These 2021 Drone Photos Are Absolutely Amazing
![Shark Companion](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/shark-companion/IyRl8TtbIsQUI-wqTjcH6j2QNjE=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d4/cd/d4cd80445f774f7eafa032c065983614.jpeg)
Before drones, only professional photographers who specialized in aerial photography had access to the world from above. Today, technology has democratized the air, making it possible for regular people to take mesmerizing aerial photographs. No helicopter needed.
As technology has gotten better, so have people’s skills. This is what the Drone Photo Awards 2021 celebrates. The awards have selected the best drone photography around the world, separated into eight categories.
These are the best of the winning drone photographs.
'Space Invaders'
![Parasols in the Dead Sea](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/parasols-in-the-dead-sea/uJHJIQN3SU0AWGkbsN68NtV9KKw=/600x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/0e/aa/0eaaff13f77f42a5967dea091702ec73.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: The Dead Sea, Israel
'Back to Adventure'
![Turtle in Oman returning to water](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turtle-in-oman-returning-to-water/SNY3uY1UCdT10OGOpXXv2JsLSCc=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/b2/35b2264aa36a473885e9cb15f54b4ed8.jpeg)
Category: Wildlife (1st Classified)
Location of shot: Oman
'Synergy'
![Sledge competition in Italy](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sledge-competition-in-italy/sAajYcBxBUgq8L6UKMU3WGPmmQQ=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ef/aa/efaa26989ad44f44bb8530167b70aef8.jpeg)
Category: Sport
Location of shot: Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy
'Blooming Delivery'
![Van in blooming field](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/van-in-blooming-field/zCOTvrxvMIwnUh3QyUw2D6Bj1YI=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/65/94/659442fffa454a189fc5db8d813e3a89.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: The Netherlands
'The Great Divide'
![Frozen river in Alaska](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/frozen-river-in-alaska/r4REZvqI-VL0s1f7ltVA2Iym8ls=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/bb/6f/bb6f1e6b909144f78b365e59f6be57c2.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Alaska
'Julier Snake'
![Julier Pass in Switzerland](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/julier-pass-in-switzerland/F6AYQP_MzmSRgfefshqpnnrmm5w=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/f7/43/f74356f33c814a81b517d73cc5941fc8.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: Julier Pass, Switzerland
'Deep Blu'
![Winter in Italy](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/winter-in-italy/7NfnXV1vv-nYOefba4dy7FIOxkI=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3d/ec/3decd17254f84ec48c8222c06bcbfc8b.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Trentino Alto Adige, Italy
'Dali's Dream'
![Dry terrain in Spain](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/dry-terrain-in-spain/xbfynBVYmgotXZVdaeDB8kc0b6g=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/26/27/2627b2109b374090ba33e3f0fa363db2.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Huelva, Spain
'Melting Ice Cap'
![Ice cap melting in Norway](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ice-cap-melting-in-norway/B--PGC_ZbLXo2xSn2wwmVy1cgbA=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a7/7a/a77ae24c0a8747e88b9d867fedd61d21.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Svalbard, Norway
'Poisoned River'
![Toxic river in Romania](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/toxic-river-in-romania/YWkKFmWrxZgcQkRMBIglCC3-TZQ=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4a/5c/4a5cfcc59bf34e67a05efa537d2e1e5d.jpeg)
Category: Abstract (1st Classified)
Location of shot: Geamana, Transylvania, Romania
'Camel Shadows at Sunset'
![Camels in the desert](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/camels-in-the-desert/E-zjn0YpFbJh9JBy4Jd0c7F8CHg=/600x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/38/57/385775fabc8d41eea06b19721ec1e3bb.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Stockton Beach, Australia
'Fishing'
![Vietnamese fisherman](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vietnamese-fisherman/h2IYGllG92hgG7E_-LfhEhlPphY=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5c/d9/5cd9743eb978463fa60df820b3fd4b34.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, Vietnam
'The Tower'
![Tower in Danish forest](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/tower-in-danish-forest/EeXzdbQE94kDl9LKLnz3awpAug4=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/0e/30/0e3032bfb00240f084a64b1c3436da90.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: Ronnede Camp Adventure, Denmark
'Colour Series II'
