Here we are, with some delay, my final blog for 2025. Over the past years, I have always celebrated the past year with a series of blog articles to reflect back. It took me a bit longer to find the time to do this write-up as I was (trying) to take some personal time. However, today I am ready to share my overview of the incredible, unexpected year 2025 turned into. I feel like I am repeating myself year after year but it is safe to say that 2025 has again been an amazing year for my photography. Thinking back to it, feels fulfilling and fills me with gratitude.
Introduction
I feel like this is starting to become a trend but this year has again been the busiest in my photography career. 2025 was filled with lots of photo workshops, most of which I guided by myself. I worked on documenting the two eruptions that took place again at Sundhnúksgígar in Iceland and was published multiple times in international media. I was also fortunate enough for my photography to receive international recognition in various competitions. And finally, I got to work with a few large companies on a few projects, some of which have yet to see the light of day. As you can tell, it has been yet another eventful year for my photography. And that’s why I like to write things down, because it’s a great way for me to motivate myself to continue forward in the new year. Let’s dive in!
1. Looking Back At Some Of My Favourite Photographs Of 2025
Before we delve into some achievements and events, I want to focus on the photography because that’s what it is ultimately all about to me. I start by sharing 10 of my favourite images which I captured throughout 2025 in a variety of locations, with a variety of photography gear.
I captured this circular rainbow about the, now famous, tree in the Icelandic Highlands. It took a lot of effort getting this right due to the constantly changing light and harsh wind conditions.
Captured using DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
It’s no surprise that this whirlpool I photographed next to an iceberg in Greenland is one of the top 10 images I captured this year. After noticing it appear once during a flight, I kept flying back to this spot with my drone in hopes of capturing that right moment again.
Captured using DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
Another one of my favourite moments in 2025 resulted in one of my favourite shots of the year. When a sudden torrential rainfall began at the July eruption at Sundhnúkagígar, the entire eruption was engulfed in a massive steam cloud that allowed me to capture the most incredible images.
Captured using DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
Capturing during a winter photo workshop in March, we saw the most incredible northern lights at a prime location: Vestrahorn. Thanks to the reflecting beach, I managed to capture this incredible photograph of the aurora.
Captured using Canon EOS R5 and Canon 14-35mm RF F4.
During my last Puffins in the Midnight Sun photo workshop, I focused a lot on closeup portraits showing the behaviour of these beautiful birds. I captured this closeup while a puffin was grooming itself.
Captured using Canon EOS R5 Mark II and Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8.
During my maiden flight with my brand new Mavic 4 Pro, I set out to photograph some braided rivers along the southern coast of Iceland. The day I picked was perfect as there were a lot of low clouds that provided the atmosphere and uniqueness I was looking for.
Captured using DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
One morning during the West Greenland photo workshop in September, I spotted two humpback whales swimming along the hotel. I informed the group, rushed out, and ran to the nearest place I could safely takeoff with the drone.
Captured using DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
This little Arctic Fox cub came in for a closer look while I was out photographing during the Arctic Fox workshop in Hornstrandir last June. He was probably as surprised to see me as I was seeing him. An incredible encounter!
Captured using Canon EOS R5 Mark II and Canon RF 200-800mm.
I captured this dreamy sunrise photograph of one of the most photographed mountain ridges in Iceland. This is a vantage point I had never seen before myself so I suspect not many will recognise it!
Captured using DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
This photograph was taken during one of the most incredible sunsets I have experienced during one of my photo workshops in Greenland. Taken on a remote island in the Scoresbysund fjord system, we witnessed incredible colors during this amazing night.
Captured using DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
2. Teaching Photography On Photo Workshops
In 2025, I planned less photo workshops after a very packed 2024. The reason I wanted to organise less photography workshops was primarily to make sure I stay engaged, switched on and excited when I am with my customers. Another reason is that I planned to guide most of my workshops by myself, which meant that the experience of leading a workshop would be more intense. This year I also hosted two completely new photo workshops: one focused on photographing Arctic Foxes and one focused on the Western and Northern parts of Iceland. Both photo workshops went really well and the participants really enjoyed them.
