It’s hard to believe I took up street photography less than 12 months ago. I have photographs from this year that I never imagined I could have taken, and I’ve complied a few of them here, along with some of my thoughts from my first 10 months. A full gallery can be found here.

In 2025 I’ve been lucky to find myself in Seoul, Barcelona, Florence, San José, Tbilisi, Tokyo, Nagoya, London, as well as back home in Edinburgh, finding time between work and travel to capture the moments of life that unfold each day. These places have each told me their own stories as I’ve photographed them, and practicing street photography has given me a whole new way to experience a place. I am extremely grateful for this, and it makes travelling even more worthwhile. That said, I’ve been surprised how where I shoot rarely makes a difference. There are great scenes to be uncovered anywhere you’ll find people, and visiting the same place over many months has revealed new stories to me I hadn’t spotted the first, or even second, time I went.

Some of my most memorable photos are from relatively mundane experiences: locals celebrating La Castanyada in Barcelona, traders selling seasonal fruits in Tbilisi, and students doing their laundry in Nagoya. Back home, seeing Edinburgh change as tourists come and go, and the seasons march on, brings a never-ending stream of new opportunities.

That’s because people make for excellent subjects, something I didn’t entirely appreciate when I started out. That is, people being candid and natural, not posed and presented – both have a place, but I’m talking about the former here. For me, taking great street photography is a constant tug of war between your willingness to get up close and personal with your subjects, and being ready to react to whatever might happen in front of you. I feel some shade of anxiety every time I go out into the street with my camera, it continues to challenge me. But it is also deeply rewarding to capture a moment full of emotion or energy.

I’ve been critical of the photos I shoot, always looking at where I can improve, in composition, framing, lighting, editing. The learning curve is steep and often overwhelming, and has sometimes made me question myself. I find I have to remind myself constantly that this is for fun, not for profit, and I’m learning every day I go out and shoot. I try not to compare myself to others, instead looking at how they approach their work, and letting myself be inspired. Instant gratification (or lack of!) from social media, Instagram especially, can create pernicious motivations, despite the good that these platforms can do to help promote work, and find like-minded peers. I know I can always get better, and getting myself and my camera out in the world is the best way I know how. I am eternally grateful for groups like Edinburgh’s Street Photo Social, for helping me find other talented photographers, all of whom have been extremely supportive, and always willing to share their experience and advice.

I’ve shared a full gallery of my 2025 highlights here so I can look back at what I’ve achieved, and as a marker of progress to come.