Demonic Face? Skull-like Volcanic Scenery... Aerial Photographer of the Year Winners

Second place winner of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition.

A humpback whale diving beneath the ocean surface, a Soko ray approaching menhaden fish, and a spinner shark hunting?these images were captured by the inaugural winners of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition, held for the first time this year.

Spinner shark catching fish, awarded first place at this year's International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Photo by Joanna Stidell.

Soko Kaori Yoo Young, winner of the first prize at this year's International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Photo by Joanna Stidwell, USA.

On July 7 (local time), CNN in the United States reported that Joanna Stidell, a professional drone pilot from New York, took stunning photographs and won the top prize in the portfolio category. This competition is a new global award that celebrates the most impressive photographs taken from the sky. The organizers stated that more than 1,500 entries were submitted from around the world. An important requirement was that all photographs had to be taken by a human; AI-generated content was not permitted. Second place went to a photograph of an Icelandic volcano resembling a human skull, taken by Daniel Vina Garcia of Spain.

One of the winning works of this year's International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition, showing Lake Kakora in Australia. A work by Stewart Shape from Samoa.

The organizers said, "Today, photographers are capturing breathtakingly beautiful landscapes from above," adding, "Many photographers are using the latest drones equipped with high-resolution sensors, while some are taking to the skies in more traditional (and more expensive) vehicles such as airplanes, helicopters, and even hot air balloons."

One of the award-winning works in this year's International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition: travelers on the move in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo by Azim Khan Roni.

The winning drone photo by Pal Hermansen from Norway shows a polar bear resting after fully feeding on a walrus. International Aerial Photographer of the Year