Recapping 2025 in Photos

Dec 31

It’s time for another year-end recap. Some notables:

It snowed in New Orleans. Official estimates were around 10-11 inches.
New Orleans hosts Super Bowl LIX.
We “stumbled” into an event where Snoop Dog was doing a DJ set.
I skipped Mardi Gras and took a trip to Trinidad for Carnival.
My photos get published in the Oxford American magazine.
Two of my photos were accepted for the New Orleans de Nuit exhibit.
My photo was selected for Ogden Museum’s Louisiana Contemporary 2025 exhibit.
I started to shoot film again. I haven’t shot film since like 2009~2010.
The New Wave documentary was awesome. If you grew up in that era, you owe it to yourself to watch it.

I think the whole year was anchored by the Trinidad trip. The vibes were that good. You can read all about it in my recap: Trinidad Carnival 2025.

Anyway, here are my favorite shots I took this year. If you’re here on your mobile device, please revisit on your desktop.

January

Just like last year, I ended up at the Metropolitan to ring in the new year. I don’t remember how long I stayed after midnight but I do remember thinking about what to do next. I ultimately decided to call it and go straight home.

In the morning, I get a text message from my manager asking if the team was safe from the incident on Bourbon Street. Of all the things I thought it could be, I didn’t expect it to be a terrorist attack. More info here if you want to read more about it.

ATF on Poydras St. the day after the attack. The Sugar Bowl was also taking place after being postponed for a day.

A makeshift memorial at the site of the attack on Bourbon Street.

A vigil was held to honor the victims of the attack.

Newly installed lights on the Crescent City Connection. Shot from the Hot Tin bar at the Pontchartrain Hotel.

Building housing former New Orleans guitar shop partially collapses onto Magazine Street.

At the Thrasher x Humidity event at Chi Chi’s Chicken & Beer.

There was a tip that Snoop Dog was performing at Hotel St. Vincent so we went to verify for ourselves. It was more of a DJ set but he did perform some of his classic songs. We had no idea what the event was but we left after someone started asking who we were with. We were already there for an hour so we were ready to leave anyway.

At the The Sadie Jane for a friend’s wedding.

Banners and ads start to go up around the city in preparation for the Super Bowl between the Chiefs and Eagles.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan's yacht docked on the Mississippi River in New Orleans. This thing is huge.

February

Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus parade.

King cake from Dong Phuong Bakery. The best one? Maybe. Its definitely up there on my list.

Shepard Fairey / Obey Giant completed mural on Canal St.

It’s officially Super Bowl weekend and I managed to make it into the city. It was probably the longest time I ever been out and about aside from Mardi Gras day.

Cheeto's “Cheese of the Seas” ferry boat.

Dom Dolla & John Summit doing a surprise B2B set on Bourbon St. The police shut it down shortly due to being way too crowded. Just the fact that it actually happened was crazy.

Caught Rob Lowe walking around the French Quarter.

The Fox set on Bourbon St. I can’t believe I didn’t take a picture of the purple carpet they laid down on the street.

Light projection on the St. Louis Cathedral. Cool but also kind of tacky.

Amazing Veranica performing with her dogs at the halftime show (Kings vs Pelicans game).

I tag along with the Krewe of PhantAsia during Krewe Bohème parade. View the photo recap here: Shedding Old Skin: Krewe of PhantAsia

March

I skip Mardi Gras to head to Trinidad for Carnival. Read my full recap here: Trinidad Carnival 2025.

I was a little bummed that I was going to miss the Barkus parade since I was in Trinidad. The parade got postponed due to weather so I was able to make it.

New Orleans city council member (now mayor-elect), Helena Moreno.

*50 Portraits* by Loc Huynh. Part of the “Hoa Tay” exhibit at the Ogden Museum.

*In the mud, what is more beautiful than a lotus? by* Christian Đinh. Part of the “Hoa Tay” exhibit at the Ogden Museum.

Super Sunday 2025 with the Red Flame Hunters. View the full recap.

A casual NIETZ throwie on the Shepard Fairey mural (bottom left).

April

Three of my photos were published in the Oxford American magazine. You can read the story by E.M. Tran here: In The Streets with the Krewe of Mung Beans.

Flooded streets in the CBD after heavy rain.

I once heard a long, long time ago that the Le Pavillon Hotel served PB&J’s sandwiches but I never confirmed it. We went one night on a whim and lo and behold, they did. The setup was quite fancy. Shortly after this, I was told I couldn’t take photos in the hotel with a professional camera. I didn’t want to argue so we just left… after eating the PB&J’s.

Out at Jazz Fest. I really appreciate that they allow cameras inside the grounds. Even with a big 70-200mm lens attached. Of course, you can’t shoot from the photo pit but that’s fine.

Hanging out at the Seahorse Saloon after Jazz Fest.

May

Vietnamese presence at the Louisiana Folklife Village at Jazz Fest.

