Drones

Breathtaking drone imagery tops Dronestagram’s annual photo awards

Breathtaking drone imagery tops Dronestagram’s annual photo awards
The view over the dunes in Swakopmund, Namibia
The view over the dunes in Swakopmund, Namibia
View 36 Images
First place winner is this shot of bathing hippos in Tanzania
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First place winner is this shot of bathing hippos in Tanzania
Second place winner is this shot of a fishing boat in Vietnam
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Second place winner is this shot of a fishing boat in Vietnam
Third place went to a strange snap of shadows walking dogs down a beach
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Third place went to a strange snap of shadows walking dogs down a beach
In the middle of the winter forest
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In the middle of the winter forest
The outskirts of a town called Dorothy in Alberta, Canada. The photographer notes that the near-abandoned town has a house cat as its mayor
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The outskirts of a town called Dorothy in Alberta, Canada. The photographer notes that the near-abandoned town has a house cat as its mayor
The color changes as a farmer prepares a berry farm in early spring outside of Peterborough, Ontario
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The color changes as a farmer prepares a berry farm in early spring outside of Peterborough, Ontario
The famous Venetian Islands in Miami
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The famous Venetian Islands in Miami
A football pitch in the middle of the Jabal mountains in Oman
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A football pitch in the middle of the Jabal mountains in Oman
Lightning over Kuala Lumpur
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Lightning over Kuala Lumpur
A fish-shaped island off the coast of Croatia
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A fish-shaped island off the coast of Croatia
Mussel farms in Galicia, Spain
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Mussel farms in Galicia, Spain
The red umbrella
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The red umbrella
Mt Bromo in Indonesia
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Mt Bromo in Indonesia
Brighton Pier
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Brighton Pier
A face in the grain field, Germany
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A face in the grain field, Germany
The outskirts of Atlanta
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The outskirts of Atlanta
Canoes in the Singapore reservoirs
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Canoes in the Singapore reservoirs
Rural ice hockey in Russia
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Rural ice hockey in Russia
A collapsed truck in Russia
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A collapsed truck in Russia
Al Qudra desert, United Arab Emirates
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Al Qudra desert, United Arab Emirates 
Shot over the infamous half desert road in Dubai
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Shot over the infamous half desert road in Dubai
The projects in Brooklyn
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The projects in Brooklyn
Spain
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Spain
An abandoned water park in Dubai
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An abandoned water park in Dubai
Three figures in the Jordan desert near Wadi Rum
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Three figures in the Jordan desert near Wadi Rum
Sheep herding
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Sheep herding
Winter ice
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Winter ice
Rocinha is the largest favela in Brazil
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Rocinha is the largest favela in Brazil
Lion vs Drone
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Lion vs Drone
A routine day in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road
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A routine day in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road
Summer in Cyprus
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Summer in Cyprus
The view over the dunes in Swakopmund, Namibia
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The view over the dunes in Swakopmund, Namibia
Leme Beach, close to Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
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Leme Beach, close to Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
Hon Khoi salt field, Vietnam
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Hon Khoi salt field, Vietnam
New quarter of the city Tyumen, Russia
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New quarter of the city Tyumen, Russia
A new bridge in Ukraine
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A new bridge in Ukraine
View gallery - 36 images

Founded in 2013, Dronestagram has been cultivating a thriving community of drone photographers allowing this new photographic aesthetic to flourish. The platform has just revealed the winners of its 5th annual drone photography contest, illustrating the best and most breathtaking aerial images from the past 12 months.

It's easy to forget that only a few short years ago aerial photography was limited to those well-resourced artists able to charter helicopters or hot air balloons. And even then, the types of images that could be captured were relatively limited. With the advent of drones photographers have been able to get cameras into astonishing new positions and snap images that we have quite literally never seen before.

First place winner is this shot of bathing hippos in Tanzania
First place winner is this shot of bathing hippos in Tanzania

The top three winners in this years Dronestagram contest offer a trio of compelling aerial images, suggesting this nascent photographic aesthetic can still deliver spectacular surprises. The overall first prize went to accomplished drone photographer Martin Sanchez for an image amusingly titled, Hungry Hippos.

The image, which also won a People's Choice award in the 2018 National Geographic Photo Contest, was captured in Tanzania using a Mavic Pro. The incredible shot of hippos bathing presents a unique view on these glorious animals crammed together in a small body of water.

Second place winner is this shot of a fishing boat in Vietnam
Second place winner is this shot of a fishing boat in Vietnam

Second place went to Vietnamese photographer Trung Pham for a beautifully surreal snap freezing a moment in time as a fishing net is thrown out over the sea. The third place winner is possibly the most compellingly uncanny of them all. From a Ukrainian photographer known as Q-lieb in, the shot perfectly captures the shadows of two people walking dogs on the beach, flattening the perspective to create an excitingly strange composition.

Third place went to a strange snap of shadows walking dogs down a beach
Third place went to a strange snap of shadows walking dogs down a beach

Take a look through our gallery for our favorite submissions in this impressive photo contest capturing the very best drone photography from the last year.

Source: Dronestagram

View gallery - 36 images
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