The winners of the 2025 Drone Photo Awards will take your breath away

The world from above

The world can look very different from above, as proven by the Drone Photo Awards, part of the Siena Awards. The stunning 2025 winners of this annual international contest of aerial photography have just been announced, showcasing the very best images taken by drone, revealing rarely seen worlds and framing familiar scenes in striking new ways.

Scroll through the gallery to marvel at this year’s winners as well as a selection of the best images in Drone Photo Awards history...

The Lone Horseman: Cappadocia, Turkey

Taken during the magic of blue hour in a bleak Turkish winter, this photo of a lone rider standing atop a rocky outcropping in the heart of Cappadocia was declared Photo of the Year in the 2025 Drone Photo Awards.

The judges were impressed by how photographer Dennis Schmelz was able to find a unique and breathtaking perspective in this often-photographed landscape. 

Another World: Southampton, New York, USA

This stunning photo captures a fever of cownose rays dividing a school of menhaden fish.

It was taken just off the coast of Southampton, New York in August. “The sky was clear and the sea was calm,” explains photographer Joanna Steidle, “allowing the sunlight to enhance the waters' depth and the bursting sand clouds.”

Swallowed: Lake Urmia, Iran

The Artemia pleasure boat stands marooned in the dried bed of Lake Urmia, Iran – a sobering testament to the impact of climate change on this part of the world.

Years of drought, mismanagement and agricultural overuse have drained the lake, trapping the boat in a crater eerily shaped like a monster’s belly.

Aarti Under the Stars: Varanasi, India

Varanasi is arguably one of the most photographed places on Earth, but it has never been captured quite like this.

Thibault Gerbaldi’s breathtaking image manages to capture both the scale and fiery devotion of the Ganga Aarti ceremony, held each day at sunrise and sunset along the Ganges River, and was justifiably awarded first place in the People category.

The Long Shadow: Oxfordshire, England

On the first day of meteorological spring, photographer Christopher Harrison captured this striking long shadow, cast by a small cluster of trees atop an ancient Bronze Age burial mound.

With the warm sunrise light filtered through the low-lying mist, it is a quintessentially English scene, and saw Harrison awarded first prize in the Nature category.

Running on Salt: The Dead Sea

Captured during the Dead Sea Marathon, this beguiling photo sees runners push forward as the first light of dawn breaks over the Dead Sea.

The judges felt it perfectly reflected both human endurance and the surreal beauty of the lowest place on Earth and awarded it first place in the Sports category.

The eye: Hveravellir, Iceland

The landscapes of Iceland are often described as otherworldly and mythical, the essence of which is perfectly captured in this aerial view of Hveravellir, in Iceland.

From above the geothermal pool looks like an animal’s eye, a dragon, perhaps, with a dark blue centre and rich brown textures surrounding it.

Now scroll on to see the winners from previous years...

Blue Adrenaline: The Surge of Pipeline, Hawaii, USA

Anyone who knows anything about surfing knows that the North Shore of Oahu, part of the Hawaiian island chain, is famous for its big waves and professional contests.

Shot at the spiritual home of the sport, this beautiful photograph captures both the frenetic movement of the water and the surfers in harmony with it.

Jackal in the field, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

If looks could talk, this piercing stare from a golden jackal hidden in a wheat field would have something to say. The aerial perspective here provided by photographer Md Imrul Kayes gives us an amazing glimpse into the animal’s life, one that a ground-based camera couldn’t provide.

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Sea of pink, Lake Logipi, Kenya

When lesser flamingos come together, they really come together.

This breathtaking image underlines that idea and then some, showing just a fraction of the over one million birds that flock to take full advantage of Lake Logipi's ideal feeding conditions.

Village under snow, Bingöl, Turkey

Looking like the kind of abstract painting you might expect to see in one of the world’s major modern art museums, this image from Hüseyin Karahan is actually an aerial photograph of the Turkish village of Kargapazari – found in Bingöl province – blanketed in a layer of white snow.  

Fuji mountain, Kuwait

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This flock of flamingos passing through Kuwait really does look like a mountain.

During the migration season, the movement of these elegant birds was monitored and several pictures capturing their majestic formations taken.

Eid Prayer, Jakarta, Indonesia

Photographed in Jakarta, Indonesia, during the early morning prayer on the first day of Eid, the top-down nature of this striking shot provides us with a unique perspective on an Islamic tradition.

Known as Salat al-Eid, it's a moment when Muslims come together to pray for blessings, forgiveness and to thank Allah for the strength to fast during Ramadan.

Snowy circuit, Poland

Ever so slightly resembling the maze from Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror classic The Shining, this captivating photograph by Jeremiasz Gadek was actually taken in Poland.

