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The Winners Of The First Annual Aerial Photography Awards Have Been Revealed, And The Photos Are Simply Brilliant (23 Pics)
The Aerial Photography Awards has announced its winners and best picks of 2020. The Aerial Photography Awards (or simply APA) were attended by photographers from 65 countries, of which Belgium stood out the most (residents of this country were winners in 10 categories), Russia (9 winners), and Great Britain (8 winners). The Jury awarded 106 photos in 23 different categories. The entrants were invited to submit their best images captured using drones, helicopters, kites, balloons, or airplanes, in the hope of taking a share of the US$10,000 prize pool.
The Jury includes Jeffrey Milstein, who has been exhibited in many museums; Daniel Beltrá, a winner of a few photography awards himself; Dirk Dallas, a pioneer in the drone movement; Alex MacLean, author/co-author of thirteen books; Benjamin Grant, creator of the popular Instagram feed Daily Overview; Peter Essick, who's one of the most influential nature photographers in the world; Florian Ledoux, whose work is recognized by international conservation organizations; Hulia Boz, Aussie photographer who has recently held an exhibition in New York; Abstract Aerial Art, two brothers who dedicated themselves to aerial photography; Noura Al Murr Al Neyadi, who started photography at the age of 11; Costas Spathis, a Greek aerial photographer; and, last but not least, Elena Buenrostro, pilot, trainer and leader of the Women Who Drone movement.
The title "Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020" was awarded to photographer Sebastien Nagy (Belgium, photo), thanks to several awarded photos in different categories and a high average score. Residing in Brussels, the photographer began aerial photography on the rooftops of his city. His thoughts after receiving this award: “To be honest, I had never participated in a contest before, but I had heard about this one in a very positive way, so I took part in the game. I didn't think I would win anything and it was mostly for fun. So I was very surprised when I heard the good news. It was a bit hard to believe at first as it was the Grand Prix, but I did feel real joy and pride. To be named first in a contest where the theme is what we love most, our passion, is incredible and very satisfying! This award made me want to test myself in other things and, why not, to be able to judge others in my turn one day."
The Founder of the Aerial Photography Awards, Christophe Martin, said: "For a first edition, the quality and diversity of the awarded photos demonstrates the evolution of aerial photography and the standards it has reached today. Aerial photographers prove their ability to amaze us. New visual writings are being built.
Thanks to the participants and to the Jury, the 22 categories create a panorama of the most exciting aerial photography currently being made. This is a unique source of inspiration for photographers, drone pilots, content creators who seek new perspectives.”
Enjoy the view!
More info: Instagram | aerialphotoawards.com | Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
First Place In Landscape Category: Skyggnisvatn
The highlands of Iceland.
Location: Iceland
Steve Fritz 5 years ago
Everything has been done before... https://blog.parrikar.com/2017/03/20/skyggnisvatn/
RELATED:
#2
First Place In Patterns Category: Umbrella Crossing
The crossing of umbrellas brings colors on a gray, rainy canvas.
Location: Japan
Transat 5 years ago
That is so true ... I just bought a puzzle for this winter, and even on Amazon it's always the same photos
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#3
First Place In Abandoned Places Category: The Wreck
The wreck of a British WW1 minesweeper that ran aground the French coast. Buried under the sand for many years, this wreck has only been visible in recent years due to the rapid decline of the coastal line caused by marine erosion.
Location: France
M O'Connell 5 years ago
The ship is [was?] the HMS Lord Grey, originally launched as a fishing vessel in 1911, and was requisitioned by the admiralty in March of 1915 and converted into a minesweeper. She wrecked on February 2, 1917 and only one man was killed in the accident (John Bilsborough).
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#4
First Place In Cityscapes Category: Spanish Rainbow
Location: Spain
Michelle Line 5 years ago
It looks like a lot of homes without roofs as if you're looking down inside the house.
Louise Stange-Wahl 5 years ago
This had to be taken by a drone. WAY too crowded for me! I am glad I live on a ranch and on a private road LOL!
#5
First Place In Architecture Category: Abstract Greece
Location: Greece
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago (edited)
This is Hotel Chromata (literally meaning Colours) in Santorini, Greece.
Brandi VanSteenwyk 5 years ago
Perfect use of curves in architecture allowing creativity and privacy for residents.
#6
First Place In World In Lockdown Category: We Are In It Together
One of the ways to show your support in difficult times. It is a residential apartment near my home. The residents hang the Vietnam national flags in support of those who are fighting against coronavirus in the front lines.
