50 Best Drone Pictures Of Last Year Have Been Announced By Dronestagram, And They’re Breathtaking

The fifth annual Dronestagram photo contest has recently taken place, with the winners just announced. Using drones to capture our planet from new and unique perspectives, the competition attracts thousands of entries from all over the world, showcasing the very best of drone photography.

This year’s first prize winner was Hungry Hippos by zekedrone, an atmospheric shot taken at a low altitude, showing a bloat of hippos hanging out happily together in some muddy water. With the quality of entries at an all-time high and covering a variety of categories including urban, nature, people and creative, the judges faced some difficult decisions. “We were 6 of us to work out the best photos,” Eric from Dronestagram told . “It wasn’t easy because we received several thousand of them so you have to be very organized to choose the best ones.”

“A good drone picture must have a strong verticality and also show scenes close up, from a view that can only be taken by a drone. Then it must be artistic in its approach and style and if possible show life with humans or animals.”

If you are thinking of joining in on this flourishing new genre of photography, make sure to know the local rules and regulations about flying drones in the area, drones have gotten a fair bit of negative media coverage lately after they were used to cause havoc at British airports. Eric has some advice for novices to drone photography. “First learn to fly a drone and master it perfectly before moving on to shooting,” he told us. “You can learn and train with a small and robust $50 drone, then once you know how to fly it, invest in a good camera drone. Try to fly in the countryside, and respect the local rules and laws!”

 A fish-shaped island off the coast of Croatia by Milan Photo

Image credits: dronestagram

Mussel farms in Galicia, Spain by Borafilms

Image credits: dronestagram

The red umbrella by caesarpmr

Image credits: dronestagram

Mt Bromo in Indonesia by jennys.travel_photography

Image credits: dronestagram

First place winner. Bathing hippos in Tanzania by zekedrone

Image credits: dronestagram

Brighton Pier by LukeMaximoBell

Image credits: dronestagram

A face in the grain field, Germany photographersWorld

Image credits: dronestagram

The outskirts of Atlanta by juannoguera

Image credits: dronestagram

Canoes in the Singapore reservoirs by John Wong

Image credits: dronestagram

Rural ice hockey in Russia by Maksim Tarasov

Image credits: dronestagram

A collapsed truck in Russia by Drone nest

Image credits: dronestagram

Al Qudra desert, United Arab Emirates by whosane

Image credits: dronestagram

Shot over the infamous half desert road in Dubai by whosane

Image credits: dronestagram

The projects in Brooklyn by sanllacer

Image credits: dronestagram

Second place winner. fishing boat in Vietnam by Trung Pham

Image credits: dronestagram

Spain by raggafran

Image credits: dronestagram

An abandoned water park in Dubai by dxbdrone

Image credits: dronestagram

Three figures in the Jordan desert near Wadi Rum by kolibik-foto

Image credits: dronestagram

Sheep herding by photographersWorld

Image credits: dronestagram

Winter ice by photographersWorld

Image credits: dronestagram

Rocinha is the largest favela in Brazil by Ulysses Padilha

Image credits: dronestagram

Lion vs Drone by bachirm

Image credits: dronestagram

A routine day in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road by bachirm

Image credits: dronestagram

Summer in Cyprus by dronyofficial

Image credits: dronestagram

The view over the dunes in Swakopmund, Namibia by LukeMaximoBell

Image credits: dronestagram

Third place winner. 2 dogs, 2 people and 4 shadows by Qliebin

Image credits: Qliebin

Leme Beach, close to Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro by Americo Vermelho

Image credits: dronestagram

Hon Khoi salt field, Vietnam by Trung Pham

Image credits: dronestagram

New quarter of the city Tyumen, Russia by imadfresh

Image credits: dronestagram

A new bridge in Ukraine by MaxWebb

Image credits: dronestagram

In the middle of the winter forest by photographersWorld

Image credits: dronestagram

The outskirts of a town called Dorothy in Alberta, Canada by Justen Soule

Image credits: dronestagram

The color changes as a farmer prepares a berry farm in early spring outside of Peterborough, Ontario by Justen Soule

Image credits: dronestagram

The famous Venetian Islands in Miami by thedjiman

Image credits: dronestagram

A football pitch in the middle of the Jabal mountains in Oman by kolibik-foto

Image credits: dronestagram

Lightning over Kuala Lumpur by Pete DeMarco

Image credits: dronestagram

FALL IN LOVE By zekedrone

Image credits: dronestagram

This is my second annual exploration of the beautiful colors in the east coast USA

