Here is my annual look back at the past year - the 2025 edition.

This is my eleventh year in review blog post!

Making this list reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

1. Urban Scrawl Exhibit

In April of 2025 I launched an exhibit called Urban Scrawl as part of the Contact Photo Festival.

The exhibit featured images of messages that I had documented around Toronto between 2012-2024.

I was thrilled that Spacing Magazine featured my exhibit in their Civic Memories issue, which came out in April 2025.

One part of my exhibit featured messages by a unique Toronto artist known as Renaissance (@_social__anti_ on Instagram).

Here is a selection of images I shared in the exhibit that feature his writing:

On the last day of the exhibit, unbeknownst to me, Renaissance came by and added his signature tag on my title wall....

 I have to say that really made me smile!

I was also honoured to be interviewed by My Pal Sammy about the Urban Scrawl exhibit on his My Summer Lair podcast!

Many thanks to Sammy for exploring my work in such a meaningful way. (Click on the above image to listen!)

2. Non-profit photography

I worked for many years with non-profit organizations before I transitioned to photography. So it is a real joy whenever I can serve the communications needs of non-profit organizations.

An image I captured on the cover of The Neighbourhood Group's annual impact report for 2024-2025.

This year I once again had the opportunity to work with several non-profits, including:

- The Neighbourhood Group Community Services

- L'Arche Canada

- The Canadian Bible Society

 St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

(Image from work I did with CBS in 2021)

- Pacific Theatre

 Playwright and Actor Ins Choi, creator of Kim's Convenience, during a script reading for his show Son of a Preacherman

I am available to help document the work of your organization. If interested, click here to learn more or click here to contact me directly.

3. Film Photography

I again had a good year shooting a variety of film types.

View from a Banff store window

Kodak Gold 200

 Ideas Happen Here

Ferrania P30

I continued to make panoramic images with my Lomography Sprocket Rocket camera, as well as experiment with a variety of film types.

 Nile Panorama - Cairo, Egypt

Stay tuned for blog posts looking at my favourite colour and black and white film images of 2025.

Until then, here are my favourites from 2024

- A Year in Black & White Film - 2024

- A Year in Colour Film - 2024

4. Fuji X Half

My family surprised me with a special gift for Father's Day this year - a Fuji X Half camera.

 One of the first diptych (paired images) that I created with the X Half camera.

This small camera emulates half frame film cameras - which allowed you to capture two images on a single frame of film.

Like half frame cameras of old, the Fuji X Half defaults to framing images in a vertical, or upright position.

The camera comes with many other tricks and features, which have been very fun to experiment with.

 A double exposure made with the X Half camera. I've made quite a few of these this past year.

A diptych using the Fuji X Half's mirror feature.

I have been shooting regularly with a half frame film camera in recent years (here is my blog post about it from 2018), so the innovative X Half camera fit right in to my practice - adding a number of creative options that were not readily available to me.

5. Travel

I was privileged to travel quite a bit in 2025.

My wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in 2025, We commemorated the occasion by taking a trip to Calgary, Banff and the Lake Louise region. The trails and sights we encountered were breathtaking.

In August my family went to Egypt to visit relatives there and of course to see the pyramids and other historical sights.

It was very hot, but so much fun to be there.

In October, my good friend Sammy and I went to Prague and Berlin. Each are such distinct cities, offering much to discover and explore.

Me in front of Idiom (aka the "Infinity Book Tower"), an art installation by artist Matej Kren found in Prague's Municipal Library.

While in Berlin I took a workshop with Joakim Moller, a Swedish photographer making very unique art from images he captures in the street.

 Workshop participants in Berlin, October 2025

I wanted to be stretched and find new ways of seeing and creating art. I definitely found the workshop helpful!

We saw quite a few East German manufactured Trabant vehicles while in Berlin...

 Pick a colour! Sammy with a lot full of Trabants.

My favourite band, U2, used Trabant cars on stage in their wildly creative Zoo TV tour.

