My 2025 Favorite Photos 16th December 2025
PhotographyWildlife
0 Comment

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s only natural to pause, pour a cup of something warm, and reflect on the whirlwind of the past year. Let’s dive in together, shall we? 

This photo showcases two cheetah brothers (Acinonyx jubatus) in a misty morning setting. The sleek felines, with their spotted coats faintly visible through the fog, stand side by side on a grassy plain, their slender bodies poised with alertness. The soft, diffused light of pre-dawn casts a gentle glow on their faces, highlighting their intense eyes and tear-marked cheeks. The background fades into a hazy blend of grey and green, with the mist creating an ethereal, mysterious atmosphere around the pair.

Two cheetah brothers (Acinonyx jubatus), photographed early in the morning, before the sun was up, and the morning mist still hung in the air, creating an eerie atmosphere.

The brothers were out patrolling their territory and stood still for a few minutes, checking their surroundings.

*

🐈 Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

 📍Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, South Africa

The photo shows a Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata), a dragonfly perched on a slender stem against a soft blue sky. Its wings are transparent with intricate vein patterns, and it has a striking body with a mix of orange and brown hues, accented by dark spots near the base of its wings, characteristic of the species.

Four-spotted Chaser, a dragonfly so called because of the four dark spots on its wings, two on each forewing.

I photographed it at a lake near our house, an excellent spot for finding butterflies and dragonflies this time of year. I find myself returning to it in every season, as there is always something to photograph: squirrels, foxes, jays, woodpeckers, birds of prey, small birds, insects, and flowers. 

*

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

 📍Trolldalen, Lidingö, Sweden

A mating pair of Ruddy darters (Sympetrum sanguineum) in a serene, symmetrical composition above calm water. The male, with its vibrant red abdomen and translucent wings, clasps the female in the characteristic "wheel" position, their bodies aligned vertically against a soft blue sky. The reflection below mirrors them perfectly, creating an illusion of infinite extension and adding a poetic balance to the scene. Tiny dew-like sparkles glisten on their wings, caught by the gentle morning light, while the minimalistic background emphasizes their delicate forms and the intimate beauty of this natural moment.

A pair of mating ruddy darters that I photographed at the small lake near our house, the same spot where I had photographed the four-spotted chaser. This dragonfly is a common species in Sweden, especially in the southern part of the country.

This was the first time I photographed dragonflies in flight. Dragonflies in flight are difficult to capture due to their speed and unpredictable movement. But hey, the more difficult the tasks, the more rewarding the results! I’m very pleased with this photo, even though I had to take several hundred photos to get the one I wanted.

*

Ruddy darters (Sympetrum sanguineum)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

 📍Trolldalen, Lidingö, Sweden

This photo shows a common blue butterfly male (Polyommatus icarus) perched delicately on an Echinacea purpurea var. Magnus flower in a garden. The butterfly, with its vibrant orange and black wings spread slightly, contrasts beautifully against the flower’s large, daisy-like pink-purple petals and prominent coppery-orange center. The morning light filters through the mist, casting a soft glow on the butterfly’s intricate wing patterns and the flower’s velvety texture. The background is a gentle blur of green foliage and other blooms, enhancing the serene and delicate beauty of this early autumn garden moment.

A male common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) perched on an Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ flower in our garden. This is what I love about our house: a wildlife garden filled with insects, butterflies, small and not-so-small animals (deer love my flowers, too!), and numerous birds! I need only to step out to find something to photograph!

*

🦋 Male common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

📸 Canon R5 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

📍Lidingö, Sweden

Australasian grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

An Australasian grebe calling for its young on a foggy morning on Kangaroo Island. It was 6:30 am, and the sun was not up yet. On my way to another location, I spotted this grebe family serenely floating on a small pond, shrouded in the waves of fog.

I stopped for a few minutes to take several photos, and this one became one of my absolute favorites from that trip.

*

🦆 Australasian grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

📍Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Lion (Panthera leo)


This is a new edit of a lion portrait I worked on a few months ago. While I was initially pleased with the first version, the idea of making a more dramatic edit kept coming to mind—I just couldn’t let it go! So, I decided to re-process the image, and I’m really happy with the final result.

