The best press photos of 2025 continue to document a world in flux — from active war zones and raging wildfires to cultural celebrations and sporting triumphs. This sixth collection gathers nineteen defining images captured by leading photojournalists between early and mid-January 2025, offering a vivid cross-section of our shared human experience.
Conflict, Resilience, and the Human Cost of War
Few images carry more weight than those taken in the middle of ongoing conflict. On January 7, 2025, photographer Omar Al-Qattaa captured a quietly tender moment in Gaza City, where a girl gently placed a Santa hat on the head of a younger child just outside the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius during the Christmas morning service — all while war continued to rage across the Palestinian territory.
Across the region, hope took a different form. On January 8, 2025, at Umayyad Square in central Damascus, a young boy broke into a spontaneous dance while waiting to welcome the first buses carrying displaced Syrians from Idlib province — people who had originally fled Ghouta and Qalamoun during the Syrian civil war. Louai Beshara’s photograph for AFP captured the raw joy of return.
Also on January 8, Reuters documented the grim reality on Ukraine’s front lines. In Orikhiv, a town in the Zaporizhzhia region, a police officer crouched to inspect the remains of a Russian rocket shell — a sobering reminder of the relentless pressure Ukrainian communities continue to face.
On January 19, 2025, a photograph released by the Israeli Defense Forces showed Emily Damari reuniting with her mother, Mandy, near kibbutz Re’im. Emily had just been freed from captivity by Hamas in Gaza as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement — a deal that also saw 90 Palestinian prisoners released alongside three Israeli hostages.
The Los Angeles Wildfires: Destruction Captured on Camera
January 2025 brought catastrophic wildfires to the Los Angeles area, and photojournalists were on the ground to document every harrowing moment. On January 7, Ringo Chiu photographed an American flag standing defiantly as the Palisades Fire consumed a structure in the city’s west side during a violent windstorm.
That same day, Ethan Swope captured a home in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood fully engulfed in flames — one of the most striking visual records of the destruction wrought by the Palisades Fire.
Two days later, on January 9, a helicopter deployed water drops over the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, with Swope again behind the lens for AP Photo. For more exceptional photojournalism from this period, explore our coverage of the Best World Press Photos: Early January 2025.
By January 17, firefighting efforts had spread to Altadena, California, where members of the Navajo Scouts crew worked to clear landslide debris from a hillside road while battling the Eaton Fire. John Locher’s AP Photo image captured the dust, effort, and determination of those on the front line of the disaster.
Cultural Celebrations and Global Traditions
Amid crisis, the world’s cultural fabric continued to be woven with colour and devotion. On January 9 in Manila, millions of barefoot Filipino Catholic devotees gathered for the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene procession. The Black Nazarene — a dark wood sculpture of Jesus Christ brought to the Philippines from Spain in 1606 — is venerated as miraculous by the faithful. Ezra Acayan’s photograph for Getty Images conveyed the extraordinary scale and fervour of the event.
In Pasto, Colombia, on January 6, performers paraded on traditional floats during the iconic “Blacks and Whites” carnival. Rooted in a rich blend of Andean, Amazonian, and Pacific cultural traditions, the carnival celebrates the ethnic diversity of the region and has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2009. Raul Arboleda documented the spectacle for AFP.
Meanwhile, in Jilin, northeast China, the banks of the Songhua River were transformed into a winter wonderland. A photograph taken on January 12, 2025, showed charming snowman installations standing beside frost-covered trees — a seasonal tradition that draws visitors from across the country.
Politics and Protest
Vienna became a focal point of political tension on January 9, 2025, when demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). Lisa Leutner’s Reuters photograph captured the energy and resolve of those opposed to the party’s rising influence in Austrian politics.
In Washington, D.C., preparations were well underway for the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. On January 12, a conductor was photographed during a rehearsal on the grounds in front of the U.S. Capitol — a striking image of ceremony and anticipation captured by Fabrizio Bensch for Reuters.
Sport and Adventure
January 2025 delivered memorable moments in the world of competitive sport. Australian motorcycle rider Daniel Sanders claimed victory at the Dakar Rally following the twelfth stage in Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia, on January 17. Christophe Ena’s AP Photo caught Sanders in the elation of triumph after one of motorsport’s most gruelling challenges.
On January 14, French sailor Charlie Dalin of Macif Santé Prévoyance celebrated his victory in the Vendée Globe — the non-stop solo round-the-world sailing race — upon his arrival in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France. Stephane Mahe captured the moment for Reuters.
Arts, Entertainment, and Celebrity
The cultural spotlight was equally bright across film, television, and live events. At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on January 5, Japanese actress Anna Sawai proudly posed with the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama award for her role in Shogun. Mario Anzuoni’s Reuters photograph marked a landmark moment for Asian representation in American television.
On January 7 in New York, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo paused for a candid moment during the National Board of Review Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street. Lexie Moreland captured the image for WWD/Getty Images.
French-American actor Timothée Chalamet brought star power to London on January 14, attending the UK premiere of Searchlight Pictures’ A Complete Unknown at BFI Southbank. Tim P. Whitby photographed the event for Getty Images on behalf of The Walt Disney Company Limited.
Finally, a lighter moment arrived from Sydney on January 9, where Elvis impersonator Shaun Wright was photographed in full costume en route to the celebrated Parkes Elvis Festival — a quintessentially Australian event that pays tribute to the King of Rock and Roll each January. Don Arnold captured the image for WireImage.
A Window onto the World
Together, these nineteen photographs form a powerful visual record of the early weeks of 2025 — a period marked by grief and resilience, destruction and celebration, protest and joy. For even more standout photojournalism from this era, see our collection of the Most Powerful World Press Photos of 2025 – Set 5.
The best images do not merely document events — they invite us to feel them. This set is a testament to the skill and courage of the photographers who were present, and to the enduring power of a single frame to tell an entire story.
