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The Gazette’s photo staff share their favorite news photos of 2025
Staff photojournalists share their favorite news photographs and what makes them their favorite
Dec. 31, 2025 5:30 am, Updated: Dec. 31, 2025 7:25 am
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The Gazette’s photojournalists take thousands of photos every year — of groundbreakings, games, community events and portraits of Eastern Iowans. Over the course of the year, there are some assignments and photos that stand out from the rest.
Each of The Gazette’s four photojournalists picked their favorite photo of the year, and explains why they chose that photo.
Savannah Blake
Trying to choose one photo that is your favorite of the year is a tough ask. As a storyteller, many of the assignments I’ve been given carry a special place in my Rolodex. I get to know the subjects, learn more about their lives and share a piece of their life with the community.
I met Rory Demesy while covering the installation of the new clock at the Benton County Courthouse in Vinton. While this assignment may not initially evoke feelings of excitement to some, I often find that some of the stories we underestimate prove to be the most fruitful.
Demesy led me up to the clock tower and showed me a beautiful and intricate clock that he had been working on for several years and his work was finally coming to a close. He shared his story and I learned about how he came to love the art of clocks and restoring them.
As he was talking about the clock I noticed his face through the gears and thought if I could get the framing just right, I would be able to capture a great environmental portrait. When I look at this photo I am instantly taken back to the clock tower and being amazed at how someone could piece together such an intricate piece of machinery.
Elizabeth Wood
I took this photo after the Gathered & Grown: A Feast of Five Seasons dinner, which was hosted at Cobble Hill in July.
At the end of the dinner, I was grabbing a few photos of volunteers cleaning up outside. Once I was finished, I headed back inside to grab my bag when I noticed the overhead lights were turned off, except for the lights in the kitchen.
A few moments later, I heard the chefs laughing as they came in from the back, so I grabbed my camera and framed the shot. As I was taking the photo, I was reminded of Edward Hopper's painting, "Nighthawks," which depicts four people sitting in a diner at night, and readjusted the frame to reflect that.
Jim Slosiarek
Sometimes assignments come along that just put a smile on your face and leave a lasting impression.
That was the case with The Arc of East Central Iowa softball league games at Cleveland Park in Cedar Rapids. The sky was that deep blue. Perfect temperature. Just a perfect, summer evening.
“I can do this,” said Janine Irishura as she psyched herself up in the batter’s box.
Many of the players emulated big leaguers with their swagger coming up to the plate, and all were having a great time. Teammates cheered on teammates. Smiles everywhere. The photos came easily that evening.
How can that enthusiasm and good will not rub off on you?
Nick Rohlman
This photo is from a story I worked on alongside The Gazette’s Olivia Cohen about land management and forestry techniques employed by the monks and lay employees of New Melleray Abbey, a Trappist Monastery near Dubuque.
The abbey, known for the coffins produced by its Trappist Caskets business, manages farm and forestland, including a commercial forestry operation, which contributes to the materials used in making the caskets.
I spent a couple of days at the abbey with lay forester John Schroeder (not pictured) and Brother Joseph, traversing the monastery’s forest, creek beds, gardens and orchard. I learned from Schroeder about innovative conservation techniques in use at New Melleray, including the reforestation of farmland, restoration of prairie and the reintroduction of beaver to waterways. I photographed Brother Joseph tending to the abbey’s gardens and working to assemble caskets.
I chose this photo because it captures the joy that Brother Joseph finds in his work. He manages crops ranging from peach and apple trees, to corn, to more than 100 varieties of garlic.
The monks of New Melleray are a unique community and their commitment to the restoration and stewardship of their land is a testament to what is possible when decisions are made based on generational thinking rather than quarterly profit.
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