In 2025, aerial photography soared to new artistic heights. From striking drone images that reveal hidden patterns in nature to cinematic aerial videos that tap deep emotional themes, this year’s global photography contests showcased some of the most breathtaking and inventive creative work ever captured from above.
Today we’re taking you on a visual journey through two of the most celebrated competitions in the drone world: the Drone Photo Awards 2025 and DJI & SkyPixel’s 11th Annual Photo & Video Contest.
Drone Photo Awards 2025: Global Aerial Artistry
The Drone Photo Awards—part of the renowned Siena Awards—has long been a platform where aerial photographers transform the planet into poetic imagery. The 2025 winners lived up to that reputation, delivering powerful images across multiple categories and turning the sky into a storytelling canvas.
Photo of the Year — “The Lone Horseman” by Dennis Schmelz
At the top of the 2025 Drone Photo Awards stands The Lone Horseman, a surreal and evocative capture of a solitary rider on a rocky outcrop in the magical landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey. Schmelz’s image balances lyrical mood and precise composition, using early light and sweeping terrain to craft a visual narrative that feels both timeless and deeply human.
Category Winners that Took Our Breath Away
Here are some of the standout winners across a range of themes:
- Urban: Swallowed by Mohammad Ataei Mohammadi — a haunting image of an abandoned boat on a cracked lakebed.
- Wildlife: Another World by Joanna Steidle — a mesmerising aerial view of rays and fish creating elegant organic patterns in water.
- Sport: Running on Salt by Shimon Perlstein — runners carving bright paths through surreal white salt flats.
- People: Aarti Under the Stars by Thibault Gerbaldi — an aerial view of a sacred ceremony along a riverbank at night.
- Nature: The Long Shadow by Christopher Harrison — a lone tree casting striking golden light over a misty field.
- Abstract: The Eye by Pawel Zygmunt — a geothermal pool in Iceland that looks like an eye from above.
- Series: The Great Colour Study: Vietnam by Dipanjan Pal — a vibrant exploration of colour and texture across a cultural landscape.
- Video: The Soul of Bangladesh by Fran Arnau — a cinematic depiction of life and culture in Bangladesh that blends environment and narrative.
Each of these works shows how drones aren’t just tools for pretty pictures—but instruments of storytelling, environmental reflection, and cultural insight.
SkyPixel 11th Annual Photo & Video Contest: Continual Creative Evolution
While the Drone Photo Awards celebrate aerial photography from around the world, the SkyPixel Photo & Video Contest — run by DJI and the SkyPixel community — has become one of the largest platforms for creative aerial and handheld imaging in the world.
In 2025, SkyPixel’s 10th annual competition revealed its winners in breathtaking fashion — images and films that pushed the boundaries of aerial storytelling and technical excellence.
SkyPixel 2025 Highlights
Photo Winner: Mysterious Realm by Gangerqia — this enchanting top-down image of a frozen pond resembling an eye drew praise for its elegant simplicity, symmetry, and subtle movement created by bird tracks across the landscape.
Top Photo Finalists: Diverse aerial perspectives including Mud Bath Bliss by AB Gusai, serene agricultural patterns, vibrant ice flows, and surreal coastal scenes — all part of the Top 10 images of the year.
Best Aerial Video: The War – My Transformation Journey by Bashir Abu Shakra — a moving piece blending narrative depth and cinematic technique to reflect on solitude and change.
Best Handheld Video: Japan Travel Cinematic by Henry Yue — an immersive travel film that marries stability and storytelling in a way that takes viewers on a sensory journey.
Across photo and film, the SkyPixel contest continues to elevate creative aerial work, showing that what drones see can transcend traditional perspectives and immerse audiences in place, motion, and emotion.
Looking Ahead: SkyPixel’s 11th Annual Contest (2026 Edition)
The SkyPixel 11th Annual Photo & Video Contest is already underway, with more than 45,000 entries submitted as of early 2026 — a testament to the global creative community DJI and SkyPixel have built.
With a total prize pool worth $200,000, 53 prizes across categories, and prestigious hardware awards (including Hasselblad cameras, DJI Inspire and Mavic combos, and Ronin cinema kits), this year’s competition promises even more extraordinary new work.
Why These Contests Matter
Together, the Drone Photo Awards and the SkyPixel Photo & Video Contest showcase the very best of aerial imaging:
- Innovation: pushing technical and artistic boundaries.
- Perspective: revealing hidden beauty in unexpected places.
- Storytelling: using aerial imagery to communicate emotion, culture, and environment.
From stunning single frames to cinematic video narratives, these awards remind us that the sky isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a canvas. Whether you’re a seasoned drone pilot, a budding visual storyteller, or simply someone who loves to see the world from new angles, the work highlighted this year will inspire you to look up…and look deeper.