Photography Portfolio Sydney Ortiz - NSPA 2024

The Panthers form a wall as Nimitz tries to capitalize on the free kick awarded on a penalty by goalkeeper Noah Laughlin. The kick hit the cross bar and led to a clearance.

I was taking photos of the Kingwood Park vs. Nimitz game. As the boys started creating their wall, I knew each player would have their own emotions and positioning showcased before the kick. I think each player adds a little something different and unique to the image as the ball is fired at them. (Click on photo for full image.)

Senior Rowan Ascencio turns to scream with friend Kaden Carter as their friends walk across the stage at graduation on May 25 at NRG Stadium.

Senior Kaden Carter was the loudest student in the crowd after he graduated. He cheered for all his friends. I knelt down right next to his friend Rowan Ascencio and diagonal to Carter. I heard Carter whisper into Ascencio’s ear that their friend was about to come on stage, and so I quickly turned around to get their expressions. They were loving their final moments of high school together. (Click on photo for full image.)

A young girl on San Antonio's River Walk stands on her tippy toes watching the worker make her raspa.

I was participating in the photography contest in TAJE’s Fall Fiesta and walking through the streets of San Antonio. I loved seeing the life on the streets of the city and capturing small moments happening. While my classmates were taking photos of the kids on a playground I saw a little girl looking to buy a snow cone. I ran over and knelt down to capture the moment of her on her tippy toes. (Click on photo for full image.)

Coach Christian Boehm becomes frustrated with officiating in the final minutes of the scrimmage against Nimitz. He received one of the yellow cards issued. Both teams received multiple yellow cards and Nimitz also received a red card.

With emotions high in the Nimitz vs. Kingwood Park scrimmage, I was looking for a way to capture boys soccer coach Christian Boehm's reactions. I knelt on the turf and waited for the perfect reaction. (Click on photo for full image.)

Junior Harrison Walters talks to Bowen Gray during a pitching change on March 28 at Ed Rinehart Park in New Caney. Walters started helping coach the team at the beginning of the spring. He leads practices, helps with the pitchers and teaches the catchers. “The players really look up to (Walters),” head coach Dustin Lindsey said. “They see him as an older brother.”

I was working on a story about sophomore Harrison Walters, who is the nephew of LA Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. Walters, who dreams of working in the front office of a Major League Baseball franchise, volunteers as a coach for a local team of 9 year olds. I wanted to show a side of him those at school never see, so I went to a game he was coaching in a neighboring town. I stood behind a fence a little bit left of home base. In this moment as the sun was setting, I was trying to capture Walters comforting a player during a pitching change with their shadows in the frame. (Click on photo for full image.)

Personal Statement