During the summer, I again spent lots of time in the Icelandic Highlands but what was new about that in 2025 was that I started running drone-focused photo workshops, which were all focused on the Icelandic Highlands. And while you can, of course, always bring your camera, the intent of those workshops is to focus only on drone photography. Needless to say, I didn’t see anyone pull out their regular cameras on those workshops because they were jam-packed with drone opportunities. And once you start delving into drone photography, the reality is that you will become addicted very quickly!
But, what all of these special photography-focused adventures have in common is their unique experiences. Other than learning and doing photography, it’s the memorable experiences that really make them so enjoyable to run but also to participate in.
Finally, throughout all of these photo workshop experiences, I always get to meet and engage with so many amazing & incredible people and that was no different this year. I am thankful that I get to show all these amazing locations to people who are equally passionate about photography, making new memories for people in the process. I’m not going to lie: it is the best job in the world in my opinion!
Want to join me on a photo workshop in 2026? There are still a handful of spots available in 2026. If you want to read more about my previous photo workshops, make sure to check out my photo workshop reports on my blog.
It’s always nice when someone captures a behind-the-scenes moment during a workshop. I really enjoy helping out people in the field to assure they get the best results in their photography.
The obligatory group photo during one of our final moments on this year’s West Greenland photo workshop.
During the wildlife photography workshops I organise, we always make time to evaluate images and edit them during downtime.
Sometimes completely unexpected magical moments happen too, like this encounter with a rare whale species: the Northern Bottlenose Whale.
3. Two More Eruptions At Sundhnúkagígar
Of course, I can’t make a yearly overview without at least mentioning the volcanic eruptions I was able to capture this year in Iceland. While we saw many eruptions in 2024, the frequency of eruptions at Sundhnúkagígar in Iceland is definitely decreasing. However, the situation is not entirely over yet. In 2025 we saw two eruptions occur in the area: one in April, which was very short-lived, and a lengthier one in July.
The eruption in April occurred very close to Grindavík but fortunately spared the town thanks to its small size and short duration. I was on assignment in Grindavík when the eruption began, recording footage for several media outlets. Some of my footage of that eruption even made it into the Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the U.S..
The eruption in July came very unexpected. Because I was leaving on a holiday, I woke up really early that day only to find that an eruption had begun quite literally 5 minutes before I woke up. Whilst I was on my way to the airport, I drove past the new fissure which had opened in a safe area, away from Grindavík. I therefore hoped it would continue to erupt until I came back a week later. And guess what? It did! Because I was grateful there was still an opportunity, I dedicated the following week to documenting the eruption, capturing some of my favourite videos and photographs ever since I began photographing eruptions.
If you want to see more of my work surrounding the volcanic eruptions in recent years, make sure to check out my Volcanoes in Iceland gallery and volcano related blogs. Or, if you want to stay updated on current events and are interested in the data behind the volcanic activity in Iceland, check out my Volcano in Iceland page.
The April eruption occurred very near to Grindavík and as by a miracle didn’t damage the town. Because the magma intrusion expanded very far underground towards the North, the eruption likely did not have enough energy to form a large fissure.
These are just a few impressions of the July eruption which I really enjoyed.
This video shows some of my favourite footage of all-time I believe. The way the steam dancing around the lava flows is just incredible mesmerising to me. I wrote a lengthier blog on this moment too.
4. Lecturing & Podcast Interviews
This year I have also been allowed to lecture on my photography a few times. One event in particular stood out, which was the FEP Photo Day in Copenhagen. I really enjoy the FEP events, if not for the networking aspect and meeting all kinds of other photographers. It was a pleasure to lecture on two topics there: once about my experience with volcano photography and secondly to talk about the importance of experiences in photography. These are two topics that are incredibly important to me and my photography and it was a real honor to stand in front of international audience to talk about it.
I have also been a guest on several podcasts, especially over the last months. I really enjoy partaking in podcasts as they allow me to give more depth to my work but also to share my stance on certain hot topics such as the use of AI/compositing, leading photography workshops, and more. I can highly recommend listening to some of these photography-focused podcasts in general to discover new photographers, learn about photography and expand your mind on certain hot topics.
