NASA Johnson Photographers Capture Top Honors in Portrait Competition at 2025 Imagery Awards

Three Visionaries Behind the Lens

Every portrait tells a story—but when the subjects are astronauts, engineers, and mission controllers, the stakes are as high as the orbits they explore. At the 2025 NASA Imagery Experts Program Annual Awards, three photographers from NASA’s Johnson Space Center earned top honors in the portrait category for their ability to translate human spaceflight’s precision, collaboration, and creativity into unforgettable images. The ceremony, held on April 20, 2026, in Las Vegas, celebrated their work and the visual narratives that bring NASA’s mission to life.

Award-Winning Photographers

First Place: David DeHoyos

David DeHoyos, a Houston native born in 1963, has always been shaped by his city’s dual legacy of arts and aerospace. After graduating from Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 1981 with a specialization in photography, he spent a decade refining his technical skills in photo labs before joining Johnson’s photography department in 1991. “This opportunity fulfilled a lifelong ambition,” DeHoyos noted, reflecting on his childhood during the Apollo era and his dream of contributing to NASA’s mission. He considers himself honored to work among a team he describes as wonderful people and, more importantly, friends.

DeHoyos’ winning portrait features ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during her official NASA portrait session. He sought to capture her quiet, thoughtful presence, remarking that her kindness and friendly nature allowed his creativity to flow. “Sophie is so kind and friendly with a beautiful presence,” he said. “Being around her made everyone feel good.”

Second Place: Josh Valcarcel

Josh Valcarcel brings over two decades of professional photography and videography experience, including work as a staff photographer at WIRED magazine and a mass communication specialist in the U.S. Navy. Since joining Johnson as a scientific photographer in 2017, he has documented everything from flight deck operations to astronaut training. His award-winning image features NASA astronaut Jessica Meir posing with an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit. Valcarcel explained that Jessica’s quiet presence reflects years of preparation, passion, and responsibility. “She understands, more clearly than most of us ever will, the fragility of the body, the precision of systems, and the narrow margins within which exploration unfolds,” he said.

Third Place: Bill Stafford

Bill Stafford rounded out the trio of honorees. His contributions to documenting engineering tests, astronaut training, and mission control operations—alongside DeHoyos and Valcarcel—demonstrate the breadth of visual storytelling at Johnson Space Center.

Behind the Imagery: The Heart of Human Spaceflight

These photographers capture more than just faces; they record the collaboration, precision, and creativity that drive human space exploration forward. From the intensity of training simulations to the calm confidence of an astronaut in a spacesuit, their work bridges the gap between technical achievement and human emotion. Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche congratulated the team, noting that their breathtaking imagery “represents the collaboration, precision, and creativity that drive human space exploration forward.”

The 2025 NASA Imagery Experts Program Annual Awards recognized not only technical excellence but also the power of a single portrait to inspire the world. As DeHoyos, Valcarcel, and Stafford continue to document the people and work central to NASA’s mission, their images remain a testament to the art of seeing beyond the frame.