TIME’s Top 100 Photos of 2025 Tell Powerful Stories Through Incredible Images

Split image: Left, a sea turtle seen from above glows with green bioluminescence in dark water. Right, a black-and-white scene shows people inside a dim, rustic room, one standing by a doorway while a child stands outside.

At the end of each year, TIME selects its Top 100 photos of the year. As always, the 2025 edition is replete with superb photography, ranging from split-second action shots of important news events to powerful photos from longer-term projects, the collection is a compelling visual reminder of the major events of 2025 and, perhaps as importantly, photography's power in telling the world's most important stories.

A smiling woman examines a camera with a large lens next to an orange drink, while the right side shows a close-up of a camera lens against a blurred background.

Tamron Lens Buyer’s Guide: All New and Holiday Instant Savings

Capture the season’s best moments with incredible savings—Tamron’s Holiday Instant Savings event is here, bringing exclusive deals on some of their most advanced and versatile mirrorless lenses. From the all-in-one travel favorites like the 18-300mm and creator essentials including the 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 and 70-180mm F/2.8 G2, these limited-time discounts make it easier than ever to upgrade your kit.

The PetaPixel Awards Nominees: The Top Photo Gear of 2025

A gold emblem with "PP" in the center and laurel branches around it, above the text "2025 Nominees," set against a sparkling, bokeh light background.

Every year, PetaPixel recognizes the top cameras, lenses, and photography accessories in The PetaPixel Awards. Selections are voted on by the PetaPixel staff and while final awards will be announced next week, we are happy to share our nominees in each of the categories today.

Sigma Aizu Primes Review: Breathtaking Falloff and Flare

Three black camera lenses are arranged side by side on a grid-patterned surface, with “Petapixel Reviews” and “Editors' Choice” badges displayed in the image corners.

It’s felt like a long six months since Sigma first announced the Aizu Primes (which cost $8,300 each), the company's new series of full-frame compatible T1.3 cinema lenses. Currently available focal lengths include 25mm, 27mm, 32mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, and 75mm. Fortunately, after shooting several projects with them while traveling, I finally have a trio of them at home to do some controlled testing.

A hand holds a thin, black tablet horizontally by its edge against a white background, highlighting the device’s slim profile and raised camera bump.

Samsung’s Z TriFold Phone Has Razor-Thin Style and Ho-Hum Cameras

Forget regular foldable phones -- trifolding handhelds may soon be all the rage. So far, North American customers have not had many trifold phones to consider, but Samsung will change that come early next year with the Samsung Z TriFold, a device that, at the very least, looks super impressive.

A pair of hands holding a purple iPhone horizontally. The phone has dual rear cameras and an Apple logo on the back. The background is white, emphasizing the phone's color and design.

My iPhone Is Unexpectedly Making My Photos 3D

I recently installed iOS 26 on my iPhone. I'm slow, I know, but as I was swiping past my Photos widget, I noticed that one of my photos was in 3D. The image wiggled around as I moved my phone in my hand. "What the hell," I thought.

A black DSLR camera with a large lens and an external microphone attached sits among festive decorations, including silver tinsel, red berries, and a wrapped gift, against a white background.

Sennheiser’s Holiday Deals Are On

Get ready to elevate your sound—Sennheiser’s holiday sale brings premium audio performance within easy reach. Whether you’re upgrading your headphones, capturing crisp vocals with portable mics, or building a versatile mobile gear kit for content on the go, this event is packed with pro-level tools at can’t-miss prices. It’s the perfect moment to refine your setup and sound your best, wherever creativity takes you. The sale is on through December 31, 2025.

Mid-Range Showdown: Sony a7 V vs Canon EOS R6 III vs Nikon Z6 III

Three mirrorless camera bodies—Sony Alpha 7, Canon EOS R6, and Nikon Z—are arranged against a colorful, blurred background resembling fireworks or light bursts.

With this week's reveal of the very impressive Sony a7 V, the mid-range full-frame camera market has never been hotter. The oldest competitor of the bunch, the Nikon Z6 III, has been out just a little over a year, while the Canon EOS R6 III and Sony a7 V are brand-new. All the major players have put their best foot forward, but which of them is actually the best when it comes to key specs and features?

A person wearing blue gloves holds a prescription pill bottle in one hand and examines it with a flashlight in the other, set against a completely dark background.

Photographer’s Raw Images Explore the War on Drugs

For more than twenty years, documentary photographer Jonathan Alpeyrie has worked inside some of the world’s most volatile environments, from front-line trenches in the Middle East to fragile, contested communities across Africa. With his new project, Drug Wars: Supply and Demand, Alpeyrie brings that same sensibility to one of the Western Hemisphere’s most complex and destabilizing issues: the international narcotics trade.

Sony a7 V vs a7 IV: The 15 Biggest Improvements

A Sony Alpha 7 mirrorless digital camera body is shown facing forward on a plain white background, with the lens removed to reveal the camera's image sensor.

The brand-new Sony a7 V ushers in many improvements, ranging from a new image sensor and a first-of-its-kind processor to better autofocus and faster continuous shooting. Let's take a closer look at the most significant changes between the a7 IV and the new a7 V.

Sony a7 V Review: Don’t Call It a Comeback

A Sony Alpha 7 camera body is displayed on a gray grid surface. "PetaPixel Reviews" and "Editors’ Choice" banners appear on the image, indicating a positive camera review.

Canon recently made a huge stir with its excellent do-it-all R6 III and for a while, it looked like the year was going to end with a big win for Canon. But with the Sony a7 V coming seemingly out of nowhere, we have a serious contender for the best all-round camera on the market.

A Sony Alpha 7 mirrorless digital camera body with an E-mount cap, shown on a grid-patterned surface against a plain, light-colored background.

Sony a7 V Has New 33MP Partially Stacked Sensor and Faster Processor

The long-awaited Sony a7 V has finally arrived, just over four years after its predecessor, the a7 IV. Much has changed in the camera landscape, not just for Sony but also for its primary competitors. The Sony a7 V promises a wide range of improvements, including a new image sensor, faster processor, better autofocus, and much more.

A person in winter clothing adjusts a camera on a tripod, standing on snow with snow-covered mountains and a clear sky in the background.

The Best Gear for Winter Photography

There is a duality to shooting during winter. Cold, snowy days can be the catalyst for some amazing photos and adventures, but this can come at the expense of your gear. We’re going to cover some of the best gear from ProMaster to get you through the coldest months of the year, without sacrificing your ability to create images and video.

Oppo Find X9 Pro Review: This Phone Rocks for Photography

Close-up of a person holding an Oppo smartphone with an attached camera lens, preparing to take a photo. The Petapixel Reviews logo appears in the bottom right corner.

Come in for the camera but stick around for the battery life. That’s one way to sum up the Oppo Find X9 Pro, a flagship smartphone that makes a strong case for being one of the top three in the world. And with a global version available, this is the kind of device that makes you think about how much you’ve been missing from the average flagship in North America.