I generally agree with the sentiment that we should try to be kinder to ourselves. Narcissists aside, we’re all probably a little harder on ourselves than we need to be. Maybe that’s a bit of projection on my part, or maybe there’s some truth there. Regardless, I’m going to try to extend some of that grace to myself in regard to my 2025 photo efforts.
I don’t want to offer up any excuses but, to be fair, a lot of my photographic energy was burned off through creating thousands of frames of marching band shows, track meets, graduations, senior photos, robotics competitions and the like. There are some great images among those shots to be sure, but I generally don’t share those kinds of photos in this space.
I generally reserve this top ten for images taken specifically for their “artistic” merits and for no other purpose. In terms of a headcount on those types of shots I took in 2025, we’re looking at historic lows. Think “attendees at a hobo funeral” low and you start to get the idea. This is probably the fewest photos I’ve taken just for myself since I got into photography more than two decades ago.
So that’s where the initiative to be kind to myself comes in. Instead of laboring over if this is a turning point in my creative journey or worrying about if I’ve just lost it all together, I’m going to allow myself some grace. We all have off days, months, or (in this case) years. That’s okay. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all over.
I was hesitant to even compile the 2025 photo post because of the quantity and quality of photos available. But as you can see, I relented. Is this selection the best ten photos I’ve ever compiled? No. No it isn’t. But, it’s worth documenting this stage of my creative journey good or bad, because no one really knows whether we’re nearing a grand finale, or we’re just getting to juicy part where things are going to start getting interesting. For now, I’m going to be kind to myself and wait to find out.
Valves in Repose | ƒ/3.2 | 160 mm | 1/500 | iso 100 | 9.5.25
I always like these kind of shots where you pull out one detail and try to abstract the rest of a busy object, in this case, the valves of a marching euphonium waiting to be picked up.
Flags of the Fall | ƒ/2.5 | 50.0 mm | 1/60 | iso 160 | 9.12.25
Members of the local high school color guard team silhouetted against a farm landscape at sunset was too juicy of a an image to resist.
Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeno Cheetos | ƒ/5.6 | 59 mm | 1/60 | iso 1000 | 1.28.25
Another shot in my ongoing series, “Things I’m Not Eating Anymore,” a particular flavor of Cheetos I struggle mightily with.
Green Key Drop | ƒ/4.0 | 50 mm | 1/100 | iso 100 | 2.25.26
I’m always trying to mix patterns with minimalism with varying degrees of success. This image is a nice addition to that collection.
Wilson 1 | ƒ/3.2 | 168 mm | 1/200 | iso 100 | 10.2.25
Speaking of patterns. I’ve taken a variation of this “colorful object breaks a pattern” hundreds of times. This one doesn’t stand out particularly, but I still like it.
Jet Records | ƒ/2.8 | 50 mm | 1/60 | iso 100 | 4.7.25
These colorful 45s in a local music shop caught my eye.
pRetzels | ƒ/6.3 | 70 mm | 1/250 | iso 500 | 4.4.25
I always am drawn to signage with a stark contrast to its background. The added element of minor decay in the shot just added to my enjoyment of it.
It’s an Illlluuuusion! | ƒ/2.8 | 24 mm | 1/250 | iso 100 | 5.22.25
A museum of illusions served as a nice playground for some mind bending shots, including this fun silhouette of one of the boys taking it all in.
The Spring Rush | ƒ/16.0 | 24 mm | 1/2 | 100 | 5.20.25
Another year, another trip to Rickett’s Glen. It wasn’t my most productive year as the focus was more on hiking than photographing, but this shot is still has something going for it, including some decent leading lines.
Safety First | ƒ/3.5 | 32 mm | 1/60 | iso 400 | 1.17.25
I love abstracting form and color and this box of semi-transparent safety glasses at a robotics competition provided ample amounts of both.
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