By seeing a maze's layout revealed from this angle, we – the viewer – feel compelled to find a route through the wintry labyrinth for ourselves.

Resting in the safe arms of Mother Nature, India

If these sleeping elephants, accompanied by a young calf, haven't inspired the writers at Disney Pixar to pen a script for another award-winning animated film, they're missing a trick.

Out in the wild, undisturbed habitats like these grasslands and shola forests represent vital sanctuaries for these majestic animals.

Birds in flight, Kajiado County, Kenya

Captured by wildlife photographer Silke Hullmann, large flocks of flamingos dance above the mesmerising green water of a lake in Kenya, creating an image that looks more like abstract art than nature. 

A shepherd and his flock, Bulgaria

Shepherd Nikola emerges from within his herd of endangered Karakachani sheep, one of the few remaining purebred herds.

These sheep have survived despite the Karakachani tribe being forced to abandon their nomadic lifestyle and give up their livestock under the communist regime.

Jiashao Bridge, Zhejiang, China

Sleek urban lines contrast with the organic beauty of nature in this aerial shot of the Jiashao Bridge in China's Zhejiang Province.

The bridge spans the Qiantang River, connecting the cities of Jiaxing and Shaoxing. It is a key part of the region's infrastructure.

Tree of life, Iceland

Boli Khela, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Abdul Jabbar's Boli Khela, a century-old wrestling spectacle in Chittagong, Bangladesh, draws thousands of passionate fans every year.

This photo captures two wrestlers battling it out on a sandy stage, thrilling a lively street audience.

Fire dragon, Litli-Hrutur, Iceland

Evoking scenes from The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, a random lava outbreak during the 2023 volcanic eruption of Fagradalsfjall at Litli-Hrutur in Iceland created an uncanny resemblance to a fiery dragon.

Ocean clean up, Perth, Australia

Drifting in space, Baltic Sea, Northern Europe

At first glance, this image might appear to show astronauts drifting among asteroids in the dark expanse of space. In reality, it captures sailors from an icebreaker swimming in the frozen Baltic Sea. 

Rocket, Lakhta Center, St. Petersburg, Russia

Bursting through the clouds like the nose of a futuristic rocket, Europe's tallest skyscraper, the Lakhta Center in Russia, takes on an otherworldly appearance in this stunning image.

It was captured from the highest point accessible by drone, after months of waiting for ideal weather. 

A polar romance, Svalbard, Norway

Wildlife photographer Florian Ledoux spends months every year in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, living close to the resident polar bears and observing them for hours each day. In this image, a male and female polar bear lay together having just completed their courtship ritual.

Turn your head sideways, and they also look like a fluffy white semi-colon. Cute. 

Cranberry harvest, Massachusetts, USA

Cranberries are native to Massachusetts, and cranberry bogs are abundant in the southeastern region of the state. This bird's-eye view of the annual harvest is beautiful and... appetising? That's a whole lot of cranberry sauce right there.

A monument to eternal love, the Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The Taj Mahal is an enduring icon – and you've likely seen countless photographs of the mesmerising landmark. In this bird's-eye shot taken from the Yamuna riverside it's seen swallowed by clouds and illuminated by sunshine as the dawn breaks.

The photographer describes the shot as "one of the greatest accomplishments of [their] photography career", giving the building a "a floating, incredible surreal look". 

Sunken church tower, Curon Venosta, Italy

It's almost as if this neat, pointed church tower is floating in a turquoise void – but it's actually an eerie reminder of a forgotten Italian village, Curon Venosta, which was almost entirely submerged after the construction of a dam in 1950.

The village now lies beneath the surface of the resulting Lake Resia and all that remains is this 14th-century spire spiking through the water. 

Rice processing, Bogura, Bangladesh

This agricultural process looks mighty eye-catching from above. Here, workers spread the rice beneath the sun to dry it. The photographer describes the process of "raking it out" and "sweeping it back" to make sure it dries evenly, all making for a neat pattern of lines against the popping yellow backdrop.

Big birds, Damaraland, Namibia

These ostriches seem to be the only life in the stark desert plains of northwestern Namibia. The photographer took the picture in the last of the evening light, with the birds' elongated shadows making them look like giants in the wilderness.

Playground, Chorzow, Poland

From the sky, this park in southern Poland looks almost like the pages of a sticker book. The photographer describes the site as "a kind of pearl from the ground and also from the air", as its colourful nature is a break from the typical character of the area, which is known for its industry and mines. 

Toil and Trouble, Kwinana, Western Australia

Look once and you might not be able to make out exactly what this impressive drone shot captures. The photograph is actually a bird's-eye view of a tailings dam (where waste products from mining operations are stored).

