Categories: Photography

Visions and Vistas: 9 Photographers Unveil Their Dreams and Dread for 2025


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The inspiration for Furmaan Ahmed’s recent Google Pixel Creator Labs venture emerged when they stumbled upon two prop dolphins intended for circus use. My collaborator Isabella and I resolved to transport these to our nearest viaduct at the witching hour to capture images of them by Ouse Valley Viaduct [in Sussex, England], which has historically conveyed water from rivers into urban areas,” they mention. “There was a rather gloomy aspect to these dolphins in that pasture, searching for a route back to water.” This experience birthed Ahmed’s series, The Memory Palace II, examining what lies beneath when you obliterate history and cultures – the silent yet elegant resistance that endures. 

Last month marked the return of Creator Labs for its ninth season, showcasing the works of photographers such as Campbell Addy, Myles Loftin, Kennedi Carter, Mayan Toledano, Gabriel Moses, and others. The incubator, a collaboration between Google and SN37, aids emerging artists in crafting new works centered on significant cultural narratives and social issues. The most recent season was their largest to date, featuring 31 global artists and addressing a wide range of themes – community, identity, connection, intimacy, and beyond. For photographers like Andre Wagner, it’s been a profoundly personal odyssey. After over ten years capturing images of his neighborhood, Wagner‘s series chronicled his path of self-discovery. “In recent years, I’ve been delving deeper into my inner self and psyche,” he explains. “I’m focusing the lens and gaze on myself.”

Ahead, nine photographers from Creator Labs contemplate the year 2024 through imagery and offer their forecasts, hopes, and anxieties for the forthcoming year. 

Shikeith is a 35-year-old visual creator hailing from Philadelphia, PA. Their work focuses on exploring the psychological terrains of Black men, often delving into themes of hauntology and spiritual customs from the African diaspora.

“Lately, circumstances have been exceedingly unpredictable, and regrettably, I predict that 2025 will continue to pose difficulties for many individuals globally. An overwhelming absence of empathy appears to have gripped society, leaving us feeling increasingly detached and estranged from one another. 

“On a positive note, I sense that more people are starting to acknowledge this disconnect. It’s long overdue for us to reconnect with what truly matters. Following so much collective sorrow that has gone unrecognized, I hope to witness a burgeoning desire to cultivate our relationships – with ourselves, our dear ones, and the environment.”

Campbell Addy is a British-Ghanaian photographer, filmmaker, and artist currently residing in Melbourne, Australia. His narrative style is both cinematic and intimate. 

“For 2025, I aspire for my solo exhibition in Australia to flourish and for me to embody the spirit of love and community through my work, practice, and personal life. Regarding cultural and political aspirations, I sense we are on the verge of genuine transformation and revolution.

“I refuse to let fear dictate my actions.”

Cruz Valdez is a 32-year-old photographer based in New York, known for her ability to weave fantasy into reality. In this Creator Labs season, she focused the lens on herself to better explore her personal beauty signature: black eyeliner. 

“The year 2024 was profoundly transformative for me, both physically and spiritually. I hope to progress the work I’ve been undertaking on myself and my art and to witness more harmony and safety worldwide in 2025. My wish is simply for the best outcomes for my loved ones and the most vulnerable among us.”

Mayan Toledano is an artist and photographer capturing the vibrant fabric of communities within Mexico City’s LGBTQ+ art culture, depicting artists, designers, and creators in their private spaces.

“In 2025, I hope to witness more compassion and kindness – amongst individuals, friends, lovers, and strangers alike. I want to experience a collective return to faith, spirit, and restored humanity. May we direct our focus on righteousness and justice. I yearn for curiosity and wonder to flourish endlessly, replacing any areas of preconceived judgments. I wish to be surprised and present, to allow for ample rest, to appreciate what I possess, and to cherish what’s directly in front of me as it is. I want everyone to strive for their best and to adopt patience for others as a chance for transformation… No fears for 2025; they were left behind in 2024.”

