Lights. Camera. Action.
The Texas Annual Youth Photography Showcase opened submissions on Dec. 1 2025 for homeschool and publicly enrolled students ages 14-18 to enter multifaceted photo-central portfolios and closed on Jan. 15 2026. Winning images go on display at the New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center starting March 10. The award ceremony will be held on March 21 at 9 a.m. in the New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center with doors open to all attendees free of charge.
Organized by non-profit state art institution The Greater New Braunfels Arts Council, the contest is meant to serve as an opportunity for contenders and non-contenders alike to celebrate high school caliber in photographic artistry, fostering a sense of community in the realm of supporting young creative imaginations. Entry boxes allow a diverse catalog expanding across architecture, people, animals, landscapes, photojournalism, and sub categories like color photography and monochrome photography.
In pursuit of promoting Johnson artistic innovation, the JHS AV Production team joined with its crew of photographers this year: junior Zack Williams, junior JDean Nendoza, and senior Noah Alejandro.
“It’s really nice to have a competition like this,” Nendoza said. “I know a lot of schools, especially out of state, don’t really have this opportunity to bet on their craft. So, I think it’s really nice we have this privilege, and I’m really grateful.”
Out of the three, only Alejandro has experience competing against several hundred other Texan amateur photographers. He is following a previous loss and striving to curb it with a redeeming win this time around. Williams and Nendoza are sampling an attempt at proving big lens potential for the first time of their lives.
“I want to prove I’m the best,” Alejandro said. “I did a competition like this last year, and I didn’t place too good, so I’m coming back for revenge.”
In preparation for the contest, all three have been honing particular skills in correspondence with their craftsmanship evaluation. Williams has been looking to practice shooting more colorful environments, Nendoza to sharpen her angle dexterity for further interesting effect on her products, and Alejandro to supplement what encapsulates his style best.
“I have been working on different lighting techniques, and focusing more on unusual angles,” Alejandro said. “Because I just feel like my work in the past has been a little bit plain and I’m really starting to find my style. In saying, for example, I like low lighting settings, and if I can add a couple colors in my craft to make it pop– you know, just trying something a little out there you wouldn’t expect in a photo.”
Both Williams and Alejandro share a collective intent behind playing: prizes range from a brand new camera, cash prizes ranging from 200+ dollars, gift cards for classes, or publication. But Nendoza saw it through an opportunistic perspective of trying something catered to proving her visual eye— and the overall thrill in competing.
“I’m more in the competition for love of the game,” Nendoza said. “The prize is something I’m less interested in as the goal and more of a possible additional benefit.”
Competitors are permitted 16 submissions, and each of the school’s contestants posited three entries. Williams submitted two portraits and a panorama of the school’s architectural structure; Nendoza, a perspective shot of a building, a nature shot of trees, and a portrait of someone holding a camera to their face; and Alejandro, two portraits enhanced by different lighting techniques, and a nature stillshot of a butterfly on a flower.
“I submitted two portrait pictures and one architecture of the school, because we have a pretty fancy design of an institution,” Williams said. “Although, I want to practice my craft outside school in order to enhance it, hopefully– something to shoot that’s not just the same floors, same hallways, same interior. Its dull gray coloration really stumps my opportunities for creativity.”
Williams, as the rookie of the group, is the most apprehensive of the three for the winning results, directly contrasting Alejandro’s utmost confidence.
“I’d like to win, but I’m not confident in that happening, for I’m not that confident in my craft,” Williams said. “Also, since I’m going up against a bunch of other people, it’s nerve-wracking.”
As for contender incentive, photography presents itself as a school-issued and personal creative outlet for the three. The idea of capturing a “cool” moment serves Williams’ primary interest – the art of immortalizing something as fickle as time. Nendoza prefers the aspect of having free range exploring that imaginative fuse accompanying her daily work schedule, essentially having “freedom in mind.” At the end of the day, however, when class rolls around, Alejandro enjoys lighting that fuse and manifesting it into the real world.
“Photography lets me show my creative style,” Alejandro said. “It’s a pure art form and I just love to bring my innovation and imagination to life. It allows me to be as creative as possible, and I have a lot of ideas I want to come to life.”
