2025 Year in Review: A Reflective Look at Images of 2025
A number of events stood out for me during 2025. First was having the opportunity to visit the Rainbow Ski Field area in early February. It was a Marlborough Camera Club field trip and my first time exploring that part of the region. I was amazed at the vastness of the landscape and managed to capture several striking images throughout the day. I had planned to revisit during the winter, but because of the lack of snow the ski field was unable to open for the 2025 season.
In February I received an enquiry from my website, this gave me the opportunity to exhibit some of my work at the 60th Year Celebration of the Nelson Symphony Orchestra, with the exhibition to be held over the weekend of 14-15th June — an honour that required a lot of preparation and effort, but proved immensely rewarding to share my images with a wider audience. During the winter months I also took the chance to do some focused online learning, completing a Diploma in Video Production, a Diploma in Graphic Design and a Diploma in Photoshop; each course demanded time and concentration, and was well worth the commitment I invested.
I also attended a Creative Portrait Workshop in Nelson. I really enjoyed the workshop and learned a lot from the hands-on experience. The idea for the shoot began with an AI-generated concept created in Mid-journey, and then practical props such as the butterflies were purchased from K-Mart, with material for the background purchased at Spotlight. The workshop took place in a photography studio where one light was set up to create shadows on one side of the model, and we each had turns taking multiple photos of the model with props attached, including the butterflies. You were free to be as creative as you liked, blending different photographed elements in photoshop into the final image. That being said all elements of the final image were photographed and no AI was used. What I also learned was that you don’t need a professional studio to create work like this—a simple backdrop, such as a sheet, lets you produce a similar image at home.
In 2025 I have also focused more on writing Blogs, and I’ve been genuinely enjoying the process. With social media changing so dramatically, I’ve moved away from seeking quick internet validation for my photos and instead find that writing a thoughtful blog and creating a story around the images adds much more meaning and value to the work I produce. Expect to see more in 2026—I'll be aiming to publish a new blog post each week.
When reviewing the photos I took in 2025 and compiling a collection many would classify as their favourite images of the year, I prefer to showcase the photographs from 2025 that most clearly represent my personal style of photography.
Below is a small selection of photos taken during 2025 — a brief glimpse of the year’s landscapes, seascapes, and close-up moments. Hope you enjoy.