![Basketball court in Vancouver](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/basketball-court-in-vancouver/IKilZ2bfVZ9hABh_VcNsCOufDJo=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b0/51/b051cb14cc714b61bc12dbf3f3b93684.jpeg)
Category: Sport
Location of shot: Vancouver, Canada
'Chessboard'
![Beach umbrellas in Romania](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/beach-umbrellas-in-romania/GxnHLmFenN58BiMkDjYokw_JrqA=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/bf/46/bf46878905d645b2ac02d9d196a08651.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Mamaia, Romania
'Buddhists Are Praying'
![Buddhist ceremony in Vietnam](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/buddhist-ceremony-in-vietnam/eHoX4QB5dcPFRx5TEotjLeM5WjQ=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/92/59/92593582081049c89fa0913815ac8267.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
'No Stress'
![Dog sleeping at the beach in Cape Verde](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/dog-sleeping-at-the-beach-in-cape-verde/6YW1x2muC2cVTzndc6zayiegrhA=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ec/f1/ecf1b6116a5141e18c5976937fe8f4eb.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Santa Maria, Cape Verde
'Caleidoscopio'
![Colorful containers in Veneto](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/colorful-containers-in-veneto/rZtu3wutTP1dMCne57R0D6qmvmA=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/da/9f/da9f80b439d54a59af21f7bb11dfde3c.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Veneto, Italy
'Lake Natron'
![Lake Natron](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lake-natron/w-4MsMediqvEfTmO4TDrrXgIZ8s=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/94/d7/94d7aaed17f542418cf3b339f9b51302.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Great Rift Valley, Tanzania and Kenya
'Drying Steamed Fish'
![Fish sellers in Vietnam](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/fish-sellers-in-vietnam/ckANJSrDQUL2NeV4La7SeNvLTQ0=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/59/eb/59ebff2b0dd4483ab833f287d125afd1.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Long Hai, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Vietnam
'Red Chillies Harvesting'
![Harvesting of chiles in Bangladesh](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/harvesting-of-chiles-in-bangladesh/v-J-yRy0-2Z3yUPa3K8KsnQqPHs=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1c/9d/1c9d52cfde044834a899634a7508387e.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Bogura, Bangladesh
'Like a Tree'
![Parking lot in Hungary](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/parking-lot-in-hungary/nt-f417XSgdHNw6dzyMK7StB27Q=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c4/90/c49064b052344bc4a158ba94005df076.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Mohács, Hungary
'Game Board'
![Park in Gronau, Germany](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/park-in-gronau-germany/j0JF0Cc8byy1-aso2D31k0Ayac0=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/89/85/8985fb0620294a5aa884788235ba8119.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: Gronau, Germany
'One Shot'
![Basketball player in Hong Kong](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/basketball-player-in-hong-kong/AYfypAgCCWSuLveg3r_N0UUdLrA=/600x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/44/b3/44b37541a03d46d895b1b8dedd3ea017.jpeg)
Category: Sport
Location of shot: Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
'People at 10100 Feet Snow Valley Restaurant'
![Restaurant in the mountains, India](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/restaurant-in-the-mountains-india/hCVry6MU5XEevVOuT0nktEqMmL0=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6b/6f/6b6f59d0f6f441e0a35aee7333fadab9.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Kongdoori, Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, India
'Follow Me'
![Cross-country skiing in Germany](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/cross-country-skiing-in-germany/AhMI43ndAPqvnjCVLjDeRoUyOkc=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3e/75/3e751c7dae7a4f748e97fe7c88c182e0.jpeg)
Category: Sport
Location of shot: Bernau, Germany
'Bank of Buriganga'
![Boats in Dhaka](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/boats-in-dhaka/q42nMSzAiIorvSlUB6MZgoAA95Q=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/63/78/6378af8f8a98405eaea3a80963058070.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: Dhaka, Bangladesh
'City of Angels'
![Poplar forest in Serbia](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/poplar-forest-in-serbia/Bj7xjNQZPReTzqoHzhhKzvQwEOY=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/01/1e/011e6c65c41c48e0972a291b9862f04c.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Serbia
'Sheep in Congress'
![Sheep in Israel](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sheep-in-israel/bHUQPedQhQmL-3iNf5KHwsGcQ_s=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/67/50/675062f86d1d48cdb04162a88258d0e6.jpeg)