I had to get a photo of this guy’s outfit.

Lucas Beaufort at Humidity Skate Shop during the Heartsy Tour.

Kicksz N Gritz serving up some tasty burgers. The sauce was so good. I’m glad I was able to get one before they ran out.

BJ at the Original Big 7’s Mother’s Day Parade. View the photo recap here: Original Big 7 Mother’s Day Parade 2025

My niece taking a photo at my nephew’s graduation party.

Bubble Day at MRB. View the photo recap.

Vietnamese dance performance at the Ogden Nite Market.

The Woodlawn Lion Dance Team performs at the Ogden Nite Market.

Lillian Aguinaga, SWAN, and Ceaux painting at the Mothership Murals & Market.

“How’s my driving?” A garbage truck gets tagged by the Top Mob crew after being stuck for a day or two. More details here: Truck crash leaves garbage truck dangling over I-10 ramp in New Orleans.

June

I head to Utah to visit some friends. Coincidentally, the Red Bull Soap Box Derby and the Bloc Party concert was on the same week. The soap box derby was cool if a little too crowded. I didn’t see too many gnarly crashes.The Bloc Party concert was amazing. The way the venue was serving alcohol was kind of weird though. You can only buy and drink on the 2nd floor of the venue.

In-N-Out in Utah. I can’t remember the last time I been to one but it was in California.

The view from the Alien Tower Ridge trail.

Nielsen’s Frozen Custard. Big fan of the building design.

Rice Vice. A cozy sake and cocktail bar in Algiers.

I brought some records but only got to play like two by the time we left.

July

Bread and spiced butter at Dakar. The restaurant won the James Beard award in 2024.

Peychaud’s Bar at the Celestine. They had a Vietnamese gin called Sông Cái and it was pretty good.

Greta’s Sushi pop-up at the Tell Me Bar.

One of two photos that was accepted for the *New Orleans de Nuit* exhibit at the Second Story Gallery.

At the Ghost Tequila activation at Union Ramen during Tales of the Cocktail week.

ET Deaux’s *Adults Swimming* album release party at CastleDay Retreats.

A promo shot I took for Sweet Assembly by Jenny’s Cake Creations.

Palace Cafe closes after 34 years. The signs were promptly taken down.

Apparently they sell ice cream here when they’re actually open. I went in one time but I didn’t have any cash.

August

The photo that was published in the Oxford American magazine was also selected for Ogden Museum’s Louisiana Contemporary 2025 exhibit.

*A Decade with* *Tim Black* photo show at Humidity Skate Shop.

Sweet Assembly at the Yelper Party at the Common House.

Bourbon St. during Southern Decadence weekend.

September

First Saints game of the 2025 season. Shot on Ilford HP5 film.

Some beef on display at Doris Metropolitan.

IShowSpeed on Bourbon St. We were having an impromptu photo walk and was wondering why there was a crowd.

I got my hands on a roll of CineStill 800T film, revisited some of my favorite night spots, and ripped through the entire roll in one night. Developed and scanned by Gumbo Film Labs.

I want to note that the Santigold concert I went to this month at the House of Blues was amazing. She still got it.

October

Ordering some Absinthe. I’ve lived here all my life and I never tried it. It’s not too bad but I couldn’t take big sips for some reason.

A photo I took last year up for auction at O What A Night Gala. I was pleasantly surprised that it was sold.

This Halloween, I pitched in to help the Frenchmen Art Bazaar with their Halloween event. It included music and live painting. We were supposed to have food but that didn’t pan out. I also drank way too much that night. Shout out to my friends that brought me a hotdog.

November

Compton III at his Spy Boy toy release party at Sneaker Politics.

We arrived too late to the Kite Fest this year but we managed to get our kite airborne before we left.

Dead of the Dead celebrations in the Bywater.

At the Just Say YAYA event at YAYA Arts Center.

Tito’s Vodka hosting some kind of charity event at Lafayette Square. The amount you hit gets donated to a charity that you can choose from a list.

New Wave legend, Lynda Trang Dai, walking to the stage.

Daniella Zalcman & Thi Bui interviews the director of the New Wave documentary, Elizabeth Ai alongside Lynda Trang Dai.

Inside Marigny Studios for the Carol Kim concert hosted by Saigon Jazz Revival.

Chinese candy painting at NOLA Nite Market at the Westwego Fisheries & Farmers Market.

Lynda Trang Dai performing with her partner, Tommy Ngo at NOLA Nite Market. Throughout the performance, Tommy Ngo kept asking the crowd to buy him drinks. I got him and myself a shot of Hennesy and when I took the shot with him, I gagged on it and spat it out. Whoops. It was unexpected and also embarrassing.

I don’t have a specific reason, but with each subsequent year of the Po-Boy Fest, I get less and less interested in trying the different po-boys. At the end of the day, I just want a good, standard shrimp po-boy. The vibes were still good though. The weather was nice this year.