The 2025 River of Light festival brought another vibrant mix of colour, creativity and crowds to Liverpool’s waterfront — and despite a run of very wet evenings, it was a fantastic experience to photograph. I managed to dodge most of the downpours and spent several nights exploring the artworks, capturing the atmosphere and testing different approaches to long exposure and night photography.
One thing that stood out this year was how the event leaned more towards walk-through installations and immersive pieces, with fewer points of heavy crowd interaction. It made for a smoother experience overall and gave more time and space to work through each display with the camera.
My personal highlight was Pendulum by Amigo & Amigo. It struck the perfect balance between interactivity and visual drama — a kinetic installation with a gorgeous flow of light and motion. It was also one of the most rewarding pieces to photograph, offering dynamic compositions from almost every angle.
I was also delighted to work with Amigo & Amigo again this year, capturing images of their artwork for their own promotional use. If you’re an artist exhibiting at River of Light or any light festival and would like professional images of your installation, please get in touch — I’m always happy to collaborate and document creative work.
Another standout was SPICA, a geometric installation that produced striking shapes and patterns when viewed through the lens. Its simplicity was its strength, and I loved how the lines created a great . The only drawback was its small size and limited access, which made it tricky to get as close or as creative as I’d have liked. But even so, it produced some beautiful frames.
Next year’s festival will run from 24 October to 2 November 2026, and I’ll be there again capturing the installations and updating my yearly guide. If you’re planning a visit, keep an eye out for my 2026 photography tips and location recommendations closer to the date.
Whether you’re here for inspiration, research or simply to enjoy the artwork through my lens, I hope you enjoy this year’s collection.
If you’d like to work with me or commission photography of your own installation, feel free to reach out — I’d love to hear from you.