Category: Wildlife
Location of shot: Ramot Menashe, Israel
'A Still Point In Time'
![Flamingos in Namibia](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/flamingos-in-namibia/F75ECk7SPydCA9DEuwRAjz_4LIg=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/47/f5/47f5ac7555af4e439c11524f65609de5.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Dorob National Park, Namibia
'Scrap Head'
![Motorcycle scraps in Bangladesh](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/motorcycle-scraps-in-bangladesh/lUxyzzRoSkPge8dATRcP_IQWRAE=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1a/d5/1ad5ef2035bf4f93bf200b3dec38cea0.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Comilla, Bangladesh
'Floating People'
![People floating in Lake Las Vegas](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/people-floating-in-lake-las-vegas/r9OK0aUdZH6T0sQmxxZO4jkJY20=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d6/c8/d6c839e6a6804fbbafcc108ff593e1ec.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Lake Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
'Dusk at Rohingya Refugee Camp'
![Rohingya Refugee Camp](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/rohingya-refugee-camp/VENCq3bdJwinQPAZa6_A8hBuvYU=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4f/c6/4fc630072dcb43038cfa300cad438432.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: Cox's Bazar
'Hippopotamus Group From Above'
![Hippos in the mud](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/hippos-in-the-mud/5AwGG2roothtbfl5EynxD8egxU8=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/27/48/27485df38f23453ca4021c1508fb7614.jpeg)
Category: Wildlife
Location of shot: Khwai, Botswana
'Chishan Lake in Winter'
![Chishan Lake, China](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/chishan-lake-china/0ByLteC2lSDGFKwmi3kLR5rtSjo=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/59/96/599617c9e30d4ffa8030982860f04a91.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Nanjing Liuhe Chishan Lake Park, China
'Plastic Recycling'
![Recycling plastic in Bangladesh](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/recycling-plastic-in-bangladesh/-BfkaXT7Hp9st3F6YTyrcXxbm7I=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/49/ab/49ab787e45144e5f9c351050bd6b13dc.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Tangail, Bangladesh
'Baby Flamingos'
![Flamingos in Turkey](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/flamingos-in-turkey/3j_8MgaqIhtFSzZ2tMf6hVnKSvc=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ad/79/ad791dafac02432390202098899bbea4.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Cihanbeyli, Konya, Turkey
'Fishing in Mangrove Forest'
![Fisherman in mangrove forest, Vietnam](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/fisherman-in-mangrove-forest-vietnam/4BF9ZLL-_oI4yIdrfP3ytM7dgaU=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1d/a5/1da5419dc8364391b62626fe55c3f143.jpeg)
Category: People (1st Classified)
Location of shot: Hue, Vietnam
'Volcano Show'
![Lava flowing in Iceland](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lava-flowing-in-iceland/0vcRGXWygsg_sF6Pm0Sz4fPEuSE=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a9/e8/a9e89060340745b7a6621a924299b4ad.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Iceland
'The Mighty Ruacana'
![Ruacana waterfall in Namibia](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ruacana-waterfall-in-namibia/NXDmVPGtw5xmxkpCBmb0tCQFyMI=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/40/ae/40ae121ed8c24dee858e6e8125a28f7c.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Namibia
'Abyss Tentacles'
![Rock climbing in Aragon, Spain](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/rock-climbing-in-aragon-spain/MaKlHeUsc0DWf6wc4NQKRJ9daPs=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/49/d7/49d73dc99c354322b1dea554d9257423.jpeg)
Category: Sport
Location of shot: Jiloca, Aragón, Spain
'Duoyishu Terraces'
![Rice terraces in China](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/rice-terraces-in-china/iaZWYI-Rp1peuGPGw6OAQmoeVcs=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/53/6d/536df686f72a477990c3deadde76b1a8.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Yuanyang District, China
'Extragalactic'
![Volcanic eruption](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/volcanic-eruption/QuJ6MauY0d6tb-dFmBpPwNpkOIk=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/0d/15/0d153860efd8438a9401527818abcdde.jpeg)
Category: Nature (1st Classified)
Location of shot: Iceland
'Mitosis'
![Frozen Lake in Hungary](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/frozen-lake-in-hungary/vsxzHhv2Ghg2JnrDdff2hztRcj0=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/28/44/28449f01e2e84d28a0021b8a86f51e1d.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Hungary
'Capillary Landscape'