I had the pleasure of lecturing twice on the FEP Photo Day in Copenhagen in April.
5. Awards & Commendations
Finally, I haven’t just been honored to be celebrated several times for my photography this year but I also judged in a few competition for the first time. Below are my achievements from the past year.
- First Place In Category “The World (De Wereld)” (awarded by Lowland Photo Contest / Lowland Photo Festival – December 2025)
Jeroen received first place in the only category in the Lowland Photo Contest that allows images to be submitted that were not taken in Belgium or the Netherlands. This is by far the largest category of this competition, which combines both wildlife and landscape photography. - ‘Seascapes’ Special Award (awarded by the International Landscape Photographer Of The Year – November 2025)
Jeroen received this Special Award, together with two other top 101 places, in the prestigious International Landscape Photographer Of The Year 2025 awards. - Combined Portfolio in Final Live Voting (NLPA – Natural Landscape Photography Awards – September 2025)
Jeroen’s work made it to the final round of portfolio and image voting in the prestigious Natural Landscape Photography Awards. - Judge in the 2025 Belgian Photo Awards (Belgian Photo Awards – September 2025)
Jeroen judged the landscape & wildlife categories in the 2025 edition of the Belgian Photo Awards. - Judge in the 2025 Swedish Championships in Photography 2025 (SM i Fotografi – July 2025)
Jeroen judged the landscape & wildlife categories in the 2025 edition of the Swedish Championships in Photography 2025. - Shortlisted in the 1st International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards (International Aerial Photographer of the Year – June 2025)
Jeroen was shortlisted in the first edition of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year awards, which focuses on aerial and drone imagery from around the world. - Fifth Place in Landscape Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – April 2025)
Jeroen had the pleasure to place fifth in the Landscape category for three of his photographs – taken in 2024. - Fifth place in Nature/Landscape in WPC 2025 (awarded by the World Photographic Cup – March 2025 – Certificates)
Jeroen received fifth place during the award ceremony in Quito (Ecuador) in the Nature/Landscape category of the World Photographic Cup 2025. - Finalist in Landscape Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – March 2025)
Jeroen has the pleasure to be a finalist in the Landscape category for three of his photographs in the 2025 FEP Awards. The award ceremony takes place in Copenhagen (Denmark) at the end of April 2025.
This ‘Ice Spiral’, which I captured during my September 2025 West Greenland photo workshop, received the ‘Seascapes’ special award in the ILPOTY awards.
I was honored to be on the stage of Lowland Photo Festival where I presented my winning photograph of a polar bear floating in water whilst being surrounded by slush ice.
Finally, A Few Tidbits
While the previous list contains the most important moments/achievements, there are a few smaller tidbits I wanted to add which took my photography (business) in the right direction:
- I wrote and published 43 new blogs this year, which is just under one a week. While I published less of them, I decided to focus more on the quality and content, rather than the quantity. As it turns out, that was a great call because I have been grateful to receive lovely feedback to my writing efforts.
- I finally got to work with a few companies I have hoped, and even dreamed, of working with. Some of those projects have not yet seen the light of day so I hope to share more about this in the next year.
- I was in a position to purchase my dream car, a Toyota Land Cruiser, which is an essential tool for me as a nature photographer who loves enjoying off the beaten path locations. Over the last year I have modified it to make it the perfect photography-capable tool which I can use on many photography outings and workshops. This has also allowed me to spend a lot more time on my personal projects.
Bring On 2026!
Well, that was it for me in 2025! It was such a great year for my photography but… I think & hope 2026 may become even better with a lot of exciting projects in the pipeline! First up on my 2026 calendar is Antarctica, where I will spend 12 days as one of the photography guides during a photography expedition.
Finally, I want to thank all of you who have been following my photography, supporting my work and more. It means the world to me. It’s because of you that I get to do what I do and for that, I am eternally grateful. I hope I get to meet even more of you in 2026!
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A superb selection of images, Jeroen! I look forward to joining you again on a trip:)
Thanks Milt! I hope you’re doing great!