International Aerial Photographer of the Year’s Breathtaking Drone Art

Picture yourself hovering above a volcanic crater, your DJI drone capturing a lava field shaped like a skull, or zooming over a frozen sea where swimmers bob like orange popsicles. That’s the kind of jaw-dropping magic that just crowned Joanna Steidle the first International Aerial Photographer of the Year in a competition that had me, a former photographer turned drone pilot, losing my mind.

These shots, from oceans to cities to abstract salt flats, aren’t just photos—they’re art that redefines what’s possible with a drone. As someone who always carry his trusty Nikon D3 (now a Sony FX30) swapped lenses for a controller in Ecuador’s wild landscapes, I’m geeking out over how these images show drones can turn any corner of the world into a masterpiece. Let’s dive into what makes these winning shots so epic, why they’re a big deal, and how drones are making aerial art a global game-changer.

From Oceans to Volcanoes: A New Perspective on Earth

Back when I was a photographer, I’d hike for hours to get one decent shot of a sunset or a mountain. Now, as a drone pilot buzzing over Ecuador’s coasts and Andes, I know the real magic happens from above. The International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition, with 1,500 entries from across the globe, proves it. Joanna Steidle, a pro from the Hamptons, took the top prize with a portfolio that’s pure poetry—humpback whales breaching off Long Island, spinner sharks slicing through schools of fish, and cownose rays gliding like a squadron. But it’s not just the ocean shots that got me.

Pål Hermansen’s drone capture of a polar bear lounging on a walrus carcass in Svalbard, Norway, is raw and real, taken with a telephoto lens to avoid disturbing the scene.

Then there’s Daniel Vine Garcia’s eerie shot of Iceland‘s Fagradalsfjall volcano, its cooled lava forming a skull-like pattern. These images show drones can make art anywhere—sea, ice, or molten rock.

What blows my mind, as an old-school shutterbug, is how drones let you see the world like never before. I used to dream of angles like these, but my feet were stuck on the ground. Now, with my DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro, I can frame a reef or a volcano with the same ease.

These winning shots aren’t just about pretty views; they’re about storytelling from angles humans weren’t meant to see. It’s like giving wings to your imagination, and I’m itching to fly my drone somewhere new just thinking about it.

Why These Photos Are Aerial Art at Its Finest

Let’s talk about what makes these images scream “award-worthy.” First, the creativity is off the charts. The judges—Tom Hegen, Tom Putt, and Isabella Tabacchi—picked Steidle’s portfolio for its range, from marine life to top-down shots that turn flat landscapes into abstract art.

These photos aren’t just snaps; they’re compositions that make you stop and stare. The colors—vivid blues, fiery reds, stark whites—pop in a way that had me tweaking my drone’s camera settings in my head.

Then there’s the diversity. From Vitaly Golovatyuk’s soccer field nestled in a Moscow forest to Juan Lopez’s turquoise salt flats in Argentina, these shots prove aerial art isn’t tied to one place. As a photographer, I obsessed over the perfect moment—click, done. But drones? They add movement and scale.

You feel the vastness of a volcano or the intimacy of a shark’s hunt. The competition’s Top 101, all scoring above 86.67, show every genre—Wildlife, abstract, urban—can be art when you’re flying. It’s why I’m so stoked about drones; they make every landscape a canvas.

Drones Are Turning Everywhere into an Art Gallery

Here’s where I get all giddy: drones are making photography limitless. Back in my Quito days, I was tethered to where I could stand. Drones? They’re freedom machines. The International Aerial Photographer winners show you can create art anywhere—over a Chinese bridge, a frozen Baltic Sea, or an Andean salt flat.

Steidle’s marine shots are stunning, but so is Colin Leonhardt’s abstract take on Australia‘s landscapes. It’s like drones are saying, “Hey, the whole world’s your studio.” I’ve flown over Ecuador’s jungles and beaches, and every flight feels like painting with light. These winners take that to another level, showing drones can capture beauty and tell stories no matter the terrain.

What amazes me most is the heart behind these shots. They’re not just cool pics; they’re about connection—to nature, to culture, to the planet. The Collective’s fictional scenes of excess push for sustainability, while Hermansen’s polar bear shot reminds us wildlife needs space. It’s #DronesForGood vibes all the way, and as a former photographer, I’m all in. My take? These winners are proof drones aren’t just toys—they’re tools for art that can change how we see the world. So, grab your DJI, find a new spot, and make some art. The sky’s not the limit—it’s the start.

Photographs courtesy of International Aerial Photographer of The Year