2025 Closing the Year

Another year wrapped up, and somehow we’re already moving into the second half of the 2020s. It’s hard to neatly sum up 2025. A lot happened. Looking back, I feel a real sense of satisfaction, even though the year wasn’t without its bumps, long stretches of stress, and moments of doubt. Still, all things considered, it’s been a very successful year, both for my photography as a business and for my personal development.

“Much of that growth was guided by the Pafos Forest project, which, in my eyes, has moved forward in a meaningful way.”

I spent a lot of time in Pafos Forest this year, and after two years of working on the project, I can finally say it’s starting to take shape. More importantly, I’m getting deep satisfaction from the process itself. I initially started this work as a way to push my boundaries in landscape photography. After Aspelia Naturalis, I wanted to see differently to explore how I could document nature, landscape, and atmosphere in a new way.

Pafos Forest was close enough to make this possible without friction. No huge time investment, no guilt about logistics or cost just space to zone out and work. Over time, I realised that the real pull of this project is freedom. I get to play. I get to do my thing. The images are not in service of anyone else. After many years of professional work, I had lost a part of my photography, simply working on a project purely for myself. I am the viewer. I am the client. That feeling is incredibly freeing, and honestly, essential.

If you’d like to see how the project is evolving, I have it online and update the images as the work continues.

A new perspective… learning to fly

Another major shift this year was the beginning of my relationship with drones. What an incredible piece of equipment. Endless possibilities, new perspectives, new narratives and at the same time, a new kind of danger. Distance. Laziness. Detachment from the subject.

The more I use it, the more I love it, and the more cautious I become. I wrote about this in my blog after my first few weeks flying, but I can say now with confidence: yes, it’s a powerful tool, and yes, it comes with serious pitfalls. You still need to hike the mountain. You still need to feel the place, understand it, and earn the image. The drone should come after that, not instead of it.

Aspelia Naturalis the exhibition

2025 was also the year of the Aspelia Naturalis exhibition at the Classic Hotel. What an experience. Truly something I’ll cherish for a long time. The most important takeaway for me was the atmosphere, people felt at home. It was casual, but professional. The work was deeply appreciated, and more than anything, Cyprus, its nature, and its beauty were at the centre of every conversation. I also had an amazing time working with my team and the hotel. We worked hard, we laughed a lot, and everything felt human. That’s how it should always be.

Talks, features, and collaborations

A lot happened on the presentation and outreach side this year:

February 2025 — Échappées Belles (France 5)
I was featured as one of the main characters in the Échappées Belles episode “Cyprus, the island of a thousand faces”, produced by France 5. The episode travels across the island, from wild landscapes to everyday stories, and includes a segment on my photographic work and how I explore Cyprus through it.

12.03 – 15.03.2025 — Conservation Collective Global Gathering
I was honoured to be invited as a speaker at the Conservation Collective’s Global Gathering in Kalopanayiotis, hosted by the Cyprus Environment Foundation. My talk focused on the role of photography in nature conservation, how art can act as a bridge for science, helping complex ideas connect emotionally with wider audiences. I also spoke about how projects can grow beyond single images into books, exhibitions, and other forms of engagement.

May 2025 — Cyprus Sport Climbing Guidebook
I contributed photographs, including the cover, to Cyprus’s first-ever sport climbing guidebook. A passion-driven project created by a small and determined climbing community, it was a pleasure to help document this milestone and showcase Cyprus’s climbing landscapes.

June 2025 — Sandy Beer Cyprus
I collaborated with Sandy Beer Cyprus on a short film that offers a glimpse into my work and approach, simple, honest, and always rooted in the outdoors.

June 2025 — Culture & Tonic Podcast
An in-depth conversation with Michalis Kalopaidis about photography, Cyprus, nature, and the long road behind building a body of work.

Working with Institutions and Organisations

Alongside my personal and editorial projects, a substantial part of this year was dedicated to commissioned work for clients across education, culture, and public institutions. I worked with organisations such as The Grammar School, European University Cyprus, the Department of Antiquities, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Finance, contributing imagery for a wide range of uses, from documentation and publications to campaigns and institutional communication. This client work continues to sit alongside my long-term projects, informing and supporting each other. More examples can be found on the Works page of my website.

Awards, a year of recognition

2025 also brought an overwhelming amount of international recognition. Across competitions such as PX3, IPA, TIFA, ND Awards, Refocus, and AAP Magazine, my work received over 30 international awards and mentions. Projects like A Better Life Is Calling (AUDI), Documenting the Birth of Cyprus’s Bouldering Legacy, Aspelia Naturalis, Journey to Save Cyprus’s Griffon Vultures, The Migrant Trap, and Domes Sergiou Winery were recognised across advertising, editorial, environmental, sports, and book categories. Seeing such different bodies of work acknowledged globally, from commercial campaigns to deeply personal and conservation-driven projects was both grounding and motivating.

A new website, a new chapter

Another major step this year was the launch of my new website and the beginning of a collaboration that already feels very promising with Egg Design Studio.

Working with Gloria, Nikki, and Silvia has been a real joy. Seeing my work through their eyes, organising and curating it together, and honestly being able to “borrow their brains” for a while has been incredibly rewarding. This website represents not just my work, but how I want it to be seen. After years of social media fatigue, it feels like a breath of fresh air.

Ending the year on a high note

I closed the year with one last project and a new collaboration with George Kouzis, a professional cyclist, full of energy, humble, and endlessly motivated. We had an amazing time creating work for KONA, a global brand he represents as part of their international pro roster. Mountains, bikes, big effort, big fun.

Looking ahead to 2026

2026 is already shaping up to be a big one. Extended travel for large projects, new collaborations, and the evolution of ongoing work are all on the horizon. There’s an exhibition planned for September in Limassol, the release of the Bouldering Guidebook, and a book on UNESCO sites in Cyprus that I worked on earlier this year.

A lot to look forward to. Let’s hope for health, clarity, and the energy to see it all through.