusk

Second Place, Buck at Dusk 

“There are a few dream scenarios of wildlife photo opportunities that I have, and this one is at the top of the list,” says David Holland, 70. He describes: “I'd seen this buck in velvet earlier during our family vacation near Horseshoe Bay. Late one afternoon (July 2024) I went looking for him (or any buck in velvet for that matter) hoping for a backlit photo. I only had minutes before the sun would set.

“Suddenly I saw several deer on the golf course and there he was in the middle of them! I jumped out of the vehicle and raced to where it appeared he was headed. When I got there, I noticed the sun was setting near the same spot. Hoping my settings were accurate, I followed the sun in the viewfinder and eased toward the grazing buck, trying to align the sun directly behind to silhouette him. I took a few insurance shots with the sun and the buck in the same frame, but really hoped they'd both be perfectly aligned.

“Sure enough, the sun fell right behind him, and he looked directly at me! This was the dream shot! The sun set and the buck crossed over the hill into darkness. I stood in disbelief as to what I'd just done.” 

Third Place, Galloping Oryx

Third Place, Galloping Oryx  

David Holland was with friends in central Texas in May 2024 when they spotted a large herd of Scimitar Oryx. They split up, positioning themselves for possible photos. He says, “I laid low on the ground with only my camera exposed. Suddenly I heard the rumblings of the Oryx running. I made a quick camera settings adjustment and waited. This one ran directly at me and veered as I raised the camera. I was able to capture the Oryx at full gallop as it passed by.”  

Fourth Place, THR Buck

Fourth Place, THR Buck  

David Holland took this photo in Nov. 2024 at a ranch near Llano. He was hoping to get a close-up image of a mature Whitetail Buck from a low angle. He says, “I knew the wind would have to be correct and that I’d have to be motionless. I had my camera on a very low tripod with the silent shutter engaged. I was properly hidden and the only movements I made were slow turns of the camera on the tripod. As the sun was setting, this buck walked within 10’ of me, the sky was clear of trees, his antlers positioned nicely, and I was able to get this shot as he tried to figure out what/who I was with his ears and eyes at full attention.” 

Fifth Place, Hank the Rhodesian Ridgeback

Fifth Place, Hank the Rhodesian Ridgeback 

Alex LeBuffe, 44, took this photo of Hank the Rhodesian Ridgeback (aka the “Lion Dog”) in April. Alex says when his friends, Kim and Tres Young, are on vacation, 4-year-old Hank stays at his house. He says, “We love watching our friends’ dog, Hank, whenever they're on vacation. He's a dignified, kind, and incredibly intelligent dog. This image, taken in our living room, perfectly captures his wonderful disposition.” He adds: “Interesting fact: This fearless and loyal breed originated in South Africa as a lion hunter.” 

Category: Landscapes

First Place, The Shining Light in a Dark World

First Place, The Shining Light in a Dark World 

Loyd Dalton, 77, took this photo in early February. He was traveling with a fellow photographer to Miramar Park in La Porte, Texas to shoot sunrise images over a pier that extends out into the bay. He says, “What was to be a classic sunrise turned out to be a temporary disappointment! The weather looked terrific for that sunrise shoot until we reached about half a mile from the water’s edge. The fog had rolled in off the water and had consumed everything in its path, including the pier. As we got out of the car to survey the location, I was immediately attracted to the light on the pier trying to break through the dark fog! It instantly reminded me of an Eternal Source that brings hope, peace, and guidance in challenging times! Thus: The Shining Light in a Dark World!” 

Second Place, Man in Red

Second Place, Man in Red  

Darren Inoff, 56, took this photo in April 2024 of the Moonscape Overlook. Located just outside of Hanksville, Utah, it’s a popular spot known for its otherworldly views and unique geological features. Darren says, “The man in red gives the photo a sense of scale to the valley below.” 

Third Place, Sacred Sunrise

Third Place, Sacred Sunrise 

Loyd Dalton took this photo in Aug. 2024 on a trip to Glacier National Park. He describes: “I drove before dawn from our hotel to Apgar, Montana. I was planning to take a sunrise at the boat ramp on the west end of Lake McDonald in the Park. The forecast called for lots of clouds for a classic sunrise shot that morning. But, upon arrival, I disappointedly discovered there were no clouds at all. I thought at the time, all that effort for nothing! But, as my photography mentor once told me, ‘Sometimes you have to make lemonade out of lemons!’ Seeing the colored boats lined up and the corresponding reflections in the water of the mountains compelled me to make the image! What I thought was going to be a disastrous photo op, turned out to be another Sacred Sunrise!” 

