My 10 Favourite Shots of 2025

We are at the end of another year, a time when I look back and reflect on all that happened and was accomplished.

Photography wise, it was a busy year for me. I finished shooting my latest photo project which I plan to finalise in the coming weeks, ready to display on my website and elsewhere in the new year. I also dedicated most of my summer to shooting a project based around my local community which I will hopefully be able to show off very soon. I was also lucky enough to have two of my photos displayed in two street photography exhibitions in East London. I accomplished my goal of receiving my first LFI Master Shot honour, as well as getting a few featured photos on the freshly launched Irys app and even had one of my pictures shared by the official Leica Instagram account. I took a couple of photography trips to Germany, one to Berlin at the beginning of the year and a couple of months later I was lucky enough to visit Leica HQ in Wetzlar.

These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.

In no particular order:

1 - Teddy

The majority of my year was spent shooting for my “Timeless” project. At the beginning of the year, I made a list of all these type of events that I could find throughout the year, to give me the best chance of creating some work I am proud of. This image was taken in November at the Chap Magazine’s Grand Flaneur Winter Walk. I was very tired that day from a late one the night before, but I managed to get some photographs I quite liked, such as this gentleman on Jermyn Street.

2 - This is the Way

A rare artistic street shot from me this year, I noticed how the morning light created these strong arrow shapes on the ground, when combined by the reflection of the office window. The floating bus in the background was an unexpected bonus when I took the shot. 

The strong light here quickly faded after five minutes so this was definitely a case of being in the right place at the right time. 

3 - Swinging 60’s

Goodwood Revival again proved to be the most fun weekend of the year. Despite the grim weather at times, the event provided more photo opportunities than any other. This picture was taken “Over the road” in their fairground area where the timing of this boy’s carefree expression provided me a wonderful image and won me an LFI Mastershot award.

4 - Autumn is Served

I didn’t get much time for traditional street photography this year, but I did spend a couple of days exploring the city and stumbled onto this scene of a guy testing out his tennis swing in the middle of the Barbican centre. This image, along with 32 others was up on display as part of the “Still in Autumn” street photography exhibition, organised by Mark Luke Grant.

5 - Pleasure to meet you

My camera bag this year almost exclusively carried my Leica M10, a 50mm and 28mm lens and my Yashica Mat TLR film camera. I am still getting to grips with the latter system, working out which situations it works best and when is not worth wasting a frame. Every so often though it gives me magic like this and I remember why I have been carrying the extra kilogram of weight around with me.

6 - Shellshocked

I attended a few wartime re-enactment events this year. The volunteers who attend in appropriate dress are very passionate and knowledgeable about their history. I was having a good conversation with this gentleman when the truck he was sitting in started pulling away and he got worried for my safety. The frame I fired off at this moment accurately captured the drama that I was looking for. 

7 - Lady in Red

One of my favourite candid shots that I shot this year, I spotted this scene taking place in front of me and managed to capture the moment when the girl on the left’s hat perfectly hid her eyes, drawing more attention to the lips and creating an extra sense of mystery as to her identity.

8 - Zelley’s

When I was capturing vintage scenes from the 1950’s, I was attending every summer event in the local area trying to put together a collection that represents the town and community. I decided to make portraits of the long-standing market traders and small business owners, including this one of jeweller owner Martin Zelley and his calm-natured dog. 

I found the whole project a real exercise in getting out of my comfort zone to network and create a quick rapport with people before asking for their portrait. 

9 - Rod the Mod

My first trip to the Brighton Mod Weekender provided a great day out in the sunshine. I got chatting to a few interesting people and got some nice street portraits including this handsome gentleman who was minding his own business, relaxing on his Vespa bike.

10 - Dirty Deal

This final photo was taken at a military airshow in the spring. The first day out shooting with my new Summilux lens, I spotted these two gentlemen walking past and knew I had to convince them to pose for me in front of this German plane. After sacrificing my unfinished choc ice and with a bit of sweet talk, I captured this shot which fits exactly into my goal of creating modern takes on eras long gone by.

Thank you for viewing my favourite photos from this year and reading what I have to say about them. Please do drop any comments or questions you have in the box below.

