{"id":390377,"date":"2026-01-06T03:43:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T03:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/390377\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T03:43:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T03:43:12","slug":"vtdiggers-staff-photographer-looks-back-on-his-15-favorite-images-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/390377\/","title":{"rendered":"VTDigger’s staff photographer looks back on his 15 favorite images of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the new year gets underway, we\u2019re taking a moment to look back at the images that helped tell Vermont\u2019s story in 2025<\/a>. From civic engagement<\/a> and legislative whispers<\/a>; surprise federal visits<\/a> and overlooked municipal drama<\/a>; to the end of a critical housing program<\/a> and the expansion of an immigration crackdown<\/a> \u2014 VTDigger was on the ground to capture the scene. <\/p>\n

Our veteran staff photographer Glenn Russell selected and reflected on his favorite images of the year.<\/p>\n

\"AU.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives at the Northeast Kingdom International Aiport in Coventry on Thursday, January 29, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

This photo is the result of a tip, a long drive, a long wait<\/a>, and one frame using a long lens (a 500mm f8 reflex manual focus lens).<\/p>\n

\"ASen. Anne Watson, D-Washington, chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, left, confers with Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D-Chittenden Central, at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Senate Republicans were attempting to strip Watson\u2019s committee of a bill proposing to repeal the Affordable Heat Act. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s the turn of a head into good light that makes a photo.<\/p>\n

\"ASeveral hundred people gathered at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, to protest actions taken by the Trump administration. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

Good photos are simple photos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"ABrian Dunkling of Hinesburg asks a question during a public meeting of the Fish and Wildlife Board in St. Albans on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Anglers are questioning new proposed fishing regulations. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

I love these assignments. Real people<\/a> asking real questions of those in power.<\/p>\n

\"AJohnathon Johnson raises his hand to ask a question during Lincoln\u2019s town meeting on Monday, March 3, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

\"ASeveral hundred demonstrators gather outside the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to protest the detention of Mohsen Mahdawi. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

\"ACassandra Torres-McCarron talks about the prospect of having to leave the Motel 6 in Colchester on April 1, when the state\u2019s motel housing program\u2019s next deadline occurs. Seen on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

When I photograph a person in distress<\/a>, I always wonder if I\u2019m helping or hurting.<\/p>\n

\"TwoSen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, right, confers with Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, on the floor of the Senate at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Friday, May 16, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

This is how the whole thing works. Two people<\/a> connecting, confiding, conferring, considering\u2026<\/p>\n

\"AA lawn tractor processes up Main Street during the 50th annual Memorial Day parade in Orwell on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

\"AVermont Green Football Club\u2019s Zachary Zengue helps up Lionsbridge FC\u2019s goalie Henry Hampshaw after colliding with him in Burlington on Friday, July 25, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

I\u2019m always looking for sportsmanship when I\u2019m photographing a game, including a championship contest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"AMohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist formerly detained by ICE, prepares to speak as thousands of demonstrators gather for a \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest rally in Burlington on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

There was a lot going on here for everyone. This looks like the one peaceful moment<\/a> of his day.<\/p>\n

\"SeveralSen. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, speaks as House and Senate members of the education reform bill conference committee meet at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

It gets pretty dry in some of those committee meetings<\/a>. You have to be paying attention to get a good photo. Little details can make all the difference.<\/p>\n

\"AVolunteer Catelyn Martinez harvests rainbow chard during a gleaning by Community Harvest of Central Vermont at Dog River Farm in Berlin on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

\"AnGus Seelig, executive director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, dons a hard hat ahead of a groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of construction of 40 affordable apartments at the Cambrian Way housing complex in Burlington on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

Curmudgeonly old photographers refer to these events as Grip and Grins. I was pleased to transcend the paradigm using the compression of a long lens and symmetrical composition. Plus Gus has been working in the trenches<\/a> forever.<\/p>\n

\"AJohn McClain of Howevale Farm in Tunbridge cleans out a stall in a barn at the Tunbridge World\u2019s Fair on Thursday, September 11, 2025. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/p>\n

I love going to fairs and wandering<\/a> around looking for just the right moment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the new year gets underway, we\u2019re taking a moment to look back at the images that helped…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":390378,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[228,226,227,229,88,688],"class_list":{"0":"post-390377","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-artsanddesign","11":"tag-design","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-photography"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=390377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/390378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=390377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=390377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=390377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}