Fourth Place, The Bridge

Fourth Place, The Bridge  

Chip Charlton, 18, took this photo of a bridge in Taroko Gorge National Park in Taiwan last year. “I took the photo because I wanted to capture the scale and beauty of the park with the bridge and people as reference.” He was in Taiwan for a school trip to learn about its culture and customs, and says this is one of his favorite photos from his trip. He is a 2025 graduate of The Awty International School and is heading to University of California San Diego, where he plans to study astronomy and astrophysics. 

Fifth Place, The Music Hall

Fifth Place, The Music Hall 

Robert Davis, 74, took this photo of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., the fourth hall of the Los Angeles Music Center. Designed by Frank Gehry, it opened in Oct. 2003. “It is fascinating and futuristic architecture. A photographer’s dream from many angles. This image is representative of its angles, curves, and contrasts.” 

Category: Nature

First Place, Bee

First Place, Bee  

Selina Yuan, 15, took this photo of a Western Honeybee in a garden in Prague while she was on vacation with her family last July. “I had just figured out a hack where I used a selfie stick to get close up to the bee while avoiding being stung and I was really excited to see what shots I could get. Out of the 50 or so photos, this one turned out the best!” Selina is an incoming junior at Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School.  

Second Place, Egret Transfer

Second Place, Egret Transfer    

David Holland, 70, took this photo at the Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, Texas in March 2025. He says, “These two Great Egret adults were in the process of building their nest when the male returned with a fairly large branch. The exchange was so gentle, the light was hitting their breeding plumage uniquely and I zoomed in and took the shot. I liked the interaction and lighting.” 

Third Place, Little Ant

Third Place, Little Ant  

Selina Yuan took this photo of a Carpenter Ant in her backyard in March. “I had just gotten a new phone and I wanted to test out the macro function. The day the photo was taken was quite windy, so it was difficult to get a focused shot, but I'm happy with how this photo turned out!” 

Fourth Place, Great Horned Owl

Fourth Place, Great Horned Owl  

Kevin Zhang, 56, says that since he got his first Nikon D500 camera, he became interested in bird watching. He began visiting Texas state parks to look for various birds. This photo was taken in March 2024, one of a series of photos he took of a family of Great Horned Owls in Brazos Bend State Park. He describes, “I went to the park every weekend from Feb. 18-April 26, 2024, until the family left the park after the little owls learned to fly. During the day, the male owl stayed in another tree. The female owl sometimes left the nest to find food for the young birds. Unfortunately, one day, one of the little owls fell from the tree in front of me, and I captured this moment with my camera. The little owl had to be sent to a sanctuary, where it was taken care of by a ranger. I don't know if it survived in the end.” He blogged about this 11-week journey (kevinzhangphotography.com). This photo features the mother owl with two one-week-old babies under her wing. 

Fifth Place, White River Braids

Fifth Place, White River Braids   

Darren Inoff took this photo of Icelandic glacial river braids by drone in June 2024. He says, “High above the earth, these river braids make these incredible, ever-changing patterns.” 

Category: People and Portraits

First Place, Shy Monk

First Place, Shy Monk  

Payman Karimi, 57, was visiting eastern Bhutan in March when he and his group came across a local monastery, Khewang Lhakhang. Payman describes, “As we walked in the courtyard, we saw this young monk who peeked through the curtain/drape which acted as the door to his room. He must have just woken up when he heard us talking and was curious to see the strangers! He seemed to be very shy, although not camera shy, and happily allowed us to take pictures of him while keeping his beautiful smile on his face all that time. The contrast between his red sweater, the golden curtain, and his tan smiley face with the door frame under the soft morning light created a perfect moment to capture. This young boy did not speak English, but he kindly allowed us inside his modest room later with the universal language of kindness and humility.” Payman says meeting him and spending time at the monastery was a wonderful experience. He adds, “Bhutan is a fascinating country with the kindest and most humble people. I would like to share a fact about the country which attracted me to visit Bhutan in the first place: Bhutan uses a concept called Gross National Happiness, instead of GDP index, as a guide for overall well-being and happiness of its citizens.” 

Second Place, The Man on the Bus

Second Place, The Man on the Bus  

Kate Phillips, 21, took this photo on a weekend trip to Florence during her study abroad program in Siena, Italy. “The bus pulled up in front of me and the light from the window perfectly lit up a single man, making the perfect shot. This photo is part of a wider portfolio of Italian street photography from my study abroad in Italy.” Kate is an incoming senior at The University of Texas at Austin; she is a studio art major studying photography, painting, and digital sculpture. She graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 2022. 