Location: Vietnam
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Vietnam is one of the countries with the best track record in the handling of the SARS-COV-2 virus. "As of October 23, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 1,148 cases of COVID-19. However, 1,049 of the affected patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Vietnam has also recorded 35 deaths due to the pandemic. The latest cases were all imported and quarantined on arrival." (23 Oct, vietnam-briefing.com) Only 1.148 cases in a population of more than 96,5 million. Very well done!
sbj 5 years ago
I agree, but how high do those appartments go on for, I'm done by the 2nd floor
Load More Replies... #7
First Place In Abstract Category: Tatacoa Desert
A top-down view of the rock formations of the Tatacoa desert at sunset.
Location: Colombia
Brandi VanSteenwyk 5 years ago
It looks like a part of the human body magnified a million times rather than part of nature. Astounding. I'd love an idea of the size of the installation.
Jay Dresser 5 years ago
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tatacoa+Desert/@3.2315426,-75.1729067,477a,35y,180h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8e3b921c86644279:0x119a8a7cc9c9c1a9!8m2!3d3.2323761!4d-75.168794
#8
First Place In Waterscapes Category: Arctic Paradise
This image was taken off the coast of Qeqertarsuaq at -25° Celsius. One of the most beautiful yet abstract places I've ever seen.
Location: Greenland
#9
First Place In Trees & Forests Category: Forest Path
A herd of sheep uses a forest road to return home.
Location: Turkey
Susan Miller 5 years ago
At first I thought this was underwater with a school of fish! Fantastic either way~thank you!
#10
First Place In Constructions Category: The Frame
Location: Lebanon
Rabbit Carrot 5 years ago
That’s in Dubai. It’s the 492ft tall Dubai Frame. It’s the biggest frame in the world. It’s very controversial and is often called the biggest stolen building in the world because the designer of it wasn’t given credit for his work.
Maria Roberts 5 years ago (edited)
Looks like the doorway to heaven... I would probably trip in the middle of crossing it!
sutramagnus digital 5 years ago
Bit strange seeing this because a) this is not in lebanon, it's in dubai and b) this should have the burj khalifa in the background.... the only way he would have been able to take a good shot like this is from the new zabeel residences/suites, behind the frame
#11
First Place In Wildlife Category: Flying Flamingos
Location: Kenya
postboredom 5 years ago (edited)
Deserves the prize. Actually all of these pictures do. Wonder how the 2nd and the 3rd places looked like.
#13
First Place In Daily Life Category: The Lady Of The Sea
A fishing boat is dropping a net and, accidentally, the waves pull the edges of the net into a lady on the blue sea. An accident of creation.
Location: Vietnam
Sara Mccracken 5 years ago
Even the sea wants to celebrate Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her famous necklace
Brant Johns 5 years ago (edited)
The reality behind this photo is disturbing. The action snapped by this photo may not even be legal, depending on where it is. These vast nets are often littered into the ocean after their job's done. Before polluted, these indiscriminate nets capture many unintended species known as bycatch. Virtually nothing escapes it. A net that aims for tuna will catch turtles, rays, sharks, dolphins, etc. The lucky ones who survive and are thrown off the ship still suffer greatly. People don't realize commercial fishing is obliterating ocean ecosystems at the same alarming rate as on land ecosystems are getting destroyed. This is a picture of what desperately needs to be history.
#14
First Place In Transportation Category: Fairway Of The Gulf Of Finland
Location: Finland
#15
First Place In Other Category: On The Edge
A child reaches for a plastic bag that has fallen into the Amstel River.
Location: Netherlands
#16
First Place In Hotels Category: Chromata
Location: Greece
Rah Soft 5 years ago
looks the same subject as #9 and its by the same person I would have thought you could only enter one photo
Debra Brooks Kapellakis 5 years ago
I thought I recognized it before. Imerovigli, Santorini, Greece. Across from my little super market. Cool!
Katinka Min 5 years ago
That looks like a beautifuk hotel, but, man, imagine trying to find your appartemnet in the dark while a bit drunk... O.o
#17
First Place In Digitally Enhanced Category: Airplanes
These aerial images are all constructed from many different photos that I took flying by helicopter. All images presented here are taken after 2015, but it is impossible to determine just one date of shooting since I sometimes use hundreds of photos.
Location: Brazil
M O'Connell 5 years ago
But it's missing the little numbers for each aircraft corresponding to a key of their types :) Context is important for encouraging curiosity.
