Several SVHS students placed in the Association of Texas Photography Instructors’ annual fall photo competition.
The students include Alina Gonzalez, who placed 3rd in the advanced studio portrait category; Enrique Hernandez, who placed 2nd in the beginning fine art category; Siena Kelly, who placed 2nd place in the beginning thematic category and won an honorable mention in the student life category; Ethan Sager, who won an honorable mention in advanced animal photography; Nick Exner, who won an honorable mention in advanced nature photography; Diego Diaz who won an honorable mention in the beginning documentary category; Jimena Aceves, who won an honorable mention in beginning studio photography; and Sergio De Alba, who won an honorable mention in beginning student life.
Additionally, Mr. Mitchell, SVHS’s photography teacher, was awarded an honorable mention in the faculty single image category.
The competition, which judged 6767 submissions from select states and Great Britain this year, recognizes the achievements of talented photography students and teachers, which have included other SVHS students in the past. This year, Sonoma Valley high school was one of two California schools that placed.
“[When I placed], I was kind of surprised and in shock because it was one of the first contests I entered,” said Alina Gonzalez, who is a junior in Mr. Mitchell’s Photography 2 class. “I felt really proud of myself despite doubting that I would place… I was actually not going to submit that photo at all.”
“My photography teacher told me about [the award] and encouraged me to submit photos,” said Ethan Sager, a senior, who is also in Mr. Mitchell’s Photography 2 class. Ethan has been taking pictures since he was young. “I’d take my parents phone and take pictures of sunsets, nature, [and] really anything I thought was cool,” he said.
Gonzalez also has been interested in photography for a long time. “I’ve always liked taking pictures, but my interest [in photography] was sparked even more in Photography 1, and after that I started photographing more,” she said.
