The Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD) has taken a significant step forward in public safety innovation by expanding its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. This enhancement establishes the largest radar-enabled municipal drone coverage area in the United States, spanning 37 square miles and eliminating the need for human visual observers during operations. Radar-Powered Expansion […]
Texas company proposes use of drones armed with non lethal weapons to thwart school shootings By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill An Austin-based company is hoping to be able to deploy drones equipped with non-lethal weapons, such as pepper spray and flash-bang grenades, in Texas schools as a way to combat the wave of school […]
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)Another World by Joanna Steidle (Photo courtesy of DJI SkyPixel)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
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.
– Raytheon, an RTX business, fired a new version of the company’s combat-proven Coyote family of products from a helicopter during a recent test at Nine Mile Training Center, giving military forces a new capability to detect, identify, locate and defeat threats on the battlefield. The new variant, Coyote LE SR, is part of a […]
The University of North Dakota Center for Innovation recently announced three $50,000 awards — one to each of three companies, for $150,000 in total — for Project RuralReach, an initiative designed to harness unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology to revolutionize rural living, enhance economic resilience and support rural communities across North Dakota. This exciting project […]
The Netherlands is upgrading its Puma All Environment (AE) small unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and procuring larger Puma Long Endurance (LE) UAS, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 19 March. The contract was signed with US company AeroVironment in Utrecht, the Netherlands, earlier the same day. Dutch Puma AE block […]
A Swedish defense technology startup is aiming to disrupt the counter-drone landscape with a low-cost, high-speed interceptor designed to meet the growing threat of small unmanned aerial systems. In an interview with NextGen Defense, Karl Rosander, CEO of Nordic Air Defence (NAD), detailed the company’s development of the Kreuger100 — a compact interceptor designed to […]
The U.S. Marine Corps is actively integrating unmanned aerial systems into its logistics operations, with the T150/TRV150 cargo drone emerging as a pivotal asset in enhancing battlefield resupply capabilities. The TRV150 is a versatile, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) drone designed for autonomous or remote-controlled delivery of essential supplies such as food, water, medical […]
JUIDA and Seven Companies Join Ground Self-Defense Force in Nankai Rescue Drill to Prepare for Earthquakes and Natural Disasters by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb This article written in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japanese UAS Industrial Development Association. The Japan UAS Industrial Development Association, JUIDA, recently announced its collaboration with the Japan Ground Self-Defense […]
Certification Helps Enable Safe and Legal Drone Flights Over People AVSS Completes Third-Party Testing for PRS-M30 AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions – has completed third-party testing for its PRS-M30 parachute system designed for the DJI M30 Series. The testing meets the new ASTM F3322-24a standard, published in December 2024. This certification plays a key […]