Furmaan Ahmed is a trans, second-generation Pakistani photographer from Scotland, reinterpreting folk tales and mythologies by centering queer, trans, Black, and Brown individuals. 

“The previous year felt incredibly quantum. Everything was moving in all directions simultaneously; the pace at which AI became readily available to the public while simultaneously broadcasting war and genocide amid instant memes about assassins. There’s a profound sense of unseriousness. Even though this quickening feels extraordinarily futuristic, resembling a post-post-post-culture state, things appear strikingly feudal. World-building and fantasy have dominated recent years. Many have been fleeing the harsh realities of our world. I feel inundated with fictitious realms when we urgently need to connect on a human level.

“My creativity is gradually shifting from conjuring unattainable, unimaginable fantasy to a more grounded and human-centered approach. I’ve been devoting time to observing theatre and contemporary dance, along with researching queer individuals who perished during the Aids epidemic in New York. I believe much of my past work masked pain in a world increasingly feeling as if it’s unraveling. Perhaps this is a cowardly way to create? Creator Labs has significantly aided me in confronting many personal and global discussions directly this year, and I’m eager to produce works that are more genuine and deeply rooted in narratives of liberation in 2025.”

Texas Isaiah (who possesses two first names) is a visual storyteller with roots in Brooklyn, currently splitting his time between Los Angeles and New York.

“Every aspect of my creative process and personal journey is interwoven with the collective experience. My hope is we can connect, further educate ourselves, and uplift one another’s lives.

and livelihoods. I long for us to be more compassionate, attentive, and understanding. I aspire for us to bolster the initiatives of cultural creatives in our neighborhoods. Hostility against deliberately marginalized people, inadequate support, and an increasing inclination toward individualism and capitalism are a few of my mounting worries.”

Kennedi Carter is a visual artist and photographer currently residing in the Southern United States. Her creations emphasize the beauty and sociopolitical elements of Black existence and the often-ignored radiance of the Black journey – skin, texture, trauma, tranquility, affection, and community.

“I predict that by 2025, there will be a transition towards elevating our personal creative visions and discovering new methods to depend on one another as artists. I anticipate a period of peculiar occurrences, leading to several unforeseen events. Nevertheless, my aspirations for 2025 focus on reconnecting with the community as we jointly unveil fresh ways to care for and uplift each other. Here’s hoping!

“My apprehensions for 2025 align with my predictions: chaos and the unforeseeable.”

Myles Loftin is a creator and narrator based in Brooklyn. In his recent series, Loftin revisited the Dominican Republic for a conceptual fashion narrative that reflects on water, its link to human existence, and the mythic stories that surround it. 

“I believe that for myself and others, I will witness much more emotionally and politically motivated work, given that 2024 was quite a tumultuous year for many. I hope to see an increasing number of individuals utilizing their voices and art to challenge injustices. We are in an extremely divided situation at present, which often serves as a catalyst for a surge of radical art.

“My sole concern for 2025 revolves around the fear of complacency and inertia.”

Andre D. Wagner is a modern photographer and artist originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He examines and captures the poetic and lyrical subtleties of everyday life and the human experience, using the urban environment – especially his own neighborhood and community – as his subjects. 

“The year 2025 promises to be a magnificent year brimming with creativity and insights. My artistic practice will only deepen in diverse ways. Each passing day inspires me further and I possess a childlike curiosity about myself, others, and the circumstances we continually navigate. I anticipate exploring new avenues of self-expression through various mediums. My guiding principle is to act with love, always. Culturally, Kendrick Lamar is likely to remain a prophetic figure.

“I refuse to articulate fear into my realm. Certainly, I’ve had to confront the domain of fear, but I have also learned to transcend it. It has taught me that fear is a low vibration that diminishes my spirit. I’ve come to simply walk in my truth – truth knows no fear as it is too genuine, too pure, and too radiant. Fear creates tension, while authenticity illuminates.”


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