U2 also recorded their album Achtung Baby in Berlin's famous Hansa Studios, which we made sure to visit while there.

While in Berlin I got to met Tom, a fellow photographer who I first connected with on social media.

Tom also shoots film, and like me uses a Lomography Sprocket Rocket, so we had much to talk about!

   Follow Tom on Instagram or on BlueSky.

Ilford Delta 3200, taken by Sammy Younan

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I want to take a moment, in the middle of this post, to share something especially meaningful to me.

In spring of 2025 my dear Mom passed away. She was 88 years old.

She meant so much to my brothers and I, to her five grandchildren, as well as to her many friends and family.

My Mom lived a full life, with so much to be thankful for.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, she experienced the challenges of war. Her account of Canadian soldiers liberating her home town always inspired me. After the war she and her family immigrated to Canada.

She was an artist and worked in a variety of mediums including paint, drawing, calligraphy, batik and more.

I want to especially acknowledge how my Mom inspired me. She took my family to countless museums and galleries. We observed her creating in so many ways. We learned about faith, meaning and living with purpose from her and our father. All of this comes through now in how I seek to live and in what I aim to create as an artist.

Thank you Mom for everything.

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6. Working for the City of Toronto

In early 2025 I began working for the City of Toronto as a photographer to document a sports program that is funded by the Barcelona FC Foundation.

After a few months I also began working part time with youth in the Youth Zone at the same Rec Centre where I photograph the sports program.

All of this has been a very fun and meaningful part of the past year.

7. Meeting People

I am always meeting people as I walk and explore Toronto, ever since I began doing so some fifteen years ago.

I continued this practice in 2025, taking it even further perhaps, as my recent Instagram posts feature many of the people I have met.

 Kedre of Kedre Designs, who I met during the official renaming event for Sankofa Square

Stephanie & Christopher

Lomochrome '92 film

Meeting fellow photographers is also part of this...

 "The Man From Photo" - July 2025 - Fuji X Half camera

Visit my Instagram page to see more of the good people I have met.

I hope 2026 brings more of this. People are what make a city great, and I am always glad to celebrate the interesting people that I meet.

8. Street Photography Training

I offer training on street photography, mostly on a one-to-one basis.

This past year I was privileged to do so again with a few individuals who found me online and sought me out for this.

 A photo from a workshop this past year.

It is always a joy to share guidance and insight on how to step into this creative practice.

If this of interest to you, have a look here for more info - and then do get in touch!

9. Arts Fairs & Markets

I am proud to offer unique art images for your home or office, as well as photo art products such as pillows, bags and more.

I again enjoyed sharing my art in many fairs and markets in 2025, especially in the fall and Christmas season.

 Me at the Danforth East Arts Fair in September 2025.

I love the local community feel at this event - hence why I have been exhibiting at it since 2012.

Many thanks to all who came by my booth or table this past year!

To learn about fairs or markets that I will be participating in - just follow me on Instagram - or message me to join my email list. (I send very few emails - 6 to 8 maximum per year.)

10. World Series Photos

When a big event happens in Toronto, like a week of Taylor Swift concerts or otherwise, I try to get out there with my camera.

So of course when the Toronto Blue Jays were set to play in the World Series I made sure to get down to the Rogers Centre (SkyDome!) and get photos of the fans and the atmosphere!

These three guys drove 17 hours straight from St. FX University in Nova Scotia for a shot at seeing Game One.

They were interviewed by multiple news outlets. Later on I heard that they did manage to get tickets!

Blue Jays superfan "Marcie Sparkles".

I spotted Marcie in the stands at the Rogers Centre more than once as I watched the World Series games on TV at home. 

Click here to see more of my photos of Game One day outside the SkyDome!

I am thankful for so much of what 2025 brought my way. Thank you for joining me in this journey!

Stay tuned for blog posts featuring my favourite black and white and favourite colour film photos of 2025!

Click here to see my highlights from previous years.

Click here to see my film photography blog posts.

Click here to follow me on Instagram.

Click here to follow me on BlueSky!