The photographer says: "It reminded me of hurricanes and the destruction they can have on the land; this is also symbolic of the destruction mines can have on the land."

300 acres of dump yard, Tamil Nadu, India

This incredible drone shot doubles as a form of activism, as well as a spectacular piece of art. The photograph depicts the Pallikaranai wetland, which the photographer describes as "one of the few remaining wetlands in India".

Sadly, it faces an uncertain future, as 3,500 tonnes of garbage are reportedly dumped here each day. The photographer says this is leading to "rapid shrinkage" of the wetland. 

Amigos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

There's no shortage of drama in this shot taken in Mexico's Baja California Sur state. It depicts a giant trio of curious grey whales as they nose up to a small boat.

The photographer says the whales and people interact "as if they were friends" and that "the experience of sharing both worlds from a boat is incredible and unforgettable". 

Red volcanoes, Landmannalaugar, Iceland

From the air (and even from the ground), Iceland's stark Highlands look positively otherworldly. Here, the photographer captures a series of hulking volcanoes, which unfold in swirls of rust red, brown and acid yellow.

The photographer also commented on the rugged road you must take to reach a suitable drone site.

L'arrampicata, Palinuro, Italy

The photographer had a few simple words to say about this dramatic photograph: "Climbing the waves is like climbing a wall". It depicts a pair of surfers frolicking in frothy waves near Palinuro in southern Italy. 

Perfect chaos, Gangi, Italy

With orange rooftops looking like steps up to the jagged peaks just beyond, this aerial view of Gangi, a mountain town in the Sicilian province of Palermo, was captured in the light of an early summer morning. 

Rooftops of Kartoffelrækkerne, Copenhagen, Denmark

Another view across the rooftops took top place in the urban category. Ukrainian photographer Serhiy Vovk’s impeccably framed overhead shot in the Kartoffelrækkerne neighbourhood in Osterbro, Copenhagen leaves no doubt as to why these homes are so sought-after.

The district, characterised by houses with striking teal roofs, was built for working class families in the 19th century and is now one of the Danish city’s most desirable places to live.

Yin and Yang, Piatra Neamț, Romania

Like a frame from Disney’s Frozen, this drone shot captures a magical moment in early winter when Cuejdel lake – Romania’s largest natural dam – is just beginning to freeze over. Half of the photograph shows bare trees that appear to be trapped in the ice, while the other half is yet to be frozen.

Highly commended in the nature category, it’s an image that could only be taken from above to really show the striking contrast.

Solidarity, Miankaleh Peninsula, Iran

This 2022 winning wildlife photo shows flamingos huddling together in almost perfect symmetry (check out the odd ones turned in the ‘wrong’ direction). The wading birds, found on the Miankaleh Peninsula in Iran’s Mazandaran province, sleep together at night and stay close during the day for greater safety from potential predators, protecting each other.

Iranian photographer Mehdi Mohebipour captures this admirable sense of community while also picking up the subtle differences in pink plumage.

After sandstorm, UAE

Is this the world’s most remote basketball court? It certainly looks that way in this eye-catching image by Yura Borschev, who was named runner-up in the 2022 urban category.

The Russian photographer specialises in drone shots and caught this singular moment following a sandstorm, when the court’s blue and green surface was just beginning to peep through.

The burning bridge, Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia

Lake Tyrrell is the subject of several photographs shortlisted in the abstract category. This striking image showcases its dramatic, almost terrifying, beauty. It would be at home in a gallery among the likes of Jackson Pollock, though this actually shows tyre tracks on the salt pan by the lake, which is the largest of its type in the state of Victoria.

The salt lake is around 120,000 years old and its location is also known for spectacular starry skies.

Siberian whirlpool, New Delhi, India

With boats that look like toys and a flurry of indiscernible white shapes filling the frame, this wildlife photo appears to show a wonderfully surreal scene. It actually captures a relatively mundane yet special moment. Each winter thousands of migratory seagulls gather at this spot in Yamuna Ghat, New Delhi, where people often feed them from their boats.

The birds, transformed into blurred lines via a slow shutter, flock here from Siberia, hence the photograph’s name.

Aftermath of La Palma’s volcano eruption, La Palma, Spain

A handful of the dramatic drone images in the contest capture singular moments in history, as does this runner-up photograph in the 2022 nature category. It shows, in the most striking way, how the late 2021 eruption of Cumbre Vieja on the Canary Island of La Palma altered the landscape.

Over three months, the lava flow swallowed more than 3,000 buildings, 56 miles (90km) of roads and swathes of banana plantations, displacing more than 2,000 people.

