These Breathtaking Drone Photos Will Blow Your Mind

Professional - 360 - 1st - The Starry Night
Professional - 360 - 1st - 'The Starry Night' | © Jingwen Chen / SkyPixel

Art & Design Editor

Drones are no longer just for covert military missions or spying on your neighbour, they’re now actively used by artists to create spell-binding views of the world around us. SkyPixel – the online aerial photography community – have just announced the winners of their global competition to find the top drone photographs of 2016.

From an impressive 27,000 submissions from 131 countries, 19 photographs were selected by a jury made up of TIME and Condé Nast Traveler photojournalists and award-winning photographers. All varying in approach, style and subject, the selection reveals how drone photography can capture the planet in an extraordinary manner.

Grand Prize

The overall Grand Prize winner went to Ge Zheng for his exquisite shot of fisherman in Fujian Province in China. Here, Zheng transforms a daily activity into a striking moment through skilful use of aerial perspective and considered composition.

Professional – Beauty – 1st – ‘Exploration’
Professional – Beauty – 2nd – ‘Spilway Selfie’
Professional – Beauty – 3rd – ‘The Earth’
Professional – Drones in Use – 1st – ‘A Happy Morning’
Professional – Drones in Use – 2nd – ‘Meet the Phantom’
Professional – Drones in Use – 3rd – ‘Drone in use’

Click the image below to view the interactive 360 image taken by 1st place Professional winner, Jingwen Chen.

Professional – 360 – 1st – ‘The Starry Night’
Enthusiast – Beauty – 1st – ‘Overbridge’
Enthusiast – Beauty – 2nd – ‘Green Waves’
Enthusiast – Beauty – 3rd – ‘Ice River’
Enthusiast – Drones in Use – 1st – ‘Despectus’
Enthusiast – Drones in Use – 2nd – ‘Inspire in Use’
Enthusiast – Drones in Use – 3rd – ‘ The Phantom of the Earth’

Click the image below to view the interactive 360 image taken by 1st place Enthusiast winner, Wen Li.

Enthusiast – 360 – 1st – ‘Flying Ink of Tianshan Mountain’

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
Edit article