![Riotinto, Spain](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/riotinto-spain/lqpn08Jt8daGDXFKXCleWYSdL1E=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/33/90/3390e750df9d4208a61585e822dfa106.jpeg)
Category: Abstract
Location of shot: Huelva, Spain
'Tree of Life'
![Petrified trees in Namibia](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/petrified-trees-in-namibia/I_bdVMP0XUvMtVyQfuNsIpQTin4=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/53/61/536162501a4f4a6b86dc33037b09f2e9.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Deadvlei, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia
'Racing on Planet Mars'
![Racing in the desert](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/racing-in-the-desert/Nmjs_Sx98twuGYpREMq44HebEsA=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/0b/c9/0bc9863600234c3cb39567f4a2f7a199.jpeg)
Category: Sport
Location of shot: Baja California, Mexico
'Emus of the Salt Lake'
![Emus in Australia](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/emus-in-australia/cF684h0Lr7-CgWTIOwzAnj_v35g=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ae/fa/aefa2e71f68b46eb8886a329c66cf300.jpeg)
Category: Wildlife
Location of shot: Lake Gairdner, Australia
'Collecting Water from Driedout Riverbeds'
![Dried river, Bangladesh](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/dried-river-bangladesh/XbOyc8NnsHeU9Vk7hgJb_3sBgRE=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/68/f5/68f53993f68644ed836b87f728688358.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Khulna, Bangladesh
'Shark Companion'
![Kayaker with three sharks](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kayaker-with-three-sharks/nmmFBe1AQgeR33a_wFsJDeq2Wus=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/2b/81/2b810ae94f734090a43c251862dc2a1d.jpeg)
Category: Sport
Location of shot: Hadera, Israel
'Visit Fishing Nets in Bien Lake'
![Vietnamese fisherman](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vietnamese-fisherman/1REcL2rf5bXvFZ_lm1FMozPUlN8=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/43/26/43261251c6164e24a7438bd871d5c9ae.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Gia Lai, Vietnam
'Enjoy Wrestling'
![Wrestling in India](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/wrestling-in-india/wn_XMYaxxNDodWhLtyq3Zh9k3iA=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1c/a1/1ca18b3cb74f4c5284efa389a9c19447.jpeg)
Category: People
Location of shot: Kolkata, India
'High Tide'
![High tide in Zanzibar](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/high-tide-in-zanzibar/9JkGwdf9W_HR9_BwjvgD7n7pPl0=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/65/3b/653be9624174415991a5ae55fe2adfef.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania
'Church on the Fields Before Storm'
![Church in Slovenia](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/church-in-slovenia/cTpdt0WbL2mJr0xms8wegQTtGOQ=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fc/50/fc509c5a3aea405ca85dfc33b96a9df8.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: Kranj, Slovenia
'Pink-Footed Geese Meeting the Winter'
![Geese migratin](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/geese-migratin/so8bMRwgkJBszAfoGa_hiIwm0uQ=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/37/cc/37cca27d2d6544398dad9adaa8d27d28.jpeg)
Category: Photo of the Year
Location of shot: Levanger, Norway
'City in the Sky'
![Foggy Dubai](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/foggy-dubai/DNOsEvpmheayaPk0etMetrmsvmc=/799x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/21/5d/215d996f021344a286715d2cd9dc2ca4.jpeg)
Category: Urban
Location of shot: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'Sleeping Beauty'
![Bear sleeping](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/bear-sleeping/HGxDJJY96R_t_E7L9SNBZViwlJM=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/2d/e0/2de058302c014968b8eff2aa19fe623e.jpeg)
Category: Wildlife
Location of shot: Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
'Wild Night In the Adriatic'
![Thunderstorm in Hvar](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/thunderstorm-in-hvar/upr61vDrpuvWokuUfo-et_RK_LE=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/41/75/4175203d727a4444b95597bc040a096a.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Hvar Island, Croatia
'Above Si'ine Pillars'
![Si'ine Pillars in Russia](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/siine-pillars-in-russia/qFZhnYyc4db4GppsRyKhqotXf0s=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5b/6e/5b6e24920842415eb9d27625c72f6b9f.jpeg)
Category: Nature
Location of shot: Yakutia, Sinyaya River, Russia
'Metaphorical Statement About City and Winter'
![Moscow in winter](https://thumbor.bigedition.com/moscow-in-winter/mYNWLEZQtQ5UYYzMUUmHZUzyjBc=/800x0/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9f/5c/9f5c2af5da9f470abecf68c922d42e0b.jpeg)
Category: Urban (1st Classified)
Location of shot: Dzerzhinsky, Moscow Region, Russia