As I use the winter break to recharge my photographic brain and plan what I want out of next year, I look forward to many more adventures with my cameras next year and hopefully more shots that I am proud of.

Happy New Year and all the best for 2026.

Luke

Rolleiflex, Summilux or M3?

Just like most hobbyist photographers, I suffer from a nasty condition known as G.A.S or “Gear acquisition syndrome”. You could argue that photography is as much about the process of taking photos as it is about the finished result, so using gear that I find inspiring, is important to me.

After saving up for many years I was finally able to purchase my dream camera a couple of years ago - the Leica M10. I have already created many happy memories and lovely photographs with my Leica and still relish going out shooting with it. This does not stop the thoughts of trying other camera systems out though. I am regularly tempted by a YouTube video or a nice photo I see online, to try something new and see what results I can get. There are so many cameras I would love to try but these ideas are at direct odds with my desire for a simple one camera, one lens life.

As we are now coming into summertime, I am starting to think about my big purchase for 2024 and what it could be. My thoughts and opinions often change but luckily for my wallet, I am not a very impulsive person. Over these last few months, off the top of my head, the cameras I have thought about buying are: Leica Q, Hasselblad 500C/M, Leica Sofort 2, Fuji X Pro, Sony A7 III, Leica T, Rollei 35, Leica M9, and Olympus OM1.

These camera obsessions come and go but there are three items that remain constant objects of desire for one reason or another. Two camera’s and one lens. All of them with the chance that they won’t live up to the hype and image I have built up in my head after so much research but all three that, hopefully, when I’m lucky enough to own them, I’ll create many memories with and hold onto for many years.

The only question is, which should I go for first?

Rolleiflex 3.5F

The Rolleiflex TLR. An iconic camera that many people will recognise. The huge 6x6 negative that come out of this thing, combined with the amazing Zeiss optics, produce such high-quality photographs in the right light. The shooting experience will be the biggest difference to what I’m used to - surely similar to getting used to a rangefinder after using a DSLR - and will hopefully train my creative eye in new ways. And just look at it - is this the most beautiful camera ever made? Surely a contender. I would love to own something of real quality that was made in the 1950’s or 1960’s that still works flawlessly today, I think the Rolleiflex could be it. My dream is to pick up a perfect condition 3.5F model and use it to capture classic car shows in the summer and street portraits in the winter.

Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH

The 50mm ‘Lux is a lens I have lusted after for many years. As a predominantly 50mm shooter, the combination of the world class optics, small size, fast aperture and attractive design, make the Summilux seem like the ultimate lens for me. I’ve also recently been drawn to its unique flare that can really make an image stand out when used correctly. This particular model - the aspherical version 1 - was made from 2004 until 2023 when it was replaced by the new (in my opinion inferior) version. Just vintage enough to be interesting but modern enough to stand up with any lens made today and produce better images.

When I first got my M10, I paired it with the Chinese knockoff of this lens, the TTArtisan 50mm f1.4. Though I am fond of the images I was able to capture with that lens, the size and weight always put me off carrying it and, to me, it looks so ugly on the front of such a beautiful camera. I really do love my 50mm Summicron but until I try it, I am always going to wonder if the Summilux is the perfect companion to an M for me.

Leica M3

The legendary Leica M3. One of the world’s most famous cameras. Responsible for many of history’s most famous photographs and is still renowned for its build quality, innovations it brought to the camera world and smooth and simple user experience. To own an M3 would mean owning a piece of history and to find out for myself if it really is the pinnacle of Leica rangefinders. This year marks the M3’s 70th birthday in 1954 so what better time to pick one up, while they are still being serviced and while prices still have not gone stratospheric! I’d pair it with my 50mm Summicron and roam the streets like Henri Cartier-Bresson, keeping both eyes open and composing shots through its gorgeous 0.91 rangefinder.

I really do want to add all three of these items to my camera cabinet but for now I’m thinking about what will get used the most, what will give me the biggest difference to what I shoot with currently and what I will be able to produce the nicest images with.

It might be a case of which one I come across for a good deal/good condition first.

Currently though, I’m leaning towards the Rolleifllex.