The Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) Project Office announces the significant expansion of AERPAW – the first wireless research platform to study the convergence of 4G/5G technology and autonomous drones – as it launches into a second phase of operations. The testbed now includes four additional wireless towers, a total of eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and […]
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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, […]
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 […]
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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:
Photo: “Mongolian Yurt” by Daolai
The photo above is titled “Mongolian Yurt,” and it was submitted by the aerial photographer who goes by Daolai.
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:
Wen Huang, a World Press Photo judge and Senior Editor
Anne Farrar, Assistant Photography Chief Editor at National Geographic
Nan Li, the Photo Director of Southern Weekly
Daniel Kordan, a renowned landscape photographer
““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.”
Other great drone photos of 2024
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:
Top 10 Photos of 2024
A Bold, Bare-Chested Ride by Parker
A Symphony in Snow by Guofu
Bird’s eye view on Iceland by Pawel Zygmunt
E IN THE LAKE by Ekrem SAHİN
Balloon floating over trees in winter by Jonas Hoffmann
Hunting together by Pham Huy Trung
Motion and Stillness by Patrick Wong
Silence by Nguyen Khanh Vu Khoa
“Fatigue Sleep” by Muhammad Amdad Hossain
Tree of life by Isabella Tabacchi
Top Nominated Photos of 2024
Abyss by Dylan de Haas
Back home by Jeremiasz Gadek
Mining Farm by Xuhaha
Pioneering New Realms by David
“City Spider-Man” by Qihui Chen
What happens to the winners?
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).
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The Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) Project Office announces the significant expansion of AERPAW – the first wireless research platform to study the convergence of 4G/5G technology and autonomous drones – as it launches into a second phase of operations. The testbed now includes four additional wireless towers, a total of eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and […]