Load More Replies... Monika Soffronow 5 years ago (edited)
This would be great as a fabric or a wallpaper pattern, or as carpeting in an airport lounge.
Andrei Anghel 5 years ago
"it is impossible to determine just one date of shooting" Assuming the author did not use a film role (i.e. used a digital camera) there should be a date tag somewhere
Carolina Piazzarollo 5 years ago
I think he meant he can pin down one specific date, since those were taken along some years.
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#18
First Place In Sports Category: Ball-Up
The physical motions of a tennis player against the clean, abstract lineage of the court created a harmonious effect on the eye.
Location: Australia
#19
First Place In World Culture Category: Eid Congregation
South Asia's largest Eid-ul-Fitr Congregation was held in Gor-e-Shahid Boro Math, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. According to the organizers’ claim, over 600,000 devotees participated in this Eid congregation. The prayers began at 8:30 am with devotees coming from different parts of the region. Eid-ul-Fitr is a Muslim festival of happiness celebrated all over the world.
Location: Bangladesh
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
What's happening here? I can't identify anything in this photo. Is that only me?
Joonscrab 5 years ago
It's people with their backs to their sky, bowing down, while on their knees. You're just seeing the backs of thousands of people
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Louise Stange-Wahl 5 years ago
If ever anyone doubted that this beautiful planet is suffering from overpopulation, just look at this photo! Very scary!
Mary Rose Kent 5 years ago
Personally, I think all of the scary new diseases of that past decade (Marburg, SARS, Ebola, etc.) are the planet’s way of sending us this very message.
Load More Replies... Brandi VanSteenwyk 5 years ago
Perhaps pre-pandemic and social distancing? Or... Can anyone zoom in enough to see if they are wearing masks??
#20
First Place In Documentary Category: Fire Attack
Firefighters from the Jersey Airport Rescue & Firefighting Service work as a team to attack a simulated aircraft fire. These live fire scenarios are designed to ensure the crews are fully skilled and ready should a real incident occur!
Location: Jersey, UK
A B C 5 years ago
As an aerospace engineer specializing in planes, I'd love to see this in action.
arjelio mas 5 years ago
As a passenger severely allergic to burning up in a plane, I'm happy they're practicing.
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#21
First Place In Industrial Category: Energy Storage
Location: Germany
Louise Stange-Wahl 5 years ago
Beat me to it--I thought the same thing LOL!
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Brandi VanSteenwyk 5 years ago
As I scrolled down, I first saw eyeballs... Then the Deathstar as another Panda saw.
#22
First Place In Environment Category: Flood Water Has Damaged Crops
In Bogura, Bangladesh, flood water has damaged crops worth around Tk83 crore (£8 million) in the current season. The amount of damage in Sariakandi Upazila is around Tk68 crore (£6.4 million), while the combined amount of damage is Tk15 crore (£1.4 million) in Sonatala and Dhunat. The district agricultural extension officials and other agriculture officials provided the information after discussion with local farmers who were affected by the flood. In this season, at least 50,000 people have been waterlogged in Sariakandi Upazila alone. According to the Upazila agriculture office, 7,535 hectares of land have been submerged in Sariakandi.
Location: Bangladesh
Troux 5 years ago
It's important to note that of all nations, Bangladesh has the most to lose due to climate change. Look at a map and you'll see that most of the country looks like a giant river delta, which is what makes it the most fertile land in the world. It's a whole lot of low-lying wetlands as you see above, and their agriculture (about 45% of the GNP) depends on the water level and seasons being stable. Rising water levels will destroy their crops and hence their economy, as well as taking away a HUGE proportion of the land from what is already the most densely populated country in the world.
Susan Miller 5 years ago
So tragic- the numbers don't reflect the suffering that will occur....
#23
First Place In Accommodations Category: Colors Of Dubai
Real estate shooting for accommodations in the Burj Khalifa.
Location: UAE
Brandi VanSteenwyk 5 years ago
It really is a beautiful place full of amazing architecture. But it seems to me that the residents, the people, just become numbers in relation to the wealth and means of the country. Individuality overshadowed by riches and corresponding opulence.
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
No, thanks, I am immune to Dubai, I'll have an influenza shot instead.
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Sent From The Slytherin House 5 years ago
really pretty. like, really pretty. i wish i could take photos like these
Sent From The Slytherin House 5 years ago
really pretty. like, really pretty. i wish i could take photos like these
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