We asked our Sony Artisans Of Imagery and Alpha Collective members to submit their favorite images of 2025. See Part 4 of this five-part series below, featuring travel and street photography from the jet-setting creators who like to explore different places with their cameras. If you want more info on how to tell better stories through street photography, check out our Street Photography 101 course on Alpha Camera Academy.
ICYMI, here's Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Check back to Alpha Universe tomorrow as we count down to 2025 with the final part of the series.
Peter McBride
Photo by Peter McBride. Alpha 1. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master.
“I was in Cuba documenting a cultural exchange program with world class musicians and teenagers. Students from Cuba met up with kids from New Orleans, none of whom had been out of the U.S. before, and came together to play music. This dancing scene arrived after the teachers and kids decided to walk through the streets of Havana, playing their instruments loudly and carefree. The pure joy of this musical moment will stay with me for a long time.”
“In light of current politics, this Cuban cultural exchange program that typically takes place every year was recently cancelled. This moment of musical joy was a rare, once-in-a-lifetime experience for those American and Cuban kids and thus a favorite for me in 2025. These young people were connecting through music and dance across cultural, linguistic and political divides, showing how we are more alike than we are divided.”
Katrin Eismann
Photo by Katrin Eismann. Alpha 1 II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“Experiencing people of faith is fascinating, grounding, and inspiring. Traveling in Turkey exposed me to a modern country rooted in centuries of conquest, religion, and culture. I had always wanted to photograph the whirling dervish ceremony and I approached the scene with a slow shutter and wide-angle to capture the ecstasy of movement.”
“With one image I have learned about faith, meditation, and movement. I learned that the central figure in black at the center of the Sama ceremony is the Postnişin (or Sheikh/master of the semazen), and the black cloak (hırka) he and the other dervishes wear at the start of the ceremony symbolizes the grave of the ego. I love how photography can teach, expand, and deepen our appreciation and understanding of the world.”
Ira Block
Photo by Ira Block. Alpha 1 II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“I gravitated to this scene of young monks in Bhutan coming in and out of this temple and the array of footwear in front of it. Everything seemed busy and frenetic. I waited for a while to photograph the final moment of this scene - the last kid running through the doorway with his foot dangling out.”
“This photograph is meaningful to me because it reflects my image-making throughout the year. I made images of simple moments with complex compositions that unravel the story, while showing the chaos. Metaphorically, it reflects the pandemonium in the world and how we deal with it.”
Brian Smith
Photo by Brian Smith. Alpha 7R IV. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II.
"Barcelona's Gaudi architecture has long been on my bucket list, on our way to Croatia, we made a stop in Barcelona which allowed me to photograph Sagrada Familia."
"My favorite vacation camera is and Infrared-modified Alpha 7R IV, because it allows me to capture images that reflect not just what I see - but how I feel while on vacation."
Monaris
Photo by Monaris. Alpha 1 II. 28-70mm f/2.8 G Master.
“Captured in India early in the morning as the day began to wake up. The light was soft, the river calm, and for a short window, everything aligned.”
“This image feels like a deep exhale. It reminds me why I travel, why I slow down, and why I photograph in the first place. It’s quiet, layered, and full of life all at once and it holds a moment I’ll never experience the same way again.”
Vince Lim
Photo by Vince Lim. Alpha 1 II. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“I took this photo to the Yi Peng Lantern festival in Chiang Mai using the Alpha 1 II and 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II. Every year this festival happens to honor Buddha, release bad luck, and welcome good fortune in the new year. I was lucky enough to get elevated seats, and at a wide angle, tried to capture as many lantern releases in the frame.”
Jérôme Poirier
Photo by Jérôme Poirier. Alpha 7 IV. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master.
“Photo taken at arguably the most picture perfect property around Kawaguchi-ko in Japan. The square window facing the iconic Mount Fuji perfectly frames the most famous natural landmark of Japan. This photo is meaningful to me, not because this photo is particularly "hard" or challenging to snap, but rather because it represents years efforts building up my luxury hotels and hospitality portfolio, to finally being able to shoot at one of the most desirable stays I've been wanting to shoot at, in my own country.”
Sal D’Alia
Photo by Sal D’Alia. RX1R III.
“This was shot on my first outing with the Sony RX1R III, high above the city at The Edge. There’s something about it that feels like an old New York print, even though it’s a modern moment—one more layer in a city that’s always evolving.”
“This image stands out to me because it captures a rare balance between past and present. It feels like an old New York print, yet I know it was made in a very specific, modern moment, It reminds me why I love photography: the ability to freeze a moment that will never exist again, even in a place that feels endlessly familiar. This photo marks both a personal beginning and a reminder that New York is always becoming something new.”
Quay Hu
Photo by Quay Hu. Alpha 1. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master.
"Coming from Florida, where the shoreline is mostly flat and familiar, standing in front of towering cliffs like this felt unreal. Watching the sun sink low in the sky, painting everything in soft gold and warm pastels, made the moment feel even more special. The waves crashed into the rocks with perfect timing. Powerful, rhythmic, and dramatic in a way I’d never experienced before. Shooting in burst mode allowed me to capture that exact split second when the ocean exploded against the cliffs, freezing a moment of beauty and awe that felt completely new and unforgettable."
"This photo means so much to me because it captures my daughter experiencing San Diego for the very first time. A moment of discovery, freedom, and growth. Seeing her take in life along the beautiful coast reminds me how big the world is and how special it is to watch your child step into it with curiosity and joy. It’s more than a place or a picture. It’s a memory of her living fully in a moment I’ll always hold close."
Fei Tang
Photo by Fei Tang. Alpha 7C II. 24-50mm f/2.8 G.
"I took this during the Temple burn at Burning Man earlier this year - moving on foot with a minimal kit so I could stay present. Out of all my bodies, I brought the Alpha 7C II since it’s small enough to pack easily but powerful enough to completely trust in low light situations such as this. I could pull it out, grab the shot without overthinking, and put it right back away as the fire rose."
"Even though it was my first time at Burning Man, it marked a real turning point for me, a new job, a big move within the city, and finally letting go of grief I had been carrying for a long time. People bring items from loved ones to honor them in the Temple, knowing it will all be burned during the closing of the Burn - for me that meant bringing my mom’s favorite teddy bear...which I have held onto since she passed. Watching the Temple burn (with the bear inside) felt like celebrating her life, releasing what I have been holding onto, and stepping forward knowing that she would be proud of everything I have built and where I am headed next."
