16 attractive pictures from the 2026 Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards

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Without wings, we humble people largely view the world from the bottom. If you’ve flown in an airplane or braved a skyscraper, you realize the world seems fairly totally different from above.

The second annual Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards give us the sensation of flight with spectacular pictures of Earth shot excessive above our humble planet. Azim Khan Ronnie earned prime honors for a portfolio of labor (see picture beneath) shot utilizing the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Mavic 3 Classic drones.

dozens of white birds surround a row boat
“Thousands of Migratory Birds Feeding”
For a couple of months of the yr, a lot of 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.
Credit: Azim Khan Ronnie / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award

“From above, everyday scenes reveal patterns, geometry, textures and relationships that are often invisible from the ground,” Khan mentioned. “Aerial photography allows me to tell stories about people, nature and the environment from a perspective that inspires curiosity and offers a deeper understanding of the world.”

Vitaly Golovatyuk took house first place for Aerial Photograph of the Year (awarded for a single picture) for his {photograph} (see beneath) taken at Elk Park, exterior Dongtai City in Zhejiang Province, China. “After several days exploring the area during sunrise and sunset, I photographed this bird on a tiny lake surrounded by red grass,” Golovatyuk mentioned. “The clarity of the sky’s reflection creates a striking illusion, as if the bird is suspended weightlessly in the air.”

bird in lake surrounded by red grass
Birdie within the Sky
Birdie is sitting on the water of a tiny, crystal clear lake with reflection of the sky and surrounded by pink grass, someplace in Dongtai.
Credit: Vitaly Golovatyuk / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award
rainbow circle above islands
“Complete Rainbow”
While taking pictures the wonderful seas off the north jap coast of Sardinia I used to be all of the sudden caught in a rainshower at sundown and magic occurred in entrance my disbelieving eyes!
Credit: Paolo Lazzarotti / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
the golden gate bridge at dawn
“Golden Gate Framed”
The Golden Gate Bridge framed by its personal iconic metal and suspension cables, overlooking the San Francisco Bay at daybreak.
Credit: Marcin Zajac / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
dozens of horses kicking up dust while trotting
“Thunder Of Hooves”
At sundown in Cappadocia, Yilki horses surge throughout the dusty plateau. Raised by villagers and launched to roam free, they embody resilience and custom, transferring like a river of fireplace beneath the fading Anatolian sky.
Credit: Kah-Wai Lin / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
southern right whale and its calf
“Southern Right Whale”
Humpback whales generally journey previous the place I stay, throughout winter however not often do I see Southern Right Whales. This mom and calf got here in near Budgewoi Beach, NSW and rested within the shallows simply behind the surf break for half of the day.
Credit: Neil Vincent / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
lava in crater as it rains
“Steam Eruption”
An lively volcanic crater in Iceland is erupting whereas engulfed by steam brought on by a sudden torrential rainfall.
Credit: Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
an oryx walking on sand dunes
“Oryx Walking On Dune”
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.
Credit: Zhengze Xu / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
a white horse rolling on the ground
“Tumbling White Horse”
I used to be driving in North East Italy and catching some stills of a beautiful white horse, when all of the sudden he rolled over to scratch his again, elevating the mud – and I froze this epic second ceaselessly.
Credit: Fabio Pappalettera / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs ©Fabio Pappalettera
crater lake that looks like a green eye
“The Eye Of The Apenn”
The Sirente crater is a hidden lake in Abruzzo, a pristine and mysterious place surrounded by intriguing theories. It is believed to have a meteoric origin. If this speculation is confirmed, this picture captures the one influence crater lake in Italy!
Credit: Valeria Castiello / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
elephants walking in golden light
“Family Outing”
At daybreak a herd of elephants units out looking for breakfast within the Serengeti. This shot was taken whereas flying in a scorching air balloon over the herd.
Credit: Sapna Reddy / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
fisherman under a yellow net
“Dawn Net”
Bali’s rice terraces cascade down the hillsides in vivid inexperienced steps, formed by centuries of cautious irrigation. Four women with a canine work the fields in a line, transferring steadily via the paddies as they have an inclination the younger rice vegetation.
Credit: Chin Leong Teo / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
electric blue thermal spring
“Grand Prismatic Spring”
Recently my spouse and I discovered an aviation firm within the Yellowstone space keen to fly us over Grand Prismatic Spring of their Cessna 172. It was fairly a problem to {photograph} from the aircraft, however effectively definitely worth the effort. A photograph from my bucket record!
Credit: Wayne Montag / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
fish laying on ice
“Frozen Haulout”
Seals relaxation on a frozen lagoon in Iceland, gathered round a slim crack of open water that provides them entry between the ice floor and the ocean beneath.
Credit: Marco Di Marco / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
a butte in desert
“Olympus”
Wild Horse Butte within the excessive desert of Utah.
Credit: David Soldano / 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs

 

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2026 Popular Science Home of the Future Awards

 


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