Photography

The World’s Finest Aerial Photos Honored in International Competitors

- by fooshya

This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://petapixel.com/2026/07/07/international-aerial-photographer-of-the-year-2026/
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us


Three vertical panels: left shows two dolphins swimming in turquoise water; center shows the Golden Gate Bridge from above with mountains in the background; right shows an overhead view of a colorful, crowded festive table.
Left to proper: Dylan de Haas, Marcin Zajac, and Azim Khan Ronnie.

The winners of the second International Aerial Photographer of the Year have been revealed, and Azim Khan Ronnie from Bangladesh has been topped champion.

Fighting off 1,587 entries from internationally, Ronnie gained Photographer of the Year, which relies on a portfolio submission of no less than 4 photographs.

Aerial view of a rowing team in a narrow boat on calm, turquoise water, with oars creating small ripples, surrounded by mist or fog.
An aerial view of a rowing crew gliding via the pristine waters of Lake Zurich in Switzerland. | Photo by Azim Khan Ronnie
Aerial view of a small red and blue boat with two people on a dark body of water, surrounded by hundreds of white birds in flight, creating a dynamic, swirling pattern around the boat.
For a couple of months of the 12 months, numerous Siberian seagulls migrate to numerous components of India. One of them is Yamuna Ghat in Delhi. The birds begin coming in right here in November and transfer out in mid-March. The exercise continues all morning. | Photo by Azim Khan Ronnie

“I use a combination of mirrorless cameras, action cameras, drones and professional lighting equipment that gives me the flexibility to work across photojournalism, documentary, sports, wildlife, and aerial photography,” says Ronnie.

“For aerial photography, I use the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Mavic 3 Classic, allowing me to create images that reveal scale, patterns and perspectives impossible to capture from the ground. I always shoot exclusively in raw to capture the maximum amount of image data, giving me greater flexibility during post-processing while preserving image quality.”

For modifying, Ronnie says he tries to reinforce moderately than manipulate. “I use Adobe Photoshop for all of my post-production work,” he provides. “My workflow typically includes RAW processing, exposure and white balance adjustments, contrast and tonal corrections, colour refinement, sharpening, noise reduction and selective local adjustments.”

Aerial view of many people in colorful clothing picking red chilies on a bright red field, each with a basket beside them, creating a striking pattern across the scene.
Thousands of vivid purple chilli peppers are harvested within the scorching solar earlier than being sorted able to be delivered to spice firms within the Sariakandi, Bogura, Bangladesh. More than 2,000 folks work in nearly 100 chilli farms in Bogura. | Photo by Azim Khan Ronnie
A vibrant overhead view of a large group of people sitting in rows, each surrounded by glowing candles, creating a colorful and festive atmosphere during a traditional celebration or festival.
Hindu devotees collect in Dhaka for Rakher Upobash, fasting and praying with incense and oil lamps to honour Baba Lokenath. Thousands search blessings for well being and safety, recalling the 18th century saint’s lifetime of asceticism and religious devotion. | Photo by Azim Khan Ronnie
A person holding a yellow umbrella crosses the center of an empty intersection with bold white crosswalk lines, seen from above on a wet, dark road.
Photographer Chin Leong Teo from Singapore got here second general.
Aerial view of a lush rooftop garden with a swimming pool, palm trees, lounge chairs, and colorful umbrellas, situated above a busy multi-lane road with moving cars.
Chin Leong

Of all of the entries, the highest 101 images have been picked by the three judges: Tom Hegen, Isabella Tabacchi, and Joanna Steidle. PetaPixel has chosen a few of the finest.

