50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 1

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest

Dronestagram is a photography community, founded over 5 years ago, where people share their best drone photos. Every year they host a contest and award the best drone photographs of the year. Recently, the 2018 winners have been announced and their photos will take your breath away.

This year, over 5000 photos were submitted to the contest and the winners were chosen by a panel of 6 experts, including Ken Geiger, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, and Jean-Pierre Vrignaud the editor in chief of National Geographic France. In an interview with Bored Panda, Eric, one of the panel members, described how they choose the best pictures: “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.”

One advice Eric had for beginners, was to learn to fly a drone before starting to take pictures. “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!”

Check out the best drone pictures of 2018 in the gallery below!

h/t: Bored Panda

#1 Second Place Winner. Fishing Boat In Vietnam By Trung Pham

The fishing net in the sea, viewed from aerial

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 2

#2 Lion Vs Drone By Bachirm

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 3

#3 Third Place Winner. 2 Dogs, 2 People And 4 Shadows By Qliebin

People, dogs and shadows on Black sea beach

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 4

#4 Fall In Love By Zekedrone

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 5

#5 A Face In The Grain Field, Germany Photographersworld

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 6

#6 In The Middle Of The Winter Forest By Photographersworld

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 7

#7 First Place Winner. Bathing Hippos In Tanzania By Zekedrone

This by far was the highlight of my trip to Tanzania. I giant hippo party which was super VIP. But I knew exactly how to get in. Something they couldn’t resist. A game of Hungry Hungry Hippos!

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 8

#8 Hon Khoi Salt Field, Vietnam By Trung Pham

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 9

#9 Al Qudra Desert, United Arab Emirates By Whosane

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 10

#10 Harvest Water Lilies By Tuan Nguyen

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.

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 11

#11 A Collapsed Truck In Russia By Drone Nest

Saw this truck resting in such way near my house and hurried for my drone to capture this moment

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 12

#12 On The Nhu Y River By Tuan Nguyen

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 13

#13 Cote Rocheuse By Dronecopters

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 14

#14 Lightning Over Kuala Lumpur By Pete Demarco

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 15

#15 Harvesting Grass By Tuan Nguyen

Farmers are harvesting grass in the big water season

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 16

#16 The Red Umbrella By Caesarpmr

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 17

#17 Fish shaped island in Croatia By Milan Photo

Fish shaped island is the inspiration for the logo of Brijuni National park, which was formerly Tito’s holyday playground. Gaz island, Brijuni NP, Adriatic Sea, Croatia

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 18

#18 Shot Over The Infamous Half Desert Road In Dubai By Whosane

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 19

#19 Sheep Herding By Photographersworld

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 20

#20 Reynisdrangar By Balazs3

Iceland’s South Coast

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 21

#21 Brighton Pier By Lukemaximobell

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 22

#22 Les 3 Volcans By Dronecopters

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 23

#23 Laguna De Cotacotani By Alex Mimo

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 24

#24 The Outskirts Of A Town Called Dorothy In Alberta, Canada By Justen Soule

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 25

#25 Between Two Worlds By Thedon

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 26

#26 Black Sand Beach By Balazs3

Waves crashing at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 27

#27 Winter Ice By Photographersworld

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 28

#28 A New Bridge In Ukraine By Maxwebb

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 29

#29 Harvesting Shrimp On The Sea By Tuan Nguyen

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 30

#30 Fairy Forest By Thedon

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 31

#31 Three Figures In The Jordan Desert Near Wadi Rum By Kolibik-Foto

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 32

#32 Immaculate Landscape By Balazs3

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 33

#33 Rural Ice Hockey In Russia By Maksim Tarasov

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 34

#34 Harvesting Tea Leaves By Tuan Nguyen

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 35

#35 Sai Gon By Night By Tuan Nguyen

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 36

#36 A Football Pitch In The Middle Of The Jabal Mountains In Oman By Kolibik-Foto

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 37

#37 Leme Beach, Close To Copacabana Beach, Rio De Janeiro By Americo Vermelho

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 38

#38 Horseshoe Bay Beach By Arnaud

somewhere along the most beautiful beach in Bermuda

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 39

#39 The Color Changes As A Farmer Prepares A Berry Farm In Early Spring Outside Of Peterborough, Ontario By Justen Soule

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 40

#40 The Projects In Brooklyn By Sanllacer

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 41

#41 A Routine Day In Dubai On Sheikh Zayed Road By Bachirm

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 42

#42 Cast A Net By Tuan Nguyen

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 43

#43 One Morning Peacefully By Tuan Nguyen

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 44

#44 Blue Lagoon By Balazs3

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

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 45

#45 The Green Island Of Karadag By Alex Mimo

Drone pano. Koktebel, Crimea

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 46

#46 An Abandoned Water Park In Dubai By Dxbdrone

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 47

#47 Marine Langevin By Dronecopters

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 48

#48 The Best Camping Spot By Balazs3

An aerial perspective of camping in the winter

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 49

#49 Creta’s Beach By Matayo

Long exposure done during the sun set

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 50

#50 Canoes In The Singapore Reservoirs By John Wong

50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 51 50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 52 50 Breathtaking Drone Pictures From This Years Dronestagram Photo Contest - 53

Aušrys Uptas

One day, this guy just kind of figured - “I spend most of my time on the internet anyway, why not turn it into a profession?” - and he did! Now he not only gets to browse the latest cat videos and fresh memes every day but also shares them with people all over the world, making sure they stay up to date with everything that’s trending on the web. Some things that always pique his interest are old technologies, literature and all sorts of odd vintage goodness. So if you find something that’s too bizarre not to share, make sure to hit him up!