*

🦁 Lion (Panthera leo)

📸 Canon R5 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

 📍Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, South Africa

This photo depicts a young lioness in the midst of a hunt on a sunlit savanna. Her lean, muscular frame is poised low to the ground, with her tawny coat blending into the dry grass as she stalks prey. Her amber eyes are intensely focused, ears slightly back, and her mouth is open, revealing sharp teeth. The background features a blurred expanse of golden grass and scattered acacia trees under a clear blue sky, emphasizing her stealth and determination in this dynamic moment.

A young lioness on the prowl, stalking a giraffe under the midday sun. The hunt is on.

High-key edits aren’t usually my style, but this scene demanded it. Harsh light, a bright background, and the lioness in the shade called for a bold, high-key approach to capture the moment’s intensity.

*

🦁 Lion (Panthera leo)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

 📍Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, South Africa

This photo features a Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) perched on a rocky outcrop in a rugged landscape. The baboon, with its greyish-brown fur and distinctive dog-like face, sits upright, its sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Its pinkish face and expressive features are highlighted by the soft morning light, while a tuft of hair crowns its head. The background reveals a blurred expanse of dry grasslands and distant hills under a clear sky, capturing the baboon’s alert and commanding presence in the wild.

Chacma baboon, also known as a Cape baboon, photographed at the Marataba Mountain Lodge. The baboon’s position inspired a low-key processing approach, and I love the result..

*

🐒 Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

📍Marataba Game Reserve, South Africa

This photo features a lynx standing alert in a misty forest clearing. The lynx’s thick, tawny fur, speckled with dark spots, glows softly under the overcast morning light, its tufted ears perked. Its piercing amber eyes gaze intently ahead, framed by a subtle facial ruff. The background is a gentle blur of pine trees and green foliage, the mist lending an ethereal quality that enhances the wild, majestic presence of this elusive feline in its natural habitat.

A young Lynx male from our trip to Northern Sweden. Isn’t he gorgeous?

*

🐈 European Lynx (Lynx lynx)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

📍Järvsö, Sweden

This photo features a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) poised gracefully on a sunlit savanna. The cheetah’s sleek, tawny coat, adorned with its signature black tear marks and spots, shimmers under the morning light, highlighting the powerful muscles beneath its lithe frame. Its amber eyes are focused intently ahead, ears perked. The background is a warm blur of acacia trees and distant plains.

This photo of a male cheetah on patrol didn’t get much attention online, but I love it for the memories it brings back. The image itself is unremarkable, but that morning was unforgettable: golden light poured over the savanna, the sky was blue, and distant bird calls filled the air. We spent over an hour following three cheetah brothers on foot, which was no small task since cheetahs move so quickly!

*

🐈 Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

 📍Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, South Africa

The image captures an autumnal scene featuring a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) perched among several pumpkins. One of the pumpkins has been carved into a traditional jack-o'-lantern with a triangular-eyed, smiling face. The ground and surrounding area are covered in fallen autumn leaves in various shades of yellow and orange. There are also leaves in the background that appear to be falling or floating, which contributes to the overall autumn atmosphere. The lighting gives the scene a warm, golden glow, enhancing the seasonal feel of the image.

This year’s Halloween card, I love it!

*

🐿 Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

📸 Canon R5 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

📍Lidingö, Sweden

A striking portrait of a female Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx), captured in a snowy environment. The lynx's face is prominently featured, showcasing its thick, spotted fur in shades of brown and gray, with tufted ears and piercing yellow eyes that exude a wild intensity. Light snowflakes are falling around it, adding to the wintry atmosphere, while the soft, blurred white background enhances the focus on the lynx's detailed facial features and expression.

Another lynx photo, this time from our February trip to Northern Sweden.

*

🐈 European Lynx (Lynx lynx)

📸 Canon R5M2 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

📍Järvsö, Sweden

A red squirrel with a silver party hat on and holding a champagne glass in its paw

I hope you enjoyed looking at the photos. Here’s to more, better images to come in 2026! Cheers!

I wish you a very, very Happy New Year! Gott Nytt År as we say in Swedish.

Click here to see all my favorite photos during the years.

Love my work? Support my journey by buying me a coffee or sharing it on your preferred social network. And don’t forget to swing by my online shop to check out my latest prints and gifts. Thank you 🙏 !

Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | Threads | LinkedIn | Tumblr | X | Buy Me A Coffee 

Spread the love