Marksmen Shine in Photography Spotlight
St. Mark’s photography students received significant accolades in recent state and international competitions.
“These boys push each other to continually grow and get better,” said Scott Hunt, photography teacher and Arnold E. Holtberg Master Teaching Chair. “For me, there’s immense satisfaction in being able to demonstrate to boys that their hard work and commitment does pay off.”
The Association of Texas Photography Instructors recently juried their annual “Top Program” competition with participating schools submitting four, ten image portfolios from nine possible categories. This year, St. Mark’s entered images in the Architecture, Commercial/Advertising, Portrait, and Still Life categories, earning a 1st Place award for every category and were named “Top Program” for the 16th time in 19 years.
Reflecting on his creative process, Sebastian Gonzalez said, “Mr. Hunt has always emphasized just going out there and doing something even if you have no idea what to do. Once you get past that mental barrier of wanting to understand it all beforehand, everything becomes much easier.”
Reflecting on his creative process, Sebastian Gonzalez said, “Mr. Hunt has always emphasized just going out there and doing something even if you have no idea what to do. Once you get past that mental barrier of wanting to understand it all beforehand, everything becomes much easier.”
Photographers whose photographs were included in the portfolios are:
Terrence Cao ’28
Peter Clark ’27
Jake Deboever ’26
Sebastian Gonzalez ’26
Leo Hughes ’27
Asher Ridzinski ’27
Harry Sabogal ’28
Noah Saenz ’27
Max Bean ’26
Akul Mittal ’25
Joseph Stalder ’26
Tiger Yang ’25
Deven Aurora ’27
Matthew Hofmann ’27
Jacob Lobdell ’25
Will Steinbrueck ’26
Matthew Freeman ’25
Bryan Li ’28
Twelve St. Mark’s Photography students also received recognition in the Texas Photographic Society’s (TPS) 2025 International Student Competition. Of the six photographic categories, Marksmen won 1st Place in four, and Leo Hughes ’27 was honored with “Best in Show.”
After finding out the photo of his grandmother was awarded “Best in Show,” Leo Hughes felt it was important to share the news with her, “Immediately I knew that I had to tell my Grandma. She always wanted to be in one of my photos, and this is the only one that I have ever taken of her.”
Best in Show
Leo Hughes ’27
Documentary/Photojournalism
1st Place: Sebastian Gonzalez ’26
3rd Place: Joseph Stalder ’26
Honorable Mention: Mac Saye ’27
Honorable Mention: Asher Ridzinski ’27
Fine Art / Abstract
1st Place: Noah Saenz ’27
3rd Place: Deven Aurora ’27
Honorable Mention: Jake DeBoever ’26
Landscape
1st Place: Sebastian Gonzalez ’26
2nd Place: Terrence Cao ’28
Honorable Mention: Kazim Hussain ’26
Honorable Mention: Max Bean ’26
People/ Portraits
2nd Place: Asher Ridzinski ’27
3rd Place: Terrence Cao ’28
Honorable Mention: Leo Hughes ’27
Still Life
1st Place: Max Bean ’26
2nd Place: Ali Khimji ’27
Honorable Mention: Joseph Stalder ’26
Honorable Mention: Leo Hughes ’27
In partnership with the Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI), the 2025 TPS International Student Competition, held annually, showcases the next generation of visual storytellers and aims to elevate youth voices through the art of photography. Winning students receive a complimentary one-year TPS student membership and have their work featured in an online gallery.
“One of the things that I love about the St. Mark’s photo program is that it stretches our creativity,” Hughes said. “With each new assignment, we learn new styles and techniques that we were not previously comfortable with.”
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Photo by Sebastian Gonzalez ’26
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Photo by Leo Hughes ’27
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Photo by Jacob Lobdell ’25
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Photo by Noah Saenz ’27
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Photo by Asher Ridzinski ’27
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Photo by Harry Sabogal ’28
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Photo by Max Bean ’26
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Photo by Tiger Yang ’25
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
