Mesmerizing aerial images from the Drone Awards 2021

The pandemic has resulted in some outstanding photography. Many talented creatives around the world have had more time to focus on passion projects and for those who draw on the earth and wildlife for inspiration, we’ve seen some outstanding artwork — especially from drone photographers. This week the results of the international Drone Photo Awards 2021 were announced and the collections are out of this world.

The awards are sectioned into the following categories: urban, wildlife, sport, people, nature, abstract, wedding, and series. Photos were submitted from over 102 countries and the final cut will be showcased in an exhibition dedicated to the visual arts from October 23 to December 5 as part of the Siena Awards Festival in Siena, Italy.

Here are some of our favorites from the Drone Photo Awards 2021. To view other entries and the winners of each category visit the official website.

“Pink-Footed Geese Meeting the Winter” by Terje Kolaas

Photo of the Year, Wildlife

Photo: Terje Kolaas/Drone Photo Awards 2021

Thousands of pink-footed geese fly to the breeding grounds on Svalbard in the Artics.

“Hippopotamus Group From Above” by Talib Almarri

Highly Commended, Wildlife

Photo: Talib Almarri/Drone Photo Awards 2021

A group of adult hippopotamus a calf gather together creating a unique pattern.

“The Tower” by Kristian Stigel

Commended, Urban

Photo: Kristian Stigel/Drone Photo Awards 2021

This newly built tower reaches 147 feet high and this photo was shot early morning before tourists engulf the attraction.

“Chishan Lake in Winter” by Wujiang Zhu

Commended, Abstract

Photo: Wujiang Zhu/Drone Photo Awards 2021

Chishan Lake Park is named after the largest “Chishan forest” in East China.

“Labyrinth of Time” by Tomáš Neuwirth

Commended, Nature

Photo: Tomáš Neuwirth/Drone Photo Awards 2021

The digital collage was created by photographing a labyrinth in the park of Priessnitz Spa during two seasons.

“Sailor of Red Chilies Sea” by Sujon Adhikary

Commended, People

Photo: Sujon Adhikary/Drone Photo Awards 2021

A farmer riding through a sea of red chillis.

“Bank of Buriganga” by Md Tanveer Hassan Rohan

Commended, Urban

Photo: Md Tanveer Hassan Rohan/Drone Photo Awards 2021

Boats from the bank of the river Buriganga during the pandemic in Bangladesh.

“Baby Flamingos” by Seyit Konyalı

Commeneded, Wildlife

Photo: Seyit Konyalı/Drone Photo Awards 2021

A flock of baby flamingos on a salt lake.

“Beach Season” by Alexandr Vlassyuk

Runner Up, People

Photo: Alexandr Vlassyuk/Drone Photo Awards 2021

Two beachgoers lie on ice hammocks at the Kapchagai reservoir in the Almaty region.

“Floating People” by Raf Willems

Commended, People

Photo: Raf Willems/Drone Photo Awards 2021

This image captured a crowd packed into a lake in inner tubes while attending a concert.

“Poodle in Rapeseed” by Jan Ulicki

Commended, Nature

Photo: Jan Ulicki/Drone Photo Awards 2021

A small poodle-shaped forest surrounded by rapeseed fields.

“Volcano Show” by Oleg Rest

Commended, Nature

Photo: Oleg Rest/Drone Photo Awards 2021

The Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland erupted in April 2021.