Pop-Up Gallery

For 17 years, The Buzz Magazines has hosted an annual photo contest, which is open to amateur local photographers. Every year, submissions are reviewed by a panel of professional photographers, and the winning photographs are printed in our July issue. This year, for the first time, winning photos were also displayed in a beautiful pop-up gallery located in River Oaks District, June 26-30.

Visitors were encouraged to come by and see the photos in person and vote for their favorites via QR code for a special People’s Choice award.  Winner of the People’s Choice award is Ambushed – look closely by David Holland.

Ed Diaz stands next to his photograph, Paparazzi and Coffee, which received first place in our People and Portraits category. It is also the cover of our July 2023 Tanglewood/River Oaks Buzz. (Photo: Emily Jaschke)

In conjunction with the pop-up gallery, The Buzz Magazines and River Oaks District collaborated to host a gallery party showcasing the winning images. Guests, including Photo Contest winners and their families, enjoyed mixing and mingling over beverages and appetizers by Bari Ristorante. It was a unique opportunity to experience the photographs in a three-dimensional format and meet some of the photographers. 

A fun coincidence is that Emily Jaschke, event photographer for the gallery party, submitted her own photos for our Photo Contest back in 2007 and had winning photos in two categories. 

Natalie Alexander poses with her photograph Pure Joy, which received fifth place in the People and Portraits category. In the photo, her daughter Mackenzie is the picture of pure joy. This photo is also the cover of our July 2023 Memorial Buzz. (Photo: Emily Jaschke)

A special thank you to 2023 judges, Eric Forsythe, Nikky LaWell, and Terry Vine; photo contest sponsors, Houston Camera Exchange and The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa; gallery sponsors, River Oaks District, Arnoult Fine Art Consulting, and Portable Gallery Walls; and thank you to Public Content.

If you have a knack for photography, the call for entries begins in our March 2024 print issue, on our website, and on our social media. 

Shazma Matin poses next to her photo, Hanging Out, which won fourth place in the Animals category. (Photo: Emily Jaschke)

See more photos from our gallery party at thebuzzmagazines.com/pop-up and view the 2023 Buzz Photo Contest winners at thebuzzmagazines.com/2023-photo-contest.