<p class="ingestion featured-caption">"A Polar Romance" by Florian LedouxFlorian Ledoux/Siena Drone Photo Awards</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The Siena Drone Awards highlight gorgeous images of <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nature-photos-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-contest-winners-2024-2">wildlife photos</a> from a unique perspective.</li><li>Nominees include photos of an erupting volcano, polar bears, and migrating birds.</li></ul><p>An erupting volcano, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wildlife-photography-award-napping-polar-bear-natural-history-museum-2024-2">slumbering polar bears</a>, and soaring birds are just a few of the majestic sights in line for first prize at this year's Siena Drone Photo Awards.</p><p>To capture these stunning shots, photographers weren't limited to just drones, though. The contest guidelines encourage <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beautiful-aerial-photos-2019-9">aerial shots</a> from planes, helicopters, balloons, and even kites.</p><p>There were over 2,000 entries across nine categories for this year's awards, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanneshurvell/2024/05/30/45-finalists-chosen-for-world-drone-photography-awards-2024/">Forbes reported</a>.</p><p>Here are the 10 finalists in the running for the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazing-animal-photos-from-world-nature-photography-awards-2024-4">nature and animal</a> categories. The winners will be announced on September 28, and the first prize winner receives about $550 in photography equipment, among other perks like a statuette and accommodations during the awards.</p>