2025 in review

When I wrote that in my 2024 in review I’d already set the wheels in motion. Now, as 2025 approaches an end, I’m excited to say a long-held dream is about to become a reality.

Tomorrow, I sign off from my day job for a 13-month break. Well, it’s probably not quite correct to call it a break … ‘a window of new opportunities’ might be a better turn of phrase. To explain where I’ve got to, and where I’m going, it’s necessary to rewind a little. But first, let’s quickly recap what happened this year (spoiler alert: not much other than my day job!)

Just before 2025 rolled around I completed what ended up being my only tramp of the last 12 months: a solo 3-day trip to Waimakariri Falls Hut. Beautiful conditions and barely a soul to be seen, unless you count a rowdy circus of kea. My plan to head over Waimakariri Col and down the Rolleston River was foiled by lingering winter snow, so I’ll have to return and complete this trip another time.  My brief guide here, the video below (which was exciting to see become the most watched to-date on my YouTube channel).

Video highlights from Waimakariri Falls Hut (11 mins 44 secs)

In late February, my day job became very busy after commencing the consenting and detailed design phase for the Belfast to Pegasus Project (B2P), an 11 km upgrade of State Highway 1 which involves construction of a bypass of Woodend township (just north of Christchurch). This project became a full-time commitment for the rest of the working year.

In April, after a few months of behind-the-scenes work, I launched my new business (and its website), Epic South Photography Tours. And with it, my first offering, an 11-day trip with Michael Shainblum set for March 2026. An exciting milestone for my future, with Epic South being the foundation for my income in 2026.

In late May I released an updated version of my Rakaia video over on YouTube. It was awesome to go back and relive this adventure and add a lot of previously unused footage.

In among the effort of delivering the B2P project, I had the privilege of co-leading three photography tours: a 13-day trip around the South Island with PhotoPills (June), a 12-day Fiordland adventure with PhotoPills (September), and a 12-day trip with Josh Cripps (October). I’m sitting on a huge pile of unedited photos and video footage from these trips; very much looking forward to finding some time next year to post some highlights.

Running these 3 tours involved using all my vacation leave, which didn’t leave time for any personal projects. Which brings me to 2026…

Rakaia: Complete Edition (17 mins 49 secs)

Fiordland; the only image I published to my website in 2025 (sigh)

So, firstly rewinding a little. For the last 28 years I’ve held down a full-time professional career in engineering and environmental consultancy firms, mostly working on public infrastructure projects. The work is rewarding, challenging, and at times, doesn’t leave room for much else.

Along with my beautiful wife, Penny, the last 19 years has also involved raising two amazing children to adulthood. Honestly, I’ve no idea where that time has gone. One minute they were crawling around the floor, and then in what seems a blink of an eye, my daughter is commencing her last year of high school and my son is into his second year of university.

Somehow, around all that, I’ve also done some landscape photography and run photography and tour/workshop businesses. Thankfully, photography has always been a passion of mine, so this “work” has never felt like a chore. Besides, I’ve never been one to sit still, so photography has always been perfect for filling in any spare time I’ve had.

But all of that has meant that photography has come with some constraints and compromises. Largely, it’s all been squeezed into weekends and annual vacation time, which in turn is dictated by very particular windows of time availability. As other landscape photographers will no doubt attest, fixed dates and a tight schedule aren’t necessarily a good recipe for capturing the imagery you’ve planned and dreamed about.

So, I decided it was time for a big change. Thankfully, that 28-year career along with a couple of decades running photography businesses on the side has put me in the fortunate and privileged position to take this step without feeling like I’m taking on too much risk or uncertainty for the year ahead.

What to expect from me next year?

More photography. I’m very much looking forward to visiting many new locations, and revisiting a few old favorites, with some time on my side.

More photography tours. I already have x4 South Island tours (ranging from 10 to 13 days each) locked and loaded with the possibility of adding a couple more, along with setting things up for 2027 and beyond.

More adventures. I’ve started a list of ‘must do’ tramping trips, and without even scratching the surface, already have a list of over 50. Very excited about getting into the mountains on a frequent basis and producing a lot more content from those trips for my YouTube channel. Well, at least when the knee injury I frustratingly picked up a couple of weeks ago repairs itself (grrr).

Many thanks for following along, all the best to you and yours for the festive season and 2026!