Best Of 2025 Part II - Photos

Continuing with my wrap up of 2025. These are not necessarily the best of my photos from last year in terms of being technically correct or outstanding overall quality, but they are my favorites because of the subject, the circumstances surrounding taking them or some personal connection. I believe the most important thing about a photograph lies not in the technical aspects but simply how it makes you feel.

           

Art alley in Rapid City. I often encounter good subjects there, some I know and some are strangers. Both instances are represented in these two pictures. Taken with my vintage Minolta Hi-Matic AF2 using 35mm black and white film. 

Another black and white. Digital this time. Taken at Mt. Roosevelt near Deadwood.

Two from the county fair last summer.

Experimented with the editing process by adding a saturated neon effect to this one. I think it only works because I was there during and right after a rain shower. Might have been rather dull otherwise.

                                   

I felt a little out of my element at this photo shoot in Spearfish Canyon. But the models were amazing and it was a lot of fun.

Another one from Spearfish Canyon. So much color there in the Fall.

I came up with this one for an exhibit at The Matthews Gallery. It was part of a show called "Mind Matters" dealing with the subject of mental health, dependency, recovery and associated themes. I called this image "A Bitter Pill." 

         

Can you tell I like shooting in black and white?

"15 Birds". A good example of a minimalistic style. Lucky to have gotten the composition just right, in my opinion.

         

I learned about Wabi-Sabi...a traditional Japanese style of art involving the concept of finding beauty in decay and imperfection. These are my interpretations.

Just for fun. Caught this guy at a political demonstration in Rapid City.

And...of course...I still shoot a lot of Polaroids so I had to include at least one -

Just kids being kids. Taken at the Black Hills Pow Wow. 

I'll be back out there in 2026 with my digital, my 35mm, or one of my Polaroid cameras. I might even break out my 1970s Kodak 110. In any case, I plan to follow the advice of Audrery Hepburn in Funny Face when she exclaimed "Take the picture! Take the picture!"

Roger O'Dea     1/2/2026