The best press photos of 2025 continue to reveal the full spectrum of human experience, and Set 10 is no exception. Spanning roughly the first three weeks of January, these 19 images — captured by photographers from AFP, Reuters, AP, Getty Images, and more — document everything from active war zones to cultural celebrations, from raging wildfires to moments of pure joy.
Conflict, Resilience, and Hope: Best Press Photos of 2025 from War Zones
Even amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a small act of warmth stood out on January 7, 2025. Outside the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, a girl placed a Santa hat on the head of a young child during the Christmas morning service — a tender moment of childhood innocence against an unimaginable backdrop.
The following day, at Umayyad Square in central Damascus, a boy broke into dance as the first buses arrived carrying people from Idlib province — individuals displaced from Ghouta and Qalamoun during the Syrian civil war. The scene on January 8, 2025 captured both relief and reunion in a single frame.
Also on January 8, a police officer in the frontline town of Orikhiv, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, carefully inspected the remains of a Russian rocket shell. The image, captured by a Reuters stringer, is a quiet but sobering reminder of the grinding reality of Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.
On January 19, 2025, Emily Damari was released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, reuniting with her mother Mandy near kibbutz Re’im, Israel. Their embrace — photographed by the Israel Defense Forces — marked the first phase of a ceasefire deal that also saw 90 Palestinian prisoners freed alongside three Israeli hostages.
The Los Angeles Wildfires: A City Under Fire
January 2025 brought catastrophic wildfires to the Los Angeles area, and the images tell a devastating story. On January 7, the Palisades Fire tore through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, consuming homes as a powerful windstorm fanned the flames across the west side of the city.
Two days later, on January 9, the Kenneth Fire broke out in the West Hills section of Los Angeles. Helicopters were deployed to drop water from above as crews struggled to contain the blaze.
By January 17, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California had pushed firefighters into treacherous terrain. Members of the Navajo Scouts firefighter crew worked to clear debris from a landslide on a hillside road — a scene of grit and determination captured by AP photographer John Locher.
Political Tension and Civil Action
In Vienna, Austria, on January 9, 2025, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). The rally, photographed by Lisa Leutner for Reuters, reflected rising public concern over the FPÖ’s growing political influence in the country.
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., preparations were well underway for the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. On January 12, a conductor led a rehearsal on the grounds in front of the U.S. Capitol — a ceremonial prelude to a politically charged event that would soon draw global attention.
Faith, Festival, and Cultural Celebration
In Manila, Philippines, millions of barefoot Catholic devotees gathered on January 9, 2025 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 revered as miraculous by Filipino devotees, who jostle fervently for a chance to touch it. Ezra Acayan captured the overwhelming scale of devotion for Getty Images.
In Pasto, Colombia, artists performed aboard elaborate traditional floats on January 6, 2025 during the iconic “Blacks and Whites” carnival. Rooted in a blend of Andean, Amazonian, and Pacific cultural traditions, the carnival celebrates the region’s ethnic diversity and has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009.
On the banks of the Songhua River in Jilin, northeast China, whimsical snowman installations stood amid frost-covered trees on January 12, 2025 — a seasonal spectacle unique to one of China’s coldest provinces.
Sport and Adventure: Triumph on Land and Sea
Australian motorcycle rider Daniel Sanders clinched victory at the Dakar Rally on January 17, 2025, celebrating after the twelfth stage in Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia. His triumph was captured by AP photographer Christophe Ena in a moment of pure elation.
Three days earlier, on January 14, French sailor Charlie Dalin crossed the finish line in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, winning the Vendée Globe — one of sailing’s most grueling solo, non-stop, round-the-world races. Dalin’s boat, Macif Santé Prévoyance, completed the challenge in record-challenging fashion.
Arts, Entertainment, and Lighter Moments
The arts community marked its own milestones early in the year. On January 5, 2025, Japanese actress Anna Sawai accepted the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama Award at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, honoring her acclaimed role in Shogun.
In New York, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo took a quiet moment at the National Board of Review Gala, held at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 7, 2025. French-American actor Timothée Chalamet, meanwhile, attended the UK premiere of Searchlight Pictures’ A Complete Unknown at BFI Southbank in London on January 14.
On a lighter note, Elvis impersonator Shaun Wright was photographed on January 9, 2025 en route from Sydney to the Parkes Elvis Festival — an annual Australian event that draws fans of the King from around the world.
A Month That Captured the World
These nineteen frames from January 2025 collectively illustrate what photojournalism does best: compress complex, sprawling events into single, indelible moments. From the fire-scarred hillsides of Los Angeles to a joyful reunion near an Israeli kibbutz, each image carries weight far beyond its frame.
If you found this collection compelling, explore more outstanding work in our coverage of the best world press photos from early January 2025, or discover the stories behind the most powerful world press photos of 2025 in Set 5.
