A humpback whale diving beneath the ocean's surface, a scalloped hammerhead approaching a menhaden fish, and a spinner shark on the hunt?these are some of the photos taken by the inaugural winners of this year's International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition.

[Emotions Above the Sky, Captured with Technology]

Announcement of the first international aerial photographer competition winners
Ultra-high resolution works taken by drones and airplanes

Joanna Steedle from New York wins top portfolio award
Spanish artist capturing volcanic formations takes second place
A total of 1,500 entries competed... AI-generated works excluded

On July 7 (local time), CNN in the United States reported that Joanna Steedle, a professional drone pilot from New York, captured stunning images and won the top portfolio award. This competition is a new global award that celebrates the most impressive photographs taken from above. According to the organizers, more than 1,500 entries were submitted from around the world. A key requirement was that all photos had to be taken by a human photographer; AI-generated content was not permitted. Second place went to Daniel Bine Garcia from Spain for a photo of a volcano in Iceland that resembles a human skull.

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.

원본보기 아이콘

The organizers stated, "Today, photographers are capturing breathtakingly beautiful landscapes from above the sky," adding, "Many photographers are using the latest drones equipped with high-resolution sensors, while others are taking to the skies in airplanes, helicopters, or even hot air balloons, opting for more traditional (and more expensive) modes of transportation."

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

원본보기 아이콘

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

원본보기 아이콘