PHOTO Best drone photography: what is the “Above us only sky” competition

A photo of “Kartoffelrækkerne”, Østerbro in Copenhagen has just been voted one of the eight most beautiful photos taken from the air. The photo was taken by Serhiy Vovk, a photographer from Ukraine, with a drone.

The winning images are selected from 2624 entries from 116 countries and will be exhibited at the “Above us only sky” exhibition in Siena, Italy, in early October.

Best drone photo

The “bird’s eye” view gives us the ability to observe everyday places, people and activities with a fresh perspective. And sometimes the most unexpected locations yield the most creative results. The Drone Photo Awards celebrate the best aerial photography and video of the year, and the winning images are unique and inspiring.

The global competition celebrates drone photography and video as a spin-off of the Siena Awards, a photography competition that promotes international arts, culture, traditions and monuments. The Drone Photo Awards are meant to be a way to appreciate the mastery of the field and separate it from traditional camera photography.

The competition is open to creators using fixed-wing drones, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, balloons, airships, rockets, kites and parachutes. Entrants can submit photos in up to eight categories: Wedding, Nature, People, Urban, Urban, Animals, Abstract, Sports and Video.

An international jury representing six countries chooses the winners. Those selected will present their work at a gallery in Siena, Italy, during the Siena Awards Festival and are invited to attend the opening reception.

The top prize awards €500,000 in photographic equipment and the title of Drone Photographer of the Year. Category winners receive a Pangea Prize crystal statuette presented at the awards ceremony in October. The jury also nominates the runners-up in each category, along with highly commended awards. All images are on display in Siena at the Above Us Only Sky exhibition.

Here are the winners right here.