Drones

The incredible 2019 Drone Awards advance the art of aerial photography

The incredible 2019 Drone Awards advance the art of aerial photography
The overall winning image this year entitled A Shoal of Colorful Fish
The overall winning image this year entitled A Shoal of Colorful Fish
View 13 Images
The overall winning image this year entitled A Shoal of Colorful Fish
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The overall winning image this year entitled A Shoal of Colorful Fish
Highly Commended in the Abstract category. My Wonderland, taken in Hamilton, New Zealand
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Highly Commended in the Abstract category. My Wonderland, taken in Hamilton, New Zealand
A Commended entry in the Urban category. War Cemetery
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A Commended entry in the Urban category. War Cemetery
A Commended entry in the Urban category. The Metropolis of the Dead, taken in Madrid, Spain
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A Commended entry in the Urban category. The Metropolis of the Dead, taken in Madrid, Spain
Commended in the Urban category. Farmland, taken in Mont Vernon, WA, USA
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Commended in the Urban category. Farmland, taken in Mont Vernon, WA, USA
A Commended entry in the Urban category. Bangkok
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A Commended entry in the Urban category. Bangkok
Commended in the Wildlife category. Shadow's Life, taken in Sharjah, Ash Shariqah, United Arab Emirates
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Commended in the Wildlife category. Shadow's Life, taken in Sharjah, Ash Shariqah, United Arab Emirates
A Commended entry in the Abstract category. Game of the Earth-TETRIS, taken in Jiuquan, China
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A Commended entry in the Abstract category. Game of the Earth-TETRIS, taken in Jiuquan, China
A Commended entry in the 2019 Drone Awards Urban category. Thunderstorm in St Petersburg
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A Commended entry in the Urban category. Thunderstorm in St Petersburg
A Commended entry in the Urban category. Newark Airport 11 Terminal A
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A Commended entry in the Urban category. Newark Airport 11 Terminal A
Winner in the Urban category. Beni Isguen, a World Heritage town in Ghardaia, Algeria
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Winner in the Urban category. Beni Isguen, a World Heritage town in Ghardaia, Algeria
Commended in the 2019 Drone Awards Urban category. Skyscrapers and Fall Foliage in Central Park
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Commended in the 2019 Drone Awards Urban category. Skyscrapers and Fall Foliage in Central Park
Winner in the Nature category. Island of Love
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Winner in the Nature category. Island of Love
View gallery - 13 images

Only in its second year, the Drone Awards has quickly become one of the most interesting aerial photography competitions on the annual calendar. This year's winners present a gorgeous array of images highlighting the rapid aesthetic evolution occurring in the nascent field of drone photography.

Spanning six general categories, including Abstract, Nature and Urban, the competition this year received 4,500 entries from 107 countries. The overall Photographer of the Year award went to Polish photographer Jacek Deneka for his shot entitled A Shoal of Colorful Fish, which captured a group of cross-country skiers from above.

A Commended entry in the Urban category. War Cemetery
A Commended entry in the Urban category. War Cemetery

While many of this year's winning images offer the expected kind of abstracted overhead image we have come to expect from modern drone photography, other shots suggest more interesting experimentation. From playing with the sun's shadows, to exciting lateral angles, the competition highlights a continuing evolution in the art of drone photography.

A Commended entry in the Urban category. Bangkok
A Commended entry in the Urban category. Bangkok

Particularly compelling highlights from the expansive selection of commended and highly commended images include a spectacular night shot of Bangkok, and a stunningly composed snap of a war cemetery in France.

Take a look through our gallery at some of this year's highlights.

Source: Drone Awards

View gallery - 13 images
1 comment
1 comment
Buzzclick
Metropolis of the Dead, taken in Madrid, Spain is the one I like most. Then Bangkok, Central Park in the Fall, St Petersburg...
What's with the one in Newark? I thought drones and airports were verboten.