A herd of horses, seen from above, moves through swirling dust clouds as a lone rider on horseback guides them forward, with sunlight filtering through the haze.
At sundown in Cappadocia, Yilki horses surge throughout the dusty plateau. Raised by villagers and launched to roam free, they embody resilience and custom, shifting like a river of fireplace beneath the fading Anatolian sky. | Photo by Kah-Wai Lin
A stunning aerial view of a coastal landscape with a large, circular rainbow (glory) surrounding an island in the distance, under dramatic skies with clouds and blue water below.
‘While shooting the amazing seas off the north eastern coast of Sardinia I was suddenly caught in a rainshower at sunset and magic happened in front my disbelieving eyes.’ | Photo by Paolo Lazzarotti
View of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, framed by a rust-colored rectangular window, with the ocean and hills in the background.
The Golden Gate Bridge framed by its personal iconic metal and suspension cables, overlooking the San Francisco Bay at daybreak. | Photo by Marcin Zajac
A large crowd of people, many with bodies painted in ash or white, gather around and on top of a white vehicle during a cultural or religious event. One person stands on the vehicle, raising their arms.
Titled ‘The World’s Largest Gathering,’ this picture seems to be from the Hindu pilgrimage Kumbh Mela | Photo by Savadmon Avalachamveetil
Aerial view of a crowded riverside at night, with dozens of boats packed closely together in the water and a large gathering of people illuminated by warm lights along the shore.
‘Each night in Varanasi several thousand people gather to attend the Ganga Aarti, an ancient ceremony.’ | Photo by Thibault Gerbaldi
A vivid rainbow arches over a rugged, mossy landscape with a conical mountain near the coast, surrounded by winding roads, blue water, and dramatic clouds in Iceland.
In this aerial panorama of Iceland, a mild rainbow arcs throughout the sky, casting gentle hues over darkish slopes and deep-blue waters. A lone highway winds towards distant shores in good, breathless concord. | Photo by Abhijeet Sawant
Aerial view of a solitary volcano with its peak glowing in warm sunlight, casting a long triangular shadow across dark, barren terrain at sunrise or sunset.
View of Cono de Arita at sundown, Puna de Atacama, Argentina. The completely formed volcanic cone casts an extended, geometric shadow throughout the huge salt flat, as heat gentle reveals its radial textures and the stark solitude of the high-altitude desert. | Photo by Daniel Vine
Aerial view of a dense cityscape with high-rise buildings and a river running through; rays of sunlight break through dramatic clouds, illuminating parts of the city. The image is in black and white.
Taiwan bathed in dramatic gentle. | Photo by Max Horng
A polar bear stands on a small, melting ice floe surrounded by scattered ice chunks floating in dark blue water, viewed from above.
A polar bear balances on the sting of an iceberg in East Greenland, utilizing the peak to scan the ocean ice and check the wind. | Photo by Rhiannon Lawler
A lone oryx walks across orange sand dunes, leaving a trail of hoofprints and casting a long shadow in the sunlight.
Taken from a helicopter within the Namib Desert, Namibia. It was late afternoon and sundown was lovely, illuminating dunes with golden color and wonderful shadow traces. This single oryx was strolling on the dunes with its shadow and footprints. | Photo by Zhengze Xu
Aerial view of a white horse rolling on its back in a dusty patch of ground, creating a cloud of dust around its body. The surrounding area is a mix of dirt and sparse grass.
I used to be using in North East Italy and catching some stills of an exquisite white horse, when instantly he rolled over to scratch his again, elevating the mud. | Photo by Fabio Pappalettera
A large shark swims close behind a sea turtle in clear turquoise water, creating ripples and splashes on the ocean surface.
Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. A tiger shark carries a Green Turtle in its jaws, revealing a not often witnessed second of predation. Predator and prey meet on the floor, exposing the uncooked rigidity and ecological actuality that sustains ocean stability. | Photo by Dylan De Haas
Aerial view of two dolphins swimming together in clear, turquoise water, with sunlight creating wavy patterns on the sandy ocean floor below.
Dolphins within the Bahamas. | Photo by Dylan De Haas
Aerial view of a large herd of reindeer migrating across a snowy landscape, closely packed together and leaving a winding path through the snow.
Sami reindeer migration. | Photo by Michiko Kimura
A dramatic desert landscape at sunset, featuring a pointed butte illuminated by golden sunlight, with ridged, barren terrain in the foreground and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
Sunset gentle over Southern Utah’s iconic Butte. | Photo by Kevin Nyun
Aerial view of multiple high-rise buildings engulfed in flames at night, with firefighters spraying water and thick smoke billowing into the sky. Emergency vehicles and lights are visible on the ground below.
A lethal fireplace in Hong Kong. | Photo by Yau Tat Hui

To see the entire winners — and to buy an e-book of the competition — head to the International Aerial Photographer of the Year website.

PetaPixel articles could embody affiliate hyperlinks; in the event you purchase one thing via such a hyperlink, PetaPixel could earn a fee.

Love PetaPixel? Go Premium.

PetaPixel is the world’s largest unbiased images publication and we’re solely in a position to proceed our work along with your assist. Become a PetaPixel Member now and help our mission to carry you common, high-quality critiques, options, information, and extra.

  • Remove banner advertisements
  • Gain entry to full-resolution RAW and JPEG Sample Galleries
  • Get 5% off orders from KEH.com
  • Get a $15 coupon to spend at Moment
  • Get 10% off lighting gear from FJ Westcott
  • Get 10% off movie growth, scanning, and printing from Blue Moon Camera and Machine


This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you’ll be able to go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://petapixel.com/2026/07/07/international-aerial-photographer-of-the-year-2026/
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us

Related Posts

EagleARTS honors Colorado with particular Western Pictures Gallery Night

Photographer Tony Pilkington to show images class at BFAC July 18 and July 25

Aiarty Image Enhancer: Restore Blurry Photos and Upscale Images with Real Details

About fooshya

View all posts by fooshya →