Connecticut lawmakers mull banning foreign-made drones for state agencies By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The state of Connecticut has joined a growing list of U.S. states that are considering legislation that would severely restrict or ban the use of foreign-made drones by state agencies. Senate Bill 3, currently pending in the Connecticut state Legislature, […]
The post Connecticut Proposes Ban on Foreign-Made Drones in State Agencies appeared first on DRONELIFE.
ANRA Technologies and Estonian Aviation Academy Unite to Propel U-space Technologies with New Testing Facility in Estonia In a move aimed at propelling the development and deployment of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), ANRA Technologies, a pioneer in uncrewed traffic management solutions, has announced a partnership with the Estonian Aviation Academy (EAVA). This collaboration is set […]
The post ANRA Technologies Forms Partnership with Estonian Aviation Academy to Launch U-space Test Center in Estonia appeared first on DRONELIFE.
With a fresh $8.3 million stock purchase, automotive titan Stellantis renews faith in Archer’s innovative Midnight aircraft, marking a significant step toward the 2025 retail launch. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb American VTOL developer Archer Aviation recently announced that automotive giant Stellantis purchased over $8.3 million in stock, showcasing the potential of their […]
The post Stellantis Boosts Investment in Archer Aviation, Fuels VTOL Aircraft Production appeared first on DRONELIFE.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Friday night, has launched the drones acquired for Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) to surveil the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the clock. The drones were launched, and President Muizzu signed the order permitting the operation of operations during a ceremony held for the purpose at N. Maafaru airport. […]
Ukraine is reaching deeper into its stocks of Cold War-vintage leftovers to find weapons—any weapons—that can strike military and industrial targets deep inside Russia. Somewhere, somehow, someone seems to have found an additional batch of 1970s-vintage Tupolev Tu-141/143 drones—crude, hulking but nevertheless potentially effective vehicles that the Ukrainians last deployed a year ago, four decades […]
In Austria’s Alps, drones are being used in a pilot project to protect areas of the forest vulnerable to deforestation. In a project orchestrated between the State Forestry Directorate and the East Tyrol District Forestry Inspectorate drones are being used to fight against the destructive bark beetle. If successful, the initiative could be applied in […]If this collection of best drone photos of 2024 are any indication, drone photography has come a long way since its inception. In 2024, drone photography continued its ascent to new heights, capturing breathtaking landscapes, wildlife encounters and even human endeavors in ways never before possible with a camera on land or a helicopter in the sky.
SkyPixel today announced the winners of its 9th Annual Photo & Video Contest. The winners were selected across more than 130,000 submissions, which is a 100% increase from the previous year.
Out of all 130,000 aerial photos, this was deemed the best drone photo of 2023:
The photo above is titled “Mongolian Yurt,” and it was submitted by the aerial photographer who goes by Daolai.
Daolai shot the image on a snowy morning in the Ulan Butung Grasslands of Inner Mongolia using a Mavic 3 Pro drone. For this specific photo, Daolai capitalized on the drone’s three times zoom functionality.
So what’s so standout about this particular photo against the thousands of other SkyPixel entries?
“Captured this photo depicts herdsmen making preparations for the grassland event,” according to a statement from SkyPixel. “The scene is naturally picturesque, authentically depicting the lives of the herdsmen as they interact with the horses, the camels and the landscape, with their yurt, their homes, as a central focus. Against the stark contrast created by the snow, Daolai found the scene reminiscent of a traditional Chinese ink painting.”
That photo was selected by a judging panel of seasoned experts including:
““I was drawn to the storytelling of this image,” Farrar said. “Such a beautiful wispy landscape has a lovely painterly look, very soft and almost feels like powder. A beautiful aerial landscape that doesn’t rely on graphic quality alone and tells a community story.”
While Daolai took the overall grand prize in the SkyPixel 9th Annual Photo & Video Contest, there were plenty of other deserving images. SkyPixel also released the results of the other ‘Top 10’ winners as well as the five ‘Nominated Photo’ winners. Here they are:
Besides honor and exposure, the photographers behind the best drone photos of 2024 actually get physical prizes.
The Annual Best Work prize entailed more than $14,000 worth of gear. That kit included a Hasselblad X2D 100C medium format mirrorless camera, which alone goes for more than $8,000. Additionally, SkyPixel named Daolai as an official SkyPixel Creator (which includes a prestigious trophy and an award certificate).
Meanwhile, the Top Photo winners each received the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC), a trophy, and award certificate, with a total value of nearly $3,000. The Nominated Prizes each received the Osmo Action 4 Adventure Combo and award certificate (worth about $400) and the People’s Choice Prizes received the Osmo Mobile 6 and award certificate (worth about $150).
The 9th Annual SkyPixel Photo & Video Contest winners were selected through a submission period which opened on Nov. 7 2023 and ran through Feb. 2, 2024. All entries had to have been shot on a drone (though it didn’t necessarily have to be a DJI drone).
Curious what the competition was like last year? Check out the winners from the 7th edition of the contest, which were named in 2023. And come back later this week for a guide to the best aerial videos of 2023, also based on SkyPixel winners.
Do you enjoy getting daily drone content like this? The Drone Girl maintains its ability to publish based off your donations. Please consider making one!
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
The post The best drone photos of 2024 (according to SkyPixel) appeared first on The Drone Girl.
Security is the Paris 2024 Olympics’ hottest topic and France intends to leave no stone unturned as it prepares to secure the Games with the help of anti-drone units. The military base of Villacoublay just outside Paris will be the home of an anti-drone coordination centre where police, gendarmerie and army officers will work hand […]Houston Aviation Department outlines vision for future air taxi operations By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The city of Houston is laying the groundwork for establishing an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) system in the surrounding region. As part of this effort, the Houston Airport System recently announced it was in discussions with several manufacturers of […]
The post Houston Prepares for eVTOL Air Taxi Operations: DRONELIFE Exclusive Interview appeared first on DRONELIFE.
FAQ Helps Drone Operators, Manufacturers Comply with FAA’s Drone Remote ID Rule The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) and the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) have jointly released a comprehensive guide clarifying the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) UAS Remote Identification (RID) Rule. This guide serves as a resource for operators and manufacturers navigating the […]
The post Commercial Drone Alliance, AUVSI Release FAA’s Drone Remote ID Rule FAQ appeared first on DRONELIFE.