The Green Island of Karadag By Alex Mimo

Image credits: dronestagram

Drone pano. Koktebel, Crimea

Harvesting tea leaves By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

Harvesting tea leaves in Bao Loc, Vietnam. The leaves are harvested early in the morning when the dew still remains on the leaves. It is then put into the factory for processing into tea

Horseshoe Bay Beach By arnaud

Image credits: dronestagram

somewhere along the most beautiful beach in Bermuda

Harvesting grass By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

Farmers are harvesting grass in the big water season

Marine Langevin By DroneCopters

Image credits: dronestagram

On the Nhu Y river By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

On the Nhu Y river in Hue City, Vietnam. The girls in Ao Dai dresses (traditional dresses) were releasing the floating candles on the river to pray for peace and happiness. This is the spiritual culture longstanding in Vietnam

Laguna de Cotacotani By Alex Mimo

Image credits: dronestagram

Parinacota and Pomerape volcanoes in the coming sunset light. Vertical drone pano. Lauca National Park, Chile

Cote Rocheuse By DroneCopters

Image credits: dronestagram

Les 3 volcans By DroneCopters

Image credits: dronestagram

The 747 Project By JackFreer

Image credits: dronestagram

A 1985 Boeing 747-341 was converted into a moving art experience for Burning Man 2018 by the Big Imagination Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Venice, California. Big Imagination exists to advance art and recreation through engineering, arts, sciences and humanitarian efforts.

Drag nets along each wave By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

Fishermen in the Vung Tau beach are pulling fish nets. The fishermen only pull the fish on the 10th to 16th lunar month, these days the high tide water at midnight for many fish near the shore.
Starting a net fishing, fishermen often have to get up early in the morning to prepare their fishing gear to the sea. The process of “pulling the net” starting from dawn to about 8 am is the end.
Fishermen take advantage of the waves to pull the net for each wave

Winter’s Veins By balazs3

Image credits: dronestagram

Winter River Veins

The Best Camping Spot By balazs3

Image credits: dronestagram

An aerial perspective of camping in the winter

Sai Gon by night By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

A corner of Saigon at night. This is the largest and most dynamic city in Vietnam

Between two worlds By thedon

Image credits: dronestagram

Reynisdrangar By balazs3

Image credits: dronestagram

Iceland’s South Coast

Fairy Forest By thedon

Image credits: dronestagram

Creta’s Beach By Matayo

Image credits: dronestagram

Long exposure done during the sun set

What do you see? By balazs3

Image credits: dronestagram

Abstract Winter River Bends

God is a painter By thedon

Image credits: dronestagram

Creta’s Beach By Matayo

Image credits: dronestagram

Long exposure done during the sun set

Cast a net By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

I saw some fishermen casting their net into a river. This is a profession in longstanding Hue, Vietnam. In the afternoon, if we stroll on the Vy Da bridge, we will see fishermen casting their net on the Nhu Y river

Piton Chisny – Plaine des Sables – Reunion By DroneCopters

Image credits: dronestagram

Reichenschwand By Matayo

Image credits: dronestagram

Panorama made with 6 picture

One morning peacefully By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

A family in the ancient imperial city of Hue catch fish in the Ru Cha mangrove forest. This is the picture close, happy common in villages

Blue Lagoon By balazs3

Image credits: dronestagram

On the way to the Blue Lagoon we stopped, flew the drone, and were rewarded with this unreal view.

Harvesting shrimp on the sea By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

Harvesting shrimp on the sea in Phu Yen, Vietnam. These shrimp are mainly used in processing shrimp paste. A delicious and traditional Vietnamese food

Cages for lobster at sea By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

Cages of lobster in Phu Yen, Vietnam. Lobster farming highly profitable for the people here. But the annual storm also potential risks, these are the new cages that replaced the old cages washed away last year

Harvest water lilies By Tuan Nguyen

Image credits: dronestagram

Water Lilies are picked early in the morning in rivers, lakes and washed. Then the flowers are brought to market. This is the main income occupation of people in Long An, Vietnam in the high season.

Black Sand Beach By balazs3

Image credits: dronestagram

Waves crashing at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Immaculate Landscape By balazs3

Image credits: dronestagram

Iceland is a land of beauty as portrayed by this drone shot