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Journal Pictures of the Year - 2025

Journal staff photographers Jessica Baca, Chancey Bush and Eddie Moore reflect on capturing New Mexico’s beauty, resilience and unique stories in their favorite images of 2025. Explore their work in the slideshows below.

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Jessica Baca

Bull Younts Brody’s Pet jumps into the air after his rider, Daylon Swearingen, is thrown off during PBR’s Unleash The Beast at the Pit on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025
Kolby Barka, center, holds a candle during a candlelight Vigil for Michael LaMotte at Haynes Park on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. LaMotte, 14, was fatally shot in the head at a University of New Mexico dorm room over the summer.
James Salazar walks in the Pride Parade along Central Avenue on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Devona Tsosie, Navajo, from Phoenix, Arizona, fixes her hair before the 7 p.m. grand entry during the Gathering of Nations at Expo New Mexico’s Tingley Coliseum on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Nick Mertz of La Cueva celebrates after becoming the 5A boys state wrestling champion in the 189-pound weight class at the Rio Rancho Event Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
A water gun fight takes place during the final 10 minutes of the Corrales Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025.
Fans lift UNM’s Trey Dubuc into the air as he waves a Lobos flag in celebration of the Lobos’ win over San Diego State at University Stadium on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.

This has been an exciting year of photo experiences for me, as it marks my first year on staff full-time. 

I had so many photos that I loved, from the composition to the experiences I had making the work. I definitely had some help narrowing down a year’s worth of photos to just a few.

This year, I tried to experiment more with using my surroundings to frame the subject of my photos. 

I aimed to slow down high-energy moments while keeping them layered, allowing the viewer to see what I saw in the moment. 

In 2026, I hope to play more with the perspectives of my photography. 

Chancey Bush

Ginny Marquez, a VIP bartender at Isotopes Park, poses with a lowrider during the Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico Lowrider event at the Isotopes’ game against the El Paso Chihuahuas at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
Julian Garcia, Ernesto Rojas, 7, and Princess Rojas mourn the loss of 17-year-old Jason Gomez during a vigil at Young Park in Las Cruces on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Gomez was one of three people killed in a shooting incident at the park, which also resulted in 15 others being injured.
Marcos Arias rides with his two sons, Sebastian, 3, and Matias, 5, during the Cabalgata Binacional and Fiesta de Amistad in the village of Columbus on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
UNM fan Leif Emblem sports face paint during a Lobos’ home game against Utah State at University Stadium in Albuquerque on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The Lobos won 33-14.
A protester, who wished to remain anonymous, joined the Albuquerque Against ICE march and protest in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday, June 20, 2025.
Felipe Chavez, of Albuquerque, takes a punch at Derrick Findley during the featured fight of the BKFC Fight Night event at the Albuquerque Convention Center’s Kiva Auditorium in Downtown Albuquerque on Feb. 28, 2025. Chavez lost the fight.
Balloon pilot Shelena Shamo guides the American flag as she takes flight in the Chick-fil-A balloon during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.
JoEllen Chavez holds her two sons, Micah Chavez, 11, left, and Jedidiah Chavez, 8, right, with her daughters, Gianna Chavez, 17, far left, and Giavanna Chavez, 14, while attending Sunday Mass at St. Eleanor Catholic Church in Ruidoso on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Heavy rains on the burn scar in July caused catastrophic flooding that brought havoc to the village, killing three people, including two children.

As I look back at the photos I’ve taken this year, I see that I’ve been creating a love letter to New Mexico. 

I’m truly thankful for meeting so many memorable people and for the chance to experience the landscapes that make this place special. Every part of New Mexico has its own stories, mysteries and traditions that bring it to life. 

This year, I traveled across deserts, from mesas to mountains, met people making a difference, witnessed acts of courage and photographed those who keep traditions burning bright. 

Thank you to everyone in New Mexico for trusting me to share your stories. Wishing you all a happy New Year.

Eddie Moore

Miss New Mexico USA Mackenzie Sydow, right, put her crown on 10-month-old Sophia Garcia of Albuquerque, who is being held by Maralyn Beck, founder and executive director of New Mexico Child First Network. A Girls Day event was held at Hotel Albuquerque on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The event for foster and adopted girls was organized by New Mexico Child First Network and Sydow.
Ludivina Villalobos, left, and Aide Hernandez, both from Chihuahua, Mexico, pray for Pope Francis at Santa Fe’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi on Monday, April 21, 2025. Pope Francis died on Easter Sunday at the age of 88.
Nick Streit, owner of Taos Fly Shop, and Whitney Potter with Outdoor Recreation Roundtable fish the Rio Grande near Pilar on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Rev. Jill Cline, left, prays with Anna Maria Gonzales, whose son, Alejandro Mariscal, 20, died of suicide at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in Taos County, in March. A rally to prevent suicides was held at the rest area near the bridge on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.
Guadalupe, 6, whose family asked not to use her last name, takes part in a news conference about 48 people being detained by ICE. The news conference was held at the Roundhouse on Monday, Mar. 17, 2025.
Bryan Small, from Albuquerque, and roughly 80 people stand in snow, taking part in a Second Amendment Rally at the Roundhouse on Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025. The event, organized by the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association and the New Mexico Firearms Industry Association, included several speakers and Republican lawmakers.
Los Lunas’ Mark Scime reacts to a 2 RBI double in the second inning of the Tigers’ semi-final game against Eldorado in the state tournament on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Allen Chase, of Albuquerque, kisses one of four caskets carrying the remains of 171 people, including his wife’s, being buried at Fairview Cemetery in Albuquerque on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.

2025 was a year of amazing anxiousness, uncertain change and skepticism. Our state is still trying to recover from catastrophic fires, and dealing with homelessness, drug addiction and the impact of changes at the federal level. 

Yet, like year after year, 2025 was one when those struggles brought into focus New Mexico’s beauty and ability to endure. 

Many of the photos taken this year by my colleagues and me show not only the struggles but also that beauty and wonder and resilience. The strength of its people — all of its people — breeds confidence that the Land of Enchantment will continue. 

2025 was a year of amazing anxiousness, uncertain change and optimism in my own life. I watched my son graduate high school with honors and go off to college in Minnesota, leaving my wife and me here with enough pride to fill all of the balloons at Fiesta Park. 

But we’re not worried. He’ll be back. He can’t stay away from New Mexico for too long.

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