The Current‘s visual journalist Justin Taylor shares his favorite work and his thoughts from the past year. Some were part of reporting specific stories and some were from his daily excursions through Coastal Georgia.

A summer thunderstorm moves over Savannah on July 11, 2025. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current/CatchLight Local

This photo of a summer thunderstorm rolling in over downtown Savannah was one that really stood out for me this year. I was able to get my drone up in time to take a panoramic shot as the storm quickly moved over the city.

Curators with the Tybee Island Marine Science Center carry “Westie”, the sea turtle, into the ocean on Tybee Island. Sept. 6, 2025. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America

2025 felt like a nonstop roller-coaster year for journalism. So, when I heard about the release of Westie the sea turtle from the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, I jumped at the chance to cover something uplifting in the community. Read more at https://thecurrentga.org/2025/09/08/westie-the-sea-turtle-leaves-tybee-for-life-in-atlantic-ocean/

Jewles Gozdick and Mark Dodd with the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources take measurements of a nesting loggerhead sea turtle on Sapelo Island, GA, on June 25, 2025. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America

To visually tell the story of the impact that the lights at the I-95 exit for the new Buc-ee’s were having on nesting sea turtles, I spent two days on Sapelo Island with Mark Dodd of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. While there, we spent the night on the beach documenting turtles as they laid their eggs. Read more at https://thecurrentga.org/2025/07/01/buc-ees-turtle-lighting-gdot/

Led by Julia Pearce (white), a crowd marches into the ocean during the 11th annual Juneteenth Wade-In on Tybee Island on June 19, 2025. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America

For the second year, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph the Juneteenth Wade-In on Tybee Island. Read more at https://thecurrentga.org/2025/06/19/celebrating-juneteeth-2025/

Beekeeper Sade Shofidiya uses smoke from pine needles to confuse bees as she prepares to inspect a hive of honey bees in Savannah on July 31, 2025. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America

This was just a fun assignment. Who doesn’t love honey bees?! Read more at https://thecurrentga.org/2025/10/14/honeybees-helped-this-coastal-advocate-shes-returning-the-favor/

Senior Wildlife Biologist Jessica Thompson uses a specialized crossbow to collect a skin and blubber sample from a juvenile endangered North Atlantic right whale. Near St. Marys on Jan. 26, 2025. The samples are sent to a lab for DNA testing to determine the whales identity, health, sex, and genealogy. (GADNR/NOAA Permit #26919) Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America

This was one of my favorite projects that I’ve had the pleasure of working on at The Current. Mary Landers and I tagged along with GADNR on a freezing January morning in their search for North American right whales off our coast. Not only did we spot one, but we also got close enough for the team to take a tissue sample. Read more at https://thecurrentga.org/2025/02/01/a-look-at-the-search-for-rare-right-whales-off-coastal-georgia/

Forsyth Park after a snowfall in Savannah on January 21, 2025 Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America

I picked this one just because of how beautiful Savannah is in the snow and how rare a sight it is. 

Students of St. Vincent’s Academy cheer as the Johnson High Drum Major passes by. In Savannah on Nov. 11, 2025. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America
Vietnam Veterans Charles McMullen, Sherman Hicks, Robert Taylor, and Lee Johnson stand together before the start of the 2025 Veterans Day parade in Savannah on Nov. 11, 2025. Credit: Justin Taylor/The Current GA/Catchlight Local/Report for America

The Veterans Day parade is always one of my favorite things to photograph. It’s the perfect environment for street photography and for hearing the great high school marching bands from the area (Go Atom Smashers!). Read more at https://thecurrentga.org/2025/11/11/photo-gallery-savannah-honors-veterans-with-79th-annual-parade/

Type of Story: Photo story

Stories produced by visual journalists that combine predominately photos with reporting on a topic.

Justin Taylor is a visual journalist based in Savannah. He is a Catchlight Local/Report for America Corps member. His versatile style blends elements of fine art, photojournalism, and drone photography. A...