The Siena Awards once again spotlight the art of aerial photography with the 2025 Drone Photo Awards, celebrating both the technology of drones and the vision of the photographers who use them. Featuring eight still-image categories and a video award, the contest offers a sweeping look at today’s most compelling drone imagery.
German photographer Dennis Schmelz earned the top distinction, Photo of the Year, for his ethereal image of Cappadocia blanketed in snow. The photo isolates a lone rider among the region’s iconic “fairy chimneys,” transforming a familiar landscape into something dreamlike. Schmelz combined two separate frames to form the final composition, a technique that heightens its surreal atmosphere. “That’s what fascinates me about drone photography—it allows us to discover new perspectives and reveal patterns that are invisible from the ground,” he said.
“This is a top-down drone capture of a fever of cownose rays dividing a school of menhaden fish. Taken just off the coast of Southampton in August, the sky was clear and the sea was calm, allowing the sunlight to enhance the waters’ depth and the bursting sand clouds.”
Beyond Schmelz’s winning shot, the category winners showcase the range of stories drone photography can tell—from Iranian photographer Mohammad Ataei Mohammadi’s stark view of drought to Oliver and Steph Prince’s mist-wrapped portrait of newlyweds high in the Scottish hills.
All winning and finalist works are on display at the exhibition Above Us Only Sky at the Natural History Museum in Siena, Italy, through November 23, 2025.
See a selection of highlights below, and explore the full finalist gallery on the official Drone Photo Awards website
“The Artemia pleasure boat stands marooned in the dried bed of Lake Urmia, Iran—trapped in a crater eerily shaped like a monster’s belly. Years of drought, mismanagement, and agricultural overuse have drained the lake, leaving behind symbols of its forgotten past.”
“A newlywed couple stands above the clouds after hiking up a hill on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. They emerged above an incredible cloud inversion to find the peace and solitude they needed for their elopement.”
“An aerial view of Hveravellir, in Iceland, shows a geothermal pool shaped like an animal’s eye, with a dark blue center and rich brown textures surrounding it. The barren, rocky landscape and layered mineral deposits give the scene a raw, ancient feel.”
by Thibault Gerbaldi. Winner, People
“Each night in Varanasi, the Ganga Aarti ceremony unfolds in a blaze of fire and devotion. People attend this sacred ritual either by walking or by sitting on neighboring boats, clustered together. The ceremony honors the Ganges River, believed to cleanse sins and purify the soul.”
“Let’s see what the new Day brings if you feel lost today. Until the last rays of Sun disappear above the Clouds, it feels like Heaven. The image conveys a quiet message of hope and new beginnings.”
“Kilian Bron riding down one of the highest sand dunes in the world. The photographer only had one attempt, and luckily, Kilian made a slight turn exactly at the right moment, lifting some sand in the air.”
“On the first day of meteorological spring, the warm sunrise light filtered through the low-lying mist, casting a striking long shadow behind this small cluster of trees atop an ancient Bronze Age burial mound.”
“An aerial view of two massive icebergs floating in deep blue Arctic waters deep within Greenland’s massive fjords, with their submerged portions glowing turquoise beneath the surface. A small sailboat in the distance adds scale and serenity to this striking polar seascape.”
“The Qiantang River tide is a famous natural landscape and phenomenon. When the tide recedes, it leaves many traces in the waterway. These tidal patterns, combined with the dry and yellow plants on the shore, resemble a huge money tree.”
“This photo was taken during an elopement photoshoot. An amazing location was found: a bridge over a large ravine in an ancient Italian town.”
“This is not merely an image of natural beauty; it is a visual statement. The eagle’s shadow does not simply fall on the ground—it marks it, confronts it. A silent environmental message emerges: no matter how high life flies, it remains tethered to the earth beneath.”
“Shajiang village, in Xiapu county, is famous for its ‘S-bend’ mudflats. The bamboo poles create a stunning visual pattern on the mudflats and are used for drying seaweed. Fishing boats navigating through these poles add dynamism to the scene.”
“Runners push forward as the first light of dawn breaks over the Dead Sea. The photo was captured during the Dead Sea Marathon, and this moment reflects both human endurance and the surreal beauty of the lowest place on Earth.”