Stunning Images Capture Spirit Of State: Best Of IL In Photos 2025

ILLINOIS — With the final weeks of 2025 upon us, we're looking back at some of the amazing photos readers sent us over the last calendar year. No matter the season, Patch readers came through with eye-catching photographs of animals, landscapes, people and more, that truly tell the story of the state.

Whether we highlighted one of your photos or they unfortunately didn't make it into the weekly feature, we thank everyone for sending them to us. We get many submissions, so it's a difficult process to choose which ones get published. Please continue to send to eric.degrechie@patch.com.

Here are some of the best photos of 2025:

In January, Jen Carusi got a great nature shot of a snowy owl in flight in Will County.

In February, Francis X. O'Hara photographed a ski jumper at the Norge Annual Winter Ski Jump Tournament, held at Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove.

In March, Kelsi Ballard, of Plainfield, photographed this fox denning in her backyard. "He just let me hang out with him, or her, and soaked in the sun and breeze," she told Patch.

In April, Dave Daugherty sent in this photograph he got of a wedding proposal being set up near the Gold Coast lakefront trail.

In May, Marianne Myrick told us that in this photo, this sheep "seems to be looking for something" at Klein Creek Farm in West Chicago.

In June, Judith Salstone photographed a smoky sunset at Woods Oaks Green Park in Northbrook.

In July, Gloria Lopez said this opossum was "minding their business" after a tree came down during a storm.

In August, Sudeb Chatt photographed the historic Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, located at the south end of the northern breakwater protecting the Chicago Harbor.

In October, Joe McGuire sent in this amazing photograph he took at a farm in New Lenox.

In November, Chloe Cull, of Naperville, photographed Jesse Ray Cull, 2, playing in the leaves in front of their home.

In December, Joe Kloptowsky, of Tinley Park, tells us this beautiful blue jay stopped by the backyard feeder on a recent morning looking for some peanuts. He said at least a half-dozen come by every morning for the peanuts he puts out.