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The best drone photos of 2025, as showcased by SkyPixel’s 10th annual contest

Posted by Dronerator

The 2025 SkyPixel winners have been named. Yes, the world’s largest aerial photography and videography community announced the winners of its 10th Annual Photo & Video Contest, marking a decade of award-winning drone-based visual arts. And with it, we have the definitive list of the best drone photos of 2025.

The 2025 SkyPixel contest attracted nearly 140,000 entries from around the globe — a testament to the medium’s growing relevance not only in creative communities, but also in broader cultural and technological conversations. The competition, launched in 2014 by DJI, the Shenzhen-based drone manufacturer, has become one of the most prominent platforms for showcasing the evolving potential of drone and handheld imagery.

“This contest not only highlights the talent of our global community, but also showcases the transformative power of aerial and handheld imaging in storytelling,” said Christina Zhang, DJI’s senior director of corporate strategy.“

The winning image for 2025 SkyPixel

Mysterious Realm, taken by Gangerqia. (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)

The winner of this year’s still photography prize, Mysterious Realm by Gangerqia, is a top-down image of a frozen pond — its shape evocative of a human eye. A single line of bird tracks intersects the frame, breaking the symmetry just enough to draw the viewer in.

“It almost tricks you into thinking you’re looking at a drawing,” said Luke Stackpoole, a travel photographer and judge. “It’s simple and mysterious — and that’s exactly why it works.”

Here were all of the top 10 photo winners:

Aerial by 对话 (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
Aerial by 畅享 (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
Mud Bath Bliss by AB Gusai (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
Aerial by hanifi (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
Sailing through ice by FADAH (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
Alien made symbol by qb.pixels (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
Aerial by 水色涟漪，牧歌悠扬 (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
Guardian of the Ice by Alexander Valchev (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
best drone photos of 2025
Another World by Joanna Steidle (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)
best drone photos of 2025
Aerial by tkaquest (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)

Winning video merges aerial cinematography with personal narrative

This year’s top honor in the aerial video category went to The War – My Transformation Journey, directed by Bashir Abu Shakra. The film is a meditation on solitude and scale, placing its subject — often Abu Shakra himself — as a solitary figure in expansive, untouched landscapes. The visual motif echoes themes of introspection and personal change, while demonstrating advanced technical precision in its camera work.

“The opening shot is truly captivating,” said Claudio Miranda, an Academy Award-winning cinematographer and one of the contest judges. “The angles, the light — all show [Abu Shakra’s] persistence and perseverance.”

Fellow judge Chenyu Jin described the film as “a rare alignment of technique and vision,” noting the deliberate pacing and restraint shown in its construction. Watch “The War” here.

Cinematic handheld work showcases Japan

For the first time ever, DJI gave a nod to its handheld “Osmo” line of cameras, adding the first-ever “Handheld” category to its entry form.

The winner of the handheld video category, Japan Travel Cinematic by Henry Yue, takes a different approach: grounded, tightly composed and lush in detail. Shot with stabilized handheld cameras, Yue’s film balances motion and stillness in a way that judges said conveyed a sense of both travel and transcendence.

“The sound design and use of movement in this film were second to none,” said Sam Newton, a travel filmmaker and contest judge. Jin added that the piece “combines clean tones with expert exposure control to create a refined and cohesive visual narrative.” Watch “Japan Travel Cinematic” here.

A wider scope for the 2025 SkyPixel contest

best drone photos of 2025

In addition to the top awards, SkyPixel recognized ten additional video entries for excellence. Among them: We Were Meant to Fly by Daniel Tremsky, a cinematic ode to the dream of human flight; Journey to the Pole, which captured remote Arctic terrain; and DREAMS OF PHILIPPINES, a poetic travel film exploring the archipelago’s natural beauty.

Other honorees include Dear Friend, which explored themes of connection and memory through handheld videography, and My FPV Showreel 2024, a high-octane montage showcasing the growing influence of first-person drone racing footage in cinematic storytelling.

What’s next for SkyPixel and aerial art?

Founded a decade ago, SkyPixel has matured from a niche site for DJI enthusiasts into a globally recognized hub for aerial creativity. The platform now serves millions of users, and its annual contest is one of the most widely watched events in the drone space.

As drone technology becomes more accessible, lightweight, and intelligent, the line between amateur and professional production has blurred — a reality on full display in this year’s diverse mix of creators. That democratization, SkyPixel’s organizers say, is the very point.

“The evolution of imaging technology has made it possible for more people to tell their stories — from the sky or from the ground,” Zhang said. “That’s what this contest is all about.”