Third Place, On Grandma’s Lap

Third Place, On Grandma’s Lap   

Payman Karimi took this photo in March of an indigenous grandmother and granddaughter who live in the mountains of Bhutan. They were attending the Punakha Tshechu festival, one of the most famous annual events. He says the vibrant festival attracts locals and indigenous people from all over Bhutan as well as international tourists. He says, “By the time we arrived, the courtyard of the Dzong (fortress-monastery) was completely packed. We managed to squeeze ourselves into a tight spot at the far end corner of the courtyard, where I noticed the grandmother and her granddaughter, dressed in very interesting Bhutanese indigenous clothing, sitting on the ground in front of us. What attracted me was their unique, different headwear and the beauty it created between the two generations.” He says the grandmother and granddaughter are part of the Layap minority group, “indigenous people living in the high-altitude mountains (>12,000 ft) of northwest Bhutan. They are known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle and unique costumes.”

Fourth Place, Kenyan Grandmother

Fourth Place, Kenyan Grandmother   

Leba Glazner, 73, took this photo in 2024 of a woman who lives in a small village of the Datooga Tribe in Tanzania. “Everyone called her ‘Grandma,’” Leba says. “I was motivated to take this photo as she was the senior member of the village, surrounded by children of all ages and younger women. At one moment I caught her sitting alone, looking contemplatively out the window of her mud hut. Her beautifully-lined face and pierced earlobes helped to tell her life story.” 

Fifth Place, Dying Fabric in India

Fifth Place, Dying Fabric in India   

“This year, I am focusing a year-long photo project on women ‘who create,’” says Leba Glazner. “This photo is taken of a woman in the Jaipur area of India, who works in hand-dying the fabrics that are used in making beautiful Indian clothing.” Leba took this photo in April. “I saw this woman pulling heavily-soaked material out of a large trough filled with blue dye. Her tight grip on the fabric with blue dye dripping down her hands showed her strength and dedication to her hard, tedious work.” 

Category: Sports, Action, and Miscellaneous

First Place, Back Into It

First Place, Back Into It  

Bellaire High School student Daniel Flores, 17, took this photo at the 6A UIL State Basketball Championship in San Antonio between Bellaire High School and Duncanville High School. In the photo is Cam Smith of the Duncanville basketball team helping up his teammate Beckham Black after Black had fallen, trying to defend a dunk from one of Bellaire basketball's players. “I took this photo because I thought it perfectly displayed the teamwork of the Duncanville team, showing that each player had each other's back.” Daniel is an incoming senior at BHS.

Second Place, Branding Season

Second Place, Branding Season   

David Rose, 58, took this photo last June at the Hoodoo Ranch located between Cody, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park. He says, “This photo was taken during a morning of observing cattle ranchers branding a herd of beef cattle. As a longtime Houstonian, this was the first time I’ve ever seen how what we see at the rodeo translates into the life of working ranchers. As guests of the ranch, we were invited to observe the entire branding operation. (We were also invited to take a turn at branding the calves, which was far easier than the more skilled work of the cowboys on horseback.) In a process that I’m sure has been honed over generations of ranching, I was impressed by the speed at which the team could brand, vaccinate, and geld a calf before releasing it back into the herd. Rendering in black & white changes everything about this photo. It becomes timeless and the cowboys could easily be from a bygone era. But more interesting is the smoke which, in black & white, is no longer just an artifact of the cattle brand but instead becomes an important lighting element as it drifts across the scene, seemingly funneling light from the sky above onto the activity at-hand.” 

Third Place, Tubing

Third Place, Tubing    

David Holland took this image in July 2024 at Horseshoe Bay. He says, “These cousins were laughing, screaming, and making memories. I wanted to capture the moment with their exciting expressions and the tube airborne!” Pictured (from left) are Luke Quinn, Walker Stahl, George Stahl, and Annie Quinn – the four oldest of his 13 grandchildren. 

Fourth Place, Roar

Fourth Place, Roar  

As historian of the Bellaire Mighty Cardinal Band, Daniel Flores takes photos of the band throughout this year. This photo is of band members (from left) Elizabeth Gamero, Rahul Nanjundan, and Matthew Guzman, cheering while the rest of the band plays their tunes. The photo was taken at Butler Stadium during the Bellaire vs. Lamar football game. Daniel says, “During football games, we always do this thing called Hype Train, which is where the band goes down to the student section to play some music, dance, and be hype, and this is my favorite band tradition to take photos of. The football game was the biggest of the year besides Homecoming, because it was against Lamar. Lamar and Bellaire have had a very longstanding rivalry with everything, but especially football. It is always the game with the best student section, and the most hype.” 

