During the magic of blue hour, a lone rider stands atop a rocky outcropping within the coronary heart of Cappadocia, Turkey. Using his drone, Dennis Schmelz managed to discover a distinctive perspective of the often-photographed panorama – and his aerial {photograph}, titled The Lone Horseman, has been named Photo of the Year on the Siena Drone Awards 2025.
The Siena Drone Awards, launched in 2015 in Siena, Italy, rejoice the artistry of aerial images and videography. Part of the broader Siena Awards and Festival, the competitors welcomes entries from professionals and amateurs alike, throughout 9 classes.
Schmelz’s work stood out in opposition to greater than 2,000 entries from 114 international locations that vied for recognition in one of many world’s premier drone images competitions.
The story behind the still
On Instagram, Schmelz shared, “I took this photo in Cappadocia while searching for new angles, which can be quite a challenge in a place where every corner seems to have been photographed already.
“During a sundown shoot with a horseman, I found this angle with my drone. It creates the phantasm that he’s standing on a plateau, when in actuality it is simply the angle that makes it look this fashion.
“This shot feels truly rare, a fresh view from a spot that’s usually crowded and over-photographed.”
Schmelz’s picture demonstrates his mastery of composition, timing, and storytelling from the air. Over his profession, he has traveled to greater than 70 international locations, producing award-winning journey movies, worldwide exhibitions, and collaborations with National Geographic and different main purchasers in tourism and music.