The International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards have just unveiled the stunning winning images for 2025, celebrating the most breathtaking drone photography capturing the beauty and drama of our natural world. This prestigious competition highlights the unique perspectives and artistic skill achievable from above.
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| Photo: Joanna Steidle / Aerial Photographer 2025 |
Taking the coveted title of Aerial Photographer of the Year 2025 is the exceptionally talented American professional drone pilot, Joanna Steidl. Her winning portfolio showcases an awe-inspiring series of marine photographs. Among these captivating shots is a remarkable image taken over the Atlantic Ocean, perfectly capturing a spinner shark in pursuit of a school of fish. The dynamic energy of the hunt and the stark beauty of the ocean are powerfully conveyed in this single frame, demonstrating Steidl's exceptional eye and piloting expertise.
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Photo: Joanna Steidle / Aerial Photographer 2025
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Adding to her impressive collection, another of Steidl's winning images offers a serene glimpse into the underwater world, featuring a graceful squadron of rays gliding through the waters off the coast of Argentina. Steidl notes that these particular rays typically feed on sand eels and clams, clarifying that their interaction with the pictured school of Atlantic menhaden is not a predatory one, offering a peaceful moment amidst the vastness of the ocean.
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Photo: Joanna Steidle / Aerial Photographer 2025
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The highly anticipated Aerial Photograph of the Year award was bestowed upon Ignacio Palacios, a renowned travel photographer hailing from Australia.
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Photo: Ignacio Palacios / Aerial Photographer 2025
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Palacios impressed the esteemed panel of judges with his evocative capture of La Puna, a high-altitude plateau nestled within the majestic Andes Mountains, stretching across northern Argentina and Chile. His winning photograph undoubtedly showcases the stark, otherworldly beauty of this unique landscape, highlighting the textures, colors, and sheer scale of this Andean region as seen from an unparalleled aerial vantage point.
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Photo: Daniel Vine Garcia
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These winning images, along with the other finalists, underscore the power of aerial photography to offer new perspectives on wildlife and landscapes, fostering a greater appreciation for the beauty and fragility of our planet. The competition serves as a platform to recognize the growing talent within the drone photography community and the increasingly sophisticated technology that enables these stunning visual narratives. The winning entries will be showcased in a virtual gallery, allowing enthusiasts worldwide to experience these extraordinary moments captured from above.
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| Photo: Daniel Vine Garcia/Aerial Photographer 2025 |
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Photo: Talor Stone / Aerial Photographer 2025
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Photo: David Swindler/Aerial Photographer 2025
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Key words: drone photography, aerial photography, wildlife photography, photography awards
