Dronestagram’s Top Photos of 2017
BY Zacc Dukowitz
10 July 2017Dronestagram just announced the winners of their fourth annual International Drone Photography Contest in partnership with National Geographic, and the winning pictures are incredible (not just the first place spots—we found first, second, and third all well worth checking out).
The prizes for winners in each of the three main categories considered—Nature, People, and Urban—includes items like the DJI Spark and a HOMIDO VR Headset. Get the details for each prize in each category on Dronestagram’s website.
Judges for the contest included National Geographic Deputy Director Patrick Witty; Jeff Heimsath, freelance photo editor; and Emanuela Ascoli, photo editor for National Geographic France and Dronestagram.
Quick note—we were excited to see our friend Luke Bell of South Africa win in the Creativity category for his picture Two Moo (scroll down to the first picture of the final category to see it). Back in December Luke told us about how he’s been using the tilt shift effect to make videos of Capetown and surrounding areas. Congrats on the win Luke!
Nature
1st Prize: Provence, summer trim by jcourtial
“[Photographing by drone is] like experiencing the world in a completely new dimension.”
– J. Courtial, First Place Winner in the Nature Category
2nd Prize: Infinite Road to Transylvania by Calin Stan
3rd Prize: Ice formation by Florian
People
1st Prize: End of the line by Martin Sanchez
“While driving, I noticed an empty tennis court that just stood out like a treasured story in a book of empty words.”
– M. Sanchez, First Place Winner in the People Category
2nd Prize: Waterlily by helios1412
3rd Prize: La Vijanera by feelingmovie
Urban
1st Prize: Concrete Jungle by bachirm
“Every flight for me is a new adventure.”
– B.Moukazerel, First Place Winner in the Urban Category
2nd Prize: Dawn on Mercury Tower by alexeygo
3rd Prize: Peace by luckydron
Creativity
Winner: Two Moo by LukeMaximoBell
“Cows drinking from a nearby dam caught my eye when I saw their long shadows. I launched my drone to capture the scene in a way impossible with any other type of camera.”
– Luke Bell, Winner in the Creativity Category
Winner: Ugo le marin by rga
Winner: Next Level By macareuxprod