Another year has ended: So let’s look back at 2025, more specifically, my street photography and the 12 shots I love the most.
Making the selection of just 12 photos I like best this year was tough. My first selection was around 30-40 good photos. I had to get it down to just 12.
But how do you choose these photos? Just the most aesthetically pleasing ones? Or do you go for the most meaningful ones? Meaningful to me or to the world? Or is it just a combination of all those?
I was also trying to fight my recency bias. Obviously, I like the photos I made recently more than my older ones. Though not only because of the recency bias. My style has changed a lot since the start of the year.
So funnily enough, all my favorite photos are from the second half of 2025, because that’s when I started to discover my own style.
I have ordered the photos in chronological order, just because I feel that’s a natural way to sort them.
Borgerhout, June 2025
I spotted this guy with the checkered wifebeater at an event called Borgerrio—a carnival-type event in the city of Antwerp. In combination with the checkered road painting, I found it interesting to shoot it.
A photo I attribute to a recent street photo workshop. Before that, I wouldn’t make these combination-style photos. So I feel this photo is a milestone in a new type of subject for me.
Amsterdam, July 2025
I walked past this mirror cube in Amsterdam three times that day. The final time I saw this man using an electric shaver. I walked up to him and asked if it was okay to take the photo.
He asked me ‘why’, I explained, and then he continued shaving, allowing me two photos.
Amsterdam, July 2025
At some point while roaming Amsterdam, I found this flower. I noticed how it matched the plastic meshing used to cover the scaffolding. I was surprised by how close my 28mm lens allowed me to focus.
Antwerp, August 2025
I was strolling around my hometown, Antwerp, when I decided to try the 50mm again—focusing it on the mirror of the metro stop Opera, a street photographer’s favorite. At one point, I got lucky, and these guys got up the escalator while a group of men passed behind me. Only one of them was reflecting on the window. I’m not sure why, but I just find it a very pleasing image.
Brussels, September 2025
I’m not sure how often I have photographed this spot. But I am ‘sick’ of it. That was also what I was thinking as I roamed the area this time. But this time, something happened. While considering how I was sick of this place, I noticed these five guys in their priestly wardrobes—crossing the intersection.
I didn’t hesitate and immediately started photographing, making one of my favorite shots of this year. On a place I feel is overshot.
Brussels, September 2025
The same day as the photo above, actually. In the afternoon, there was a big protest against our government’s silence on the genocide in Gaza. In the morning, I did some street photography in Brussels, and in the afternoon, I joined the protest and documented it.
I saw these three guys draped in flags, in a moment of silence, almost like a short meditation. I pointed my camera at the guy on the right while looking at him (as he had spotted me); he nodded slightly, and I took the shot.
Antwerp, September 2025
The Zuiderterras was reopened this year. After being closed for years for renovation, it had become a new playground (to me). One of the fun things is photographing the many tourists through the puddles there.
I found this one puddle that reflected the statue and the lighting posts nicely. I then waited for tourists to pass by. One of the shots of this year I find very pleasing to the eye.
Oostende, September 2025
This year, as last year, I decided to walk along the entire Belgian coast—around 75km. In two days, I hiked along the beach from one side to the other.
A day before starting, I arrived in Oostende to check in at my hotel, get settled, and do some street photography. My first sight of the beach was one immediately improved by the sight of a cat.
I saw this woman walking her cat, letting it explore and use the beach as a giant litter box. I found it such a funny scene, I decided to snap this photo.
Oostduinkerke, September 2025
The second day of my beach hike, the weather had turned… a lot. I had headwinds all day. Though I wasn’t the only person on the beach that day, I definitely was the only one walking into the wind.
You can decide for yourself if that makes me stupid or stubborn. I know it’s both. Anyway, I find this a lovely photo to remind me of that day. It also reminds me I shouldn’t have chosen the 28mm for photographing at a mostly empty beach.
Antwerp, October 2025
One thing I found helpful in getting more comfortable with photographing people recognizably was visiting events like this one at the Antwerp Trek Marathon. Along the route, I saw this construction site draped in plastic sheets to keep in the dust.
It formed a good backdrop, photographing the several participants and their crowd.
London, December 2025
Visiting London for the first time in such a long time was very fun. I hadn’t done any street photography there yet, so I was excited and nervous.
At Westminster, on day one, I saw a couple having their bridal shoot. Immediately, I enjoyed taking the photos of their behind-the-scenes. The location, the setting sun, it is a peak London photo to me.
London, December 2025
Another one from London, a few days later. I was walking through Chinatown in the morning when I noticed a spot of light on a passerby. Together with the lanterns, it would make for an interesting photo.
I squatted down, framed my camera, and waited for people to go through the frame. It being London, no one minded being in the shot. Another significant next step for me in photographing strangers.
Notable street photo mentions of 2025
I made a lot more photos this year. About 1000 got exported from Lightroom. But ofcourse, lots of them are just okay or would only work in a series.
I still wanted to show you the shortlist. So here’s a little carousel with photos that didn’t make it into the top 12, but are definitely nice ones too.
Hey there! Just a quick heads up: this article has a few affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I earn a little something at no extra cost to you. It’s a great way to support the site, so thank you for checking it out!