Posted: April 29, 2026 by Colin Norland

2026 Portfolio First Place

A body of work that showcases the photographer’s vision and demonstrates versatility, expertise, and depth.

First Place: Sophia Buopane

St. Lawrence’s Drew Baker, #1, gets a hand to the face while guarding their opponent on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at George H. Clark Gymnasium. RIT Men’s Basketball Game vs. St. Lawrence.

Members of the Haudenosaunee Dancers dances in a circle during their tribute to Women Dance at Old Fort Niagara on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Firefighter Gerry Bucino watches the flag from the crane of the firetruck as it blows in the wind at Seneca One West Plaza on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Quarterback Josh Allen, #17, runs out the tunnel while the fans cheer him on at the Buffalo Bills Training Camp in the Polisseni Track and Field Complex on Wednesday Aug. 6, 2025.

Eric James “Badlands” Booker, American competitive eater and rapper, devours a chicken wing on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the 2025 National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo N.Y. Badlands is a world record holder for many national food eating contests

Classic Physique Competitor, Aidan Stacy poses for a portrait on Nov. 8 2025, at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester N.Y. Stacey has been competitve bodybuilding for the past five years. “This sport has done more then just change the way I look, its changed my mindset and the way I look at life,” he said. “Bodybuilding has taught me to push through pain, get uncomfortable, and never give up, even when its hard.”

17 Pill Bottles

17 pill bottles once lined the countertop of former U.S. Marine RJ Sirianni. During his service in Iraq, an IED detonated beneath his unit’s vehicle, and Sirianni was the only survivor. After returning home, he struggled with traumatic brain injury, chronic migraines, and severe PTSD, eventually turning to alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms. While undergoing treatment through the VA, he was stabilized in the psych ward and placed on 17 different medications, though over time those prescriptions were gradually reduced until he fully discontinued them in 2021. Today, Sirianni manages his PTSD through plant medicines, nature-based healing, and daily practices like gardening and exercise, while sharing his journey to show others that meaningful, long-term healing is possible.

RJ harvests his garden for the winter and collects the last remaining vegetables on the plants on Oct. 10 2025, at his home in Rochester N.Y. “My garden is like my mental help, every year I tackle another part of it. Im never going to be finishing my mental health journey because there will always be things to work on. Similarly with my garden, every year there will be something I want to work on, like the new bed for next year.”

While harvesting his garden for winter, RJ rips out a stem of a pepper plant on Oct. 10 2025, at his home in Rochester N.Y. No matter what he’s doing outside, Sirianni never wears shoes. He wants to be able to feel the Earth beneath him, and feel its energy.

A bountiful spread of freshly picked vegetables sit on a towel next to some yoga blocks on Oct. 10 2025, at 145 Grecian Parkway in Rochester N.Y. With the food harvested from his garden, Rj makes food not only for himself, but for co-workers, friends, and the people in his life he cares for the most

RJ, left, and teaching assistant Charmaine Williams help unload a tub of food to be given to the Freddie Thomas Middle School and the Wilson Manga High school on Nov. 22 2025, at Joint Heirs Community Outreach, in Rochester N.Y. Sirianni works as the Volunteer Coordinator at the Center for Community Alternatives, a recovery community for individuals navigating addiction, mental health challenges, homelessness, and reentry from the prison system. On Thursdays, he help distribute food instead of being at the office. Sirianni says, “Its the most beautiful thing.”

Old photos from RJ’s time in the marines are places on his counter on Dec. 10, 2025, at his home in Rochester N.Y. All of these photos were taken in Iraq. “For a war zone, it was quite beautiful at times. We took over this one house that sat on the Euphrates River. So every day I got to see sunrises on Sunset right on the river.

RJ reaches his arms out and closes his eyes during group yoga on Oct. 2 2025, at Rochester Community Inclusive Rowing in Rochester N.Y. Sirianni goes to yoga every Thursday night and helps him ground and center himself, but it also helps with recover from hard hockey practices.

RJ always wears his bracelet even while working to distribute food to members of the community on Nov. 22 2025, at Joint Heirs Community Outreach, in Rochester N.Y. “Keep going.” It’s one of the many mottos Sirianni lives by, carried with him everywhere he goes. The bracelet on his wrist isn’t just an accessory, it’s a daily reminder to push, endure, and move forward no matter what the day brings.

RJ looks out at the edge of a clif to take in the view on Oct. 13 2025, at Letchworth State Park in Letchworth N.Y. Going hiking, especially when the leafs change colors is something Sirianni does every year. He finds beauty in the nature around him, one of the many tools he uses to continue his recovery journey. “I have been waiting to see this view for two years now. For the past two years, I’ve come down in hopes of seeing all of the leaves, changing color, but either I’m too early or too late. This year it was just right.”

Built Not Born

For Ally Hogan, her rookie bodybuilding season began long before she stepped under the stage lights. The 26-year-old Williamsville resident spent her days balancing early morning cardio, weight training, posing practice and strict meal preparation, all in pursuit of the National Physique Committee Western New York Championships. “Built Not Born” follows Hogan through the physical demands and quiet routines of her competition prep, showing how months of discipline, sacrifice and support from those around her culminated in a winning performance and the Overall Fit Model Title at Buffalo RiverWorks on July 19, 2025.

Ally practices her posing under the posing room lights at Pro Muscle Lifting Club on Sunday July 13, 2025.

Ally drives to gym, sometimes as early as five in the morning, to do cardio and lift before going to her full time job at Prodigy Surgical on Friday July 18, 2025.

Built Not Born
Ally preps one of her multiple meals before she heads out of the house for the rest of the day at her home on Sunday July 13, 2025.

Ally practices her posing in front of International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Professional Jessica Koston who held a posing seminar at Pro Muscle Lifting Club on Sunday July 13, 2025.

Alex Webb, Ally’s training and nutrition coach helps her push through the last couple of reps of the pendulum squats at his private gym on Thursday July 10, 2025.

Ally ends her workout with 35 minutes of cardio on the stairmaster at Pro Muscle Lifting Club on Sunday July 13, 2025.

Ally and her boyfriend, Jordan Burke hold each others hand as they finish making their custom tee shirts for backstage at her home on Sunday July 13, 2025.

Ari Marinelli, Ally’s make up artist draws on a under eye liner in preparation for the Western New York Championships at her home on Saturday July 19, 2025.

Pure Luxe Spray Tanning owner, Shanna Sengillo gives Ally her final coat of tan on the morning of the Western New York Championships on Saturday July 19, 2025.

Ally steps on stage for the first time during the Western New York Championships at Buffalo RiverWorks on Saturday July 19, 2025.

Jordan Burke gazes over at Ally and offers her a bit of his cookie after competing in the Western New York Championships at Buffalo RiverWorks on Saturday July 19, 2025.

Ally gives her dad, Chuck Hogan a hug when she returns to her family after stepping off stage during the Western New York Championships at Buffalo RiverWorks on Saturday July 19, 2025.

Category: Uncategorized