A Year of Adventure, Exploration, and Creative Growth
From travel and adventure racing to 4WD, MTB, hiking, cycling, wildlife, and the great outdoors—I’ve had an incredible year of shooting for some fantastic clients and diving into loads of personal projects. My top 40 photos of the year were tough to narrow down. The experiences I had outdoors, capturing lifestyle imagery, are memories I’ll hold onto for years.
I’ve always enjoyed doing these year-in-review reflections. Looking back on trips, whether to new places or revisiting favorite events, it’s incredible to see how much content is created—but also how quickly it gets buried under the constant flow of new work. The pursuit of fresh ideas can sometimes overshadow what’s already been captured.
This year, I’ve taken the review process a step further. Not only am I critiquing what worked and what didn’t, but I’m also printing many of my favorites to hang in the office. These images will serve as weekly reminders, pushing me to start the new year with fresh ideas. My goal is to avoid repeating past work and instead dive deeper into what inspires me—to really examine why I shoot what I do and how I do it.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of repeating what works, but that rarely leads to creative growth. This review is about exploring what I don’t shoot, taking on new projects, and challenging myself to create something different. To that end, I’m already pushing into new territories for 2025. I’ve recently added a fisheye lens to my gear bag—a simple change, but one I’ve always wanted to try. It’s not groundbreaking, but it will definitely shake things up. I’ve also launched a new personal project, Rideavel—a vlog focused on bike touring, bikepacking, and gravel riding. It’s an opportunity for more time on the bike and in nature, two things that are bound to inspire new visuals.
Looking back at the nearly 50,000 images I shot in 2024, I see plenty of similarities in subject matter and style, but also plenty of a-ha moments that sparked new ideas. Focusing on a niche and becoming deeply familiar with it has its advantages, but I also believe in giving myself permission to refocus and explore other subjects. With years of experience behind me, I’m ready to bring fresh perspectives to new projects and industries.
So, why the change? Why not? It doesn’t mean abandoning past subjects or work, just a deliberate shift toward igniting new ideas. I’m excited to see which ones will catch fire and lead to something exciting.
Here’s to a successful, creative 2025! If you’re looking for fresh ideas to push your business forward in this ever-changing media landscape, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s see what we can create together.
All the best.
Gilbert