Meeting, Namib Desert, Namibia

The dunes of the Namib Desert appear as the feet of a giant in this spectacular shot by Swiss photographer David Rouge. He named the shot Meeting due to how it shows the convergence of the desert with the South Atlantic Ocean.

The shot took the top spot in the 2022 nature category thanks to its dramatic beauty and the way the light perfectly highlights the soft yet imposing shapes of the dunes as they appear to flow to the water.

Finned nets to catch squid, Quang Ngai, Vietnam

It could be an interpretive dance taking place among pine trees. In fact, this aerial photo captures fishing crews catching squid in Quang Ngai’s seaweed forest in central Vietnam.

They drop nets to circle the squid and draw them towards the boats, where the molluscs are shovelled on. Shown from above, the scene looks beautiful and rather peaceful.

Learning life, Svalbard, Norway

This polar bear may be hefty enough to break the ice but he’s just a year or so old, and still learning about life in the Arctic. Florian Ledoux took this gorgeous shot on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, between the mainland and the North Pole, during a five-month posting there.

The young mammal, shown mid-play, was splashing about in the water and testing the ice by jumping back and forth with his sibling, while their mother rested nearby.

Floating islands, Manipur, India

Indian photographer Aakash Selvan captured this perfectly framed shot of the phumdis, or floating islands, on Loktak Lake in Manipur. The largest freshwater lake in northeastern India, its islands – which make up a national park – are unique, forming rough circles of vegetation, soil and organic matter and with spongy, almost bouncy surfaces.

The phumdis are also used by locals as enclosures for fishing, and are inhabited by around 4,000 people.

Sleeping on a boat, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Local photographer Anindita Roy’s fabulous image catches a fisherman napping on his boat at Bangladesh’s busiest port, on the Buriganga river in Dhaka.

Fishing crew, like this man using his net as a shelter, usually sleep at night on their small boats.

Hull Fair from above, Hull, England, UK

All the fun of the fair is encapsulated in this photo of one of Europe's biggest travelling funfairs. The tents, rides and trucks of Hull Fair form a kaleidoscope of colours, like a display of retro sweets. 

Big Bang, Fagradalsfjall volcano, Iceland

Its name is a nod to the beginning of the universe but this rather terrifying shot could equally depict the end of all things. Armand Sarlangue’s Big Bang was crowned overall winner of the Drone Photo Awards 2022, beating thousands of other entries.

Shot during the September 2021 eruptive phase of Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano, it depicts a secondary fissure happening a few hundred metres from the main crater. The photo was also taken during a tempestuous storm, and the difficult conditions make the capture especially rare.

The backbone of the Sahara, Sahara Desert, Mauritania

You can’t see where this train ends, let alone where the next station might be. The iron trains of Mauritania are among the longest in the world, at around 1.9 miles (3km), and here one is captured weaving through the Sahara on its journey to the coast.

Its load – of iron ore mined in Zouerat – is among the world’s heaviest too, while people often jump on to the cars to travel between towns. 

Beautiful life – Princess Taiping, Mile City, China

Like a gem in a magical jewellery box, this living mural displays a likeness of the most famous and influential princess of the Tang Dynasty. Here Princess Taiping is represented in greenery and blooms in different shapes and colours.

She is the crowning glory of Taiping Lake’s Forest Park, near Mile City, in China’s Yunnan Province. The park has been built on swathes of desert land that’s now an oasis of green spaces and forest. 

Waterlily harvesting, West Bengal, India

Monsoon season ushers in what must be one of the world’s prettiest harvests in the wetlands of West Bengal, with rural communities gathering blooming waterlilies. The workers’ bright outfits add to the colourful scene, while one is shown completely surrounded by concentric rings of the plants.

The aerial nature of the shot makes it, creating the illusion that the worker is wearing a fabulous, swishy dress or grass skirt. 

Shadows of the desert, Empty Quarter Desert, Oman

It took a lot of skill and plenty of patience for Bastian Brusecke to capture this charming image of wild camels in the Omani portion of the Empty Quarter Desert.

In fact, the German photographer spent several weeks on an expedition through the arid landscape, taking this shot when they appeared, as if from nowhere, in just the right light conditions to create these wonderful shadows.

Salt farm workers harvesting, Habra, India

Sometimes the interaction between nature and humanity creates art that few imaginations could conjure. This photo, a former contender in the abstract theme, shows workers harvesting in a salt pan in Habra, India.

They use rakes to gather the salt into circular lines to allow any water to slowly evaporate under the strong sun. The salt is later collected into baskets and, while the sunburst shapes are delightful to look at, the work itself is laborious.

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Now look at more incredible photos of the world from above