15 must-see pictures from the Drone Photo Awards 2025
The introduction of drones has opened up a whole new world of photography that allows professional and amateur photographers to take a wider range of amazingly dizzying shots. The Drone Photo Awards 2025 capture the beauty of our planet from above, and the winners are awarded across nine categories: Urban, Wildlife, Sport, People, Nature, Abstract, Wedding, Series, and Video. Metro has rounded up winners and runner ups from some of the categories for you to enjoy. (Picture: Shimon Perlstein/@sienawards)
Photo of the Year
Photographer Dennis Schmelz said of this picture known as The Lobe Horseman: ‘During the magic of blue hour, a lone rider stands atop a rocky outcropping in the heart of Cappadocia.’ Taken on the very first evening during Dennis’ winter trip, this photo showcases the beauty and mystery of Cappadocia in all its glory. Using his drone, Dennis managed to find a unique and breathtaking perspective that had never been captured before in this often-photographed landscape. (Picture: Dennis Schmelz/@sienawards)
Urban category winner
Photographer Mohammad Ataei Mohammadi said of this picture called Swallowed: ‘The Artemia pleasure boat stands marooned in the dried bed of Lake Urmia, Iran—trapped in a crater eerily shaped like a monster’s belly. Years of drought, mismanagement, and agricultural overuse have drained the lake, leaving behind symbols of its forgotten past.’ (Picture:Mohammad Ataei Mohammadi/@sienawards)
Urban category runner up
Photographer Sarah Wouters said of her picture known as The seaweed road of Fujian: ‘Shajiang village, in Xiapu county, is famous for its “S-bend” mudflats. The bamboo poles create a stunning visual pattern on the mudflats and are used for drying seaweed. Fishing boats navigating through these poles add dynamism to the scene.’ (Picture: Sarah Wouters/@sienawards)
Wildlife category winner
Called Another World, photographer Joanna Steidle said: ‘This is a top-down drone capture of a fever of cownose rays dividing a school of menhaden fish. Taken just off the coast of Southampton in August, the sky was clear and the sea was calm, allowing the sunlight to enhance the waters’ depth and the bursting sand clouds.’ (Picture: Joanna Steidle/@sienawards)
Wildlife runner up
Photographer Mahdi Gholoum said of his photo called Where Silence Casts a Shadow: ‘This is not merely an image of natural beauty; it is a visual statement. The eagle’s shadow does not simply fall on the ground—it marks it, confronts it. A silent environmental message emerges: no matter how high life flies, it remains tethered to the earth beneath.’ (Picture: Mahdi Gholoum/@sienawards)
Sport category winner
Titled as Running on Salt, the photographer Shimon Perlstein said of the picture: ‘Runners push forward as the first light of dawn breaks over the Dead Sea. The photo was captured during the Dead Sea Marathon, and this moment reflects both human endurance and the surreal beauty of the lowest place on Earth.’ (Picture: Shimon Perlstein/@sienawards)
Sport category runner up
Photographer Jb Liautard said of his picture titled as The Dune: ‘Kilian Bron riding down one of the highest sand dunes in the world.’ The photographer only had one attempt, and luckily, Kilian made a slight turn exactly at the right moment, lifting some sand in the air. (Picture: Jb Liautard/@sienawards)
People category winner
Photographer Thibault Gerbaldi said of their picture titled as Aarti Under the Stars: ‘Each night in Varanasi, the Ganga Aarti ceremony unfolds in a blaze of fire and devotion. People attend this sacred ritual either by walking or by sitting on neighboring boats, clustered together. The ceremony honors the Ganges River, believed to cleanse sins and purify the soul.’ (Picture: Thibault Gerbaldi/@sienawards)
People category runner up
Photographer Benny Kasper said of this image titled as Isobel: ‘Let’s see what the new day brings if you feel lost today. Until the last rays of Sun disappear above the clouds, it feels like heaven. The image conveys a quiet message of hope and new beginnings. It speaks to those who feel lost, reminding them that each new day holds fresh possibilities.’ (Picture: Benny Kasper/@sienawards)
Nature category winner
Known as The Long Shadow, photographer Christopher Harrison said of his picture that won the Nature category: ‘On the first day of meteorological spring, the warm sunrise light filtered through the low-lying mist, casting a striking long shadow behind this small cluster of trees atop an ancient Bronze Age burial mound.’ (Picture: Christopher Harrison/@sienawar)
Nature category runner up
Photographer Thorarinn Jonsson said of their photo titled as Scale: ‘An aerial view of two massive icebergs floating in deep blue Arctic waters deep within Greenland’s massive fjords, with their submerged portions glowing turquoise beneath the surface. A small sailboat in the distance adds scale and serenity to this striking polar seascape.’ (Picture: Thorarinn Jonsson/@sienawar)
Abstract winner
Photographer Pawel Zygmunt said of the photograph titled as The eye: ‘An aerial view of Hveravellir, in Iceland, shows a geothermal pool shaped like an animal’s eye, with a dark blue center and rich brown textures surrounding it. The barren, rocky landscape and layered mineral deposits give the scene a raw, ancient feel.'(Picture: Pawel Zygmunt/@sienawards)
Abstract runner up
Titled as The Tide Money Tree, photographer Xu Zhang said of their picture that won runner up in the Abstract category: ‘The Qiantang River tide is a famous natural landscape and phenomenon. When the tide recedes, it leaves many traces in the waterway. These tidal patterns, combined with the dry and yellow plants on the shore, resemble a huge money tree.’ (Picture: Xu Zhang/@sienawards)
Wedding category winner
Titled as Eloping above the Clouds, photographers Oliver and Steph Prince said of their photograph: ‘A newlywed couple stands above the clouds after hiking up a hill on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. They emerged above an incredible cloud inversion to find the peace and solitude they needed for their elopement.’ (Picture: Oliver and Steph Prince/@sienawards)
Wedding category runner up
Titled as Into the abyss, photographer Tim Demski said about his photograph: ‘This photo was taken during an elopement photoshoot. An amazing location was found: a bridge over a large ravine in an ancient Italian town. The dark and gloomy sky, combined with the picturesque ruins in the background, created the perfect setting for this cinematic image.’ (Picture: Tim Demski/@sienawards) Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
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