We asked our Sony Artisans Of Imagery and Alpha Collective members to submit their favorite images of 2025. In Part 5, the final part of our series, we feature a mixture of sports and special moments captured by creators who are always ready to document the action. If you want to learn how to capture the action, see our Sports Photography 101 course on Alpha Camera Academy.
That wraps up our Best Of 2025 series. ICYMI, here's Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. Thank you to everyone for another incredible year in Sony photography. We can’t wait to see what creators capture with their Alpha cameras in 2026 – see you there!
Jean Fruth
Photo by Jean Fruth. Alpha 1 II. 600mm f/4 G Master.
“I captured this photo during Game 3 of the 2025 World Series from a low center-field position—a vantage point rarely used during the regular season. Shooting with a 600mm f/4 lens from that spot allowed me to capture both the action and reaction of the player and the fans in a single frame.”
“This is my favorite image of the year because it captures Shohei Ohtani’s seventh-inning home run that tied the game for the Dodgers in Game 3 of The World Series, a moment that helped set the stage for a historic 18-inning walk-off win. It’s meaningful to me not just because of the drama of the game, but because opportunities to document true sports history are rare. Photographing a generational superstar like Ohtani, someone who is actively redefining the sport with unprecedented talent, makes this image feel like a small piece of baseball history I was lucky enough to preserve.”
Neil Leifer
Photo by Neil Leifer. Alpha 1. 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master.
“Every once and while everything goes exactly the way you hope it would go. Steeplechase racing is always exciting to photograph but you don't always get the horses where you hope them to be and you certainly don't always get a magnificent sky with clouds. So this is my favorite picture because everything went right with the composition and the exciting action. The picture was taken with a Sony remote with the Alpha 1 set at 21mm.”
Chris Burkard
Photo by Chris Burkard. Alpha 1 II. 14mm f/1.8 G Master.
“It was two o’clock in the morning with a full downpour of Pacific Northwest rains while mud pooled at our ankles with every step. This frame was captured while shooting for the new Mountains of The Moon film. A project of high caliber production with like minded creative professionals who shared a belief of what was possible. When every camera technicality and character trait is put to the test, working with a tight window and margin so slim, where preparation met instinct. Riding that tight line of a precise shutter, an ISO teetering the edge and an aperture narrow enough to hold the details. I would take advantage of the brief moments between the handful of attempts to refine my settings. A calculated scramble to meet the necessary metrics to capture this frame to the best of my ability. All while staying present enough to respond in the moment but staying patient to trust myself.”
“This is that now or never kind of image. The type of photograph that only comes to life when a dozen creative individuals come together and two dozen technicalities align in the right place at the right time. From the athletes being precisely in the correct spot to make it in frame, to walking that fine line of iso, shutter speed, and aperture. All while shooting in pitch darkness only to be illuminated by RGB lights, not only to meet the creative visual demands but the camera’s technical abilities too. I felt I was attempting to freeze a moment that barely wanted to exist. Now that it’s all said and done, this image feels like a hard earned victory. A kind of photographer's photograph, where years of capturing that ‘once in a lifetime’ moment meets years of knowledge; like two professional dancers coming together to do the tango.”
Jermaine Horton
Photo by Jermaine Horton. Alpha 1. 300mm f/2.8 G Master.
“My son normally plays 2nd base or 1st base but our pitcher got injured and we had no other pitchers available so now in my son goes. First time pitching he throws two strikeouts and retires the side to give us a win. This is him getting into his wind up to deliver the final strike.”
“So all year I have been focusing on couples for weddings and professional athletes that cherish their own memories but when it comes to my son, I'm his #1 fan. The biggest thing for me is giving my children experiences that I give my pro athletes I cover so they can have bragging rights , memories and me a smile on my heart forever. In a world where we work in this industry to satisfy our clients one of the biggest things I had to learn to do was make sure I make time and pour my artistry into my own kids as well. They say when you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.”
Nancy Borowick
Photo by Nancy Borowick. Alpha 7R V. 35mm f/1.4 G Master.
“It has become a yearly tradition to have a family fun day when my siblings' families and mine all come together in the summer. This was the second time we did the donut challenge so I knew what to expect visually. I decided the location would be moved slightly to avoid direct overhead mid day sunlight with all its shadows and contrast. I was determined to photograph this moment better than I did the year before and I already had this specific image in my mind. The bubbles were a magical surprise and to me they made the photo pop.”
“Watching my kids explore the world around them has reminded me to take things a little less seriously and try to experience the joy the way they do. This was a moment of pure and absolute joy – and having beautiful documentation of it brings me back to the scene, and the feelings that surrounded it. Seeing the resulting image gave me that satisfaction that you get when you know you really got the shot and I couldn't wait to share it with the world, and hang it on my wall for my family.”
Greg Noire
Photo by Greg Noire. Alpha 1 II. 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“This was a bit of a tough show to shoot. Even a normal halftime has a lot of moving parts. This one felt like a mix of Tetris and ballet. Navigating remote-controlled cameras, ducking out of the way of jibs, making sure I'm avoiding dancers, and staying clear of camera ops wasn’t easy. Especially while trying not to step on a light, block a shot, or cast a shadow across the field from the myriad of lights spread from end to end. Thankfully, rehearsals made all the difference. They gave me just enough room to anticipate the chaos, choose the appropriate gear and land the shot that became my favorite of the year. Maybe even of all time. It’s a special one.”
“This shot means everything to me because, as a music photographer, you always strive to photograph the biggest music-related events, and it doesn’t get any bigger than the this game. Couple that with the fact that I’m working with my favorite rapper of all time makes this legendary moment even more special.”
Steven Irby
Photo by Steven Irby. Alpha 7R III.
“This was when the Knicks won the second round series of the playoffs this year. The first time reaching it this far in over a decade. I found this opportunity amongst the celebration of this moment that kind of encapsulates all of the feels of that night and just that pure joy and hope we have as a city now.”
“This one is special to me because of not only what the Knicks mean to me but what it means for the city. It’s one of those rare moments and it’s hard to say that in New York but with this everyone celebrated. The love and joy and hope that everyone can identify with at this time is truly special, and I’m grateful I was able to capture that piece of history.”
Jeremy Cohen
Photo by Jeremy Cohen. Alpha 1. 85mm f/1.4 G Master.
“I was watching the marathon from a friend’s apartment and asked if I could go up to the roof to shoot. From there, I saw this natural frame of trees surrounding the runners. I got a couple of good shots, but it felt like something was missing and wanted to take advantage of this unique perspective I had the privilege to shoot from, so that’s when I started panning my Alpha 1 at the runners’ speed with a slower shutter, and was hyped with this result.”
“I photograph the NYC Marathon every year, but this image stayed with me. Seeing the race from this angle gave it a different energy and even without seeing faces, I can feel so much by looking at it. The themes of rhythm, movement, the pulse of new yorkers. As a former marathon runner myself, it resonates with me because it captures what the race felt like from the inside.”
Tobi Shinobi
Photo by Tobi Shinobi. Alpha 1 II. 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“During the Chicago Marathon I found this spot with light. I waited until I saw a scene that made for a great image. I was inspired by people chasing their goals and reminded that I enjoy ‘chasing the light’. The irony was not lost on me.”
