The 2025 SkyPixel winners have been named. Sure, the world’s largest aerial images and videography neighborhood introduced the winners of its tenth Annual Photograph & Video Contest, marking a decade of award-winning drone-based visible arts. And with it, we have now the definitive record of the perfect drone photographs of 2025.
The 2025 SkyPixel contest attracted practically 140,000 entries from across the globe — a testomony to the medium’s rising relevance not solely in artistic communities, but in addition in broader cultural and technological conversations. The competitors, launched in 2014 by DJI, the Shenzhen-based drone producer, has grow to be probably the most distinguished platforms for showcasing the evolving potential of drone and handheld imagery.
“This contest not solely highlights the expertise of our international neighborhood, but in addition showcases the transformative energy of aerial and handheld imaging in storytelling,” stated Christina Zhang, DJI’s senior director of company technique.“
The successful picture for 2025 SkyPixel
The winner of this yr’s nonetheless images prize, Mysterious Realm by Gangerqia, is a top-down picture of a frozen pond — its form evocative of a human eye. A single line of hen tracks intersects the body, breaking the symmetry simply sufficient to attract the viewer in.
“It virtually tips you into considering you’re a drawing,” stated Luke Stackpoole, a journey photographer and decide. “It’