The full gallery of winning entries spanning the best drone photos of 2025 is now live at www.skypixel.com/contests/2024, and will remain under public review until April 7, 2025.

Related read: The best drone photos of 2024 (according to SkyPixel)

The post The best drone photos of 2025, as showcased by SkyPixel’s 10th annual contest appeared first on The Drone Girl.

Northern lights: 5 incredible drone photos show this week’s insane aurora borealis

Posted by Dronerator

This week, skywatchers across the globe have been treated to a dazzling display of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. And as the auroras put on a show this week, some intrepid drone photographers have been there to capture it all.

The aurora borealis, a mesmerizing dance of light across the night sky, is a dream subject for many photographers. Drones can offer an even more unique perspective. And sure, there is no shortage of images of northern lights taken ultra-far north, like in Canada or Norway. Seeing lights in the U.S., even in lower states, is far more rare.

Photographing northern lights with a drone

The best photos and videos of the northern lights

It wasn’t difficult to scour the internet in terms of some amazing aerial photos of the northern lights that were taken in the U.S. sometime over the past week. From YouTube to Instagram, here are some amazing pieces of art to check out:

1. Kara Murphy on Instagram

The Drone Girl has long been a fan of Kara Murphy. In fact, you might have found her guide on making the perfect drone hyperlapse useful! This week, she sent her Mavic 3 drone in the skies to capture a scene of the town showing the lit up skies overhead.

2. Evan Brodsky on Instagram

Evan Brodsky is usually photography marine mammals (and has some incredible shots of killer whales and other marine animals taken on his drone). Absolutely check out his account for amazing footage of whales and sharks exhibiting full predator mode. But, the northern lights hit the spot this week.

3. STLaerials on Instagram

True to its name, STLaerials gave us one of its most incredible aerials yet: a hyperlapse shot of St. Louis filed on a drone.

4. Primo Media on YouTube

Imagery generally became more vivid the farther north you headed. Primo Media used a DJI Mavic 2 Pro to film the skies north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

5. Magic of Drone on Instagram

The views were just as vivid in Seattle, too, as captured on the DJI Mini 4 Pro.

Tips for photographing the northern lights with a drone

If you’re ready to send your drone up in the night sky tonight, here’s what you need to know:

Plan your location using forecasts

Track solar activity and aurora forecasts to predict the strength and location of the lights. Aim for a KP index (a measure of geomagnetic activity) of 5 or higher for better visibility.

In general, escape light pollution. Head to the most remote areas you can get. Bonus points for drone pilots, is that remote areas are less likely to have restricted airspace or to leave you in a situation where you’re flying over people. Though, still confirm that it’s legal to fly in said remote spot. Some spots that might seem ideal to fly a drone in, like national parks, actually ban drones.

Have the right gear

While any camera drone can work to photograph northern lights, prioritize one with a good low-light performance sensor and manual shooting capabilities. Consider factors like battery life for extended flights and wind resistance for high-altitude operations.

In general, any of the drones in my guide to the best camera drones will do. Sure, something like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro with its 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera will be one of your best bets, but even cheaper drones, like the sub-$1,000 DJI Mini 4 Pro will do (as evidenced by the shots above).

Then there’s the post-processing gear, too. Image editing software tends to be your friend here. For example, you’ll likely need to apply noise reduction given the high ISO settings (more on that later).

Dial in your camera settings

This is a situation where you’ll likely need to embrace manual mode.

Set your aperture to its widest setting (lowest f-number) to gather maximum light. ISO will likely need to be cranked up (3200 or higher) to compensate for long exposures, but be mindful of noise. Experiment with shutter speeds ranging from 1-12 seconds, depending on the aurora’s intensity.

If your drone offers it, shoot in RAW to enable more flexibility in post-processing.

And beyond the right camera settings, don’t forget about composition. Include interesting foreground elements like landscapes or landmarks for a sense of perspective. As depicted by some of the images above, timelapse and hyperlapse footage can play well with the northern lights.

This allows you to condense a long period of auroral activity into a captivating video, showcasing the ever-changing nature of the lights.

An aerial photo of the northern lights in Finland. (Photo by Getty Images)

What causes the northern lights?

The phenomenon is a result of a powerful geomagnetic storm triggered by a series of solar flares erupting from the sun. These flares hurled charged particles towards Earth, interacting with our planet’s magnetic field and causing the colorful lights to dance across the high-latitude night sky.

Weather teams expect the storm to continue for several more days, offering a rare opportunity to witness this captivating natural wonder. And for drone photographers, the northern lights offer an opportunity to capture aerial art of the night sky’s palette of colors.

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