Fifth Place, The Glow of Victory

Fifth Place, The Glow of Victory  

Brianne Wheeler, 41, took this photo of the West University Softball Association’s 10U Kingsnakes team on May 3, right after winning the end of season 10U championship. “There is a tradition in softball of taking a championship ring photo on the home base plate; particularly because they had two rings, I wanted to snap the photo to capture all of their bling!” She adds: “The team received two rings: one for winning the championship, and a second for their second-place regular season record. These girls worked hard, playing two games in the heat that day. In their first game they went behind versus one of the best teams in the league and came back to win it. That made the championship game win that much sweeter!” Pictured are Kingsnakes members Penelope Allanbrook, Gemma Baird, Raquel Cordova, Lauren Dewalch, Ila Epley, Lola Gallagher, Lily Iwinski, Stella Nelson, Madeleine Owen, Brooklyn Ripper, and Julia Skaug.

Category: Readers’ Choice

First Place, Belly Flop

First Place, Belly Flop 

Dana Katz, 48, took this photo last December on a Royal Caribbean cruise. She says, “Some of my friends and family were relaxing in the pool as spectators, while I had the best view – from an air-conditioned lounge directly above! From that perfect vantage point, I caught the excitement of the lively belly flop competition in action.” 

Second Place, Ariana

Second Place, Ariana

“I took this picture of our dear family friend, Ariana, an exceptionally talented member of the Emery/Weiner Varsity Cheer team, at the annual Emery Cheer Clinic this past September,” says Dana Katz. “Ariana’s athleticism and dedication shine both on and off the field, and I love capturing Ariana’s and the cheer team’s impressive skills.” 

Third Place, Vintage Air Travel

Third Place, Vintage Air Travel 

Mark Newman, 51, took this photo in December in the lobby of the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York City. He says, “This was the original 1960s-era airport terminal, converted to a vintage-inspired hotel in 2019.” Mark says he asked the gentleman in the photo if he was a paid actor due to his vintage suitcases and outfit, but he said no – he just liked the “vintage vibe.” Mark adds, “It exemplified the vintage aesthetic of the hotel. The 1958 Lockheed Constellation (Connie) airplane in the background was converted to a lounge/bar.”  

Fourth Place, Bighorn Sheep, Valley of Fire

Fourth Place, Bighorn Sheep, Valley of Fire  

Seth Miller, 47, took this photo of a desert bighorn sheep last May at Valley of Fire State Park in Clark County, Nevada. He says, “I was about to leave the park to head to a Pearl Jam concert in Las Vegas and spotted some large wildlife high up on the rocks hiding out in the shade. I waited patiently to see if one would emerge and captured this image.” He adds, “If you are in the Las Vegas area and would rather see some nature instead of gambling and walking the Strip, I highly recommend driving into the nearby state parks for some great hikes and views!” 

Fifth Place, Hank the Rhodesian Ridgeback

Fifth Place, Hank  

Hank by Alex LeBuffe also received fifth place in the Animals category.

Judges’ Bios

Dylan Aguilar

Dylan Aguilar is a filmmaker and creative producer with an MFA from SCAD, where he made award-winning short films – one even caught the eye of Variety. His work blends experimental storytelling with genre filmmaking. In grad school, he was at the forefront of an emerging technology, directing a film entirely within a virtual production soundstage. This led to an internship with Tesla’s Product Knowledge Team, where he produced content for the company’s YouTube channel. Dylan now works with Lucky Number Eight Productions and was Associate Producer on Luv Ya, Bum, a forthcoming Houston Oilers documentary that won an Audience Award at SXSW 2025. Off-set, he travels, runs, and works in his garage studio mixing darkroom photography with motion graphics – a Leica always close by.

dylanaguilar.com, [email protected] 

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]

Michael Hart

Michael Hart photographed an NBA game at the age of eight with a Brownie Holiday Flash camera while living in Fort Wayne, Ind. He completed his first paid assignment at age 14, when the whole world was still in black and white! He has had a commercial photography business in Houston, Texas since the late ’70s and regularly travelled the globe doing annual reports and other assignments for corporations, design firms and ad agencies, racking up a million and a half air miles in the process. While still fulfilling commercial assignments his primary focus is now on his personal photography, which is driven by a deep appreciation for design and composition, where every frame is carefully crafted to balance form, light, and space. Recent awards and exhibitions include the 11th Annual Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition; The SE Center for Photography “Shades of B&W” and “The Landscape,” and “All About The Light”; Black and White Spider Awards; Texas Photographic Society “TPS 32: The International Competition” and “Foto Texas III”; The Visual Arts Alliance “40th Juried Open Exhibition”; and The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum “Black and White and Monochrome” Exhibition. His book, Biggio: The Final Game, is in the library of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and a photo from it is in The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

michaelhartfineart.com, [email protected]