15 mesmerizing photos taken by drones that let you see the world in a whole new light

Max KalnitzOct 1, 2020, 22:53 IST

The Drone Photo Awards' 2020 photo of the year.Jim Picôt/Drone Photo Awards

The annual Drone Photo Awards showcase beautiful aerial photographs in a number of categories including nature, cities, and people.
This year's winning shots include herons' treetop nests, an aerial shot of the Dubai Marina, and a snap of millions of Hongkongers protesting a controversial extradition bill.
The 2020 photo of the year is Jim Picôt's "Love Heart of Nature," which captured a shark swimming in a heart-shaped school of salmon.

Every year the Drone Photo Awards highlight the very best aerial photography shot with drones. This year's winners were announced on September 21 and, as part of the sixth edition of the Siena Awards Festival, 45 of the winning shots will be displayed in Siena, Italy, from October 24 to November 29 at the Accademia dei Fisiocritici.

This year's competition featured nine categories: abstract, nature, people, sports, series, urban architecture, wedding, animals, and empty cities: life during COVID-19. The competition aims to select photographs that "capture the beauty of the world seen from the skies and allow imagination to tell a story."

Here are 15 finalists in this year's competition.

Tomasz Kowalski photographed the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur in "Alien Structure on Earth."

"Alien Structure on Earth." Tomasz Kowalski/Drone Photo Awards

In "Dubai Marina," Carmine Chiriacò captured the symmetry and architecture of the city's Dubai Marina neighborhood.

"Dubai Marina." Carmine ChiriacòDrone Photo Awards

Dmitrii Viliunov's drone allowed him to get a glimpse of herons nesting for his photo, "Where Herons Live."

"Where Herons Live." Dmitrii Viliunov/Drone Photo Awards

Mark Carwardine's "Munk's Mobula Rays Schooling" captured thousands of rays from above.

"Munk's Mobula Rays Schooling." Mark Carwardine/Drone Photo Awards

In "On the Sea," Roberto Corinaldesi captured the nail-biting moment dozens of swimmers headed into a wave.

"On the Sea." Roberto Corinaldesi/Drone Photo Awards

Brad Walls' "Ball Up" contrasts a tennis player's abstract movement with the straight lines of a tennis court.

"Ball Up." Brad Wallsl/Drone Photo Awards

Alessandra Meniconzi's "Frozen Land" captured villagers traversing a body of ice in the Eurasian Steppe.

"Frozen Land." Alessandra Meniconzi/Drone Photo Awards

Tugo Cheng's "2,000,001" captured the millions of Hongkongers who took to the streets to demonstrate against a controversial extradition bill.

"2,000,001." Tugo Cheng/Drone Photo Awards

A gray whale is seen lurking beneath a boat in Joseph Cheires' "Whale Plays Pushing Tourists."

"Whale Plays Pushing Tourists." Joseph Cheires/Drone Photo Awards

Martin Harvey captured a flamboyance of thousands of flamingos in "Flamingos at Lake Logipi."

"Flamingos at Lake Logipi." Martin Harveyl/Drone Photo Awards

The vibrant colors at this industrial mine resemble the mythical in Paul Hoelen's "Phoenix Rising."

"Phoenix Rising." Paul Hoelen/Drone Photo Awards

Azim Khan Ronnie's "Largest Congregation" shows more than 600,000 people praying.

"Largest Congregation." Azim Khan Ronnie/Drone Photo Awards

Mohamed Azmeel used leftover flowers and leaves from a wedding to make his subject look like a palm tree in "Tropical Bride."

"Tropical Bride." Mohamed Azmeel/Drone Photo Awards

In Krzysztof Krawczyk's "Lovers on the Field," a couple appears to float through a field in a kayak.

"Lovers on the Field." Krzysztof Krawczykl/Drone Photo Awards

But the 2020 "photo of the year" was Jim Picôt's "Love Heart of Nature," which captured a shark caught in a heart-shaped school of salmon.

"Love Heart of Nature." Jim Picôt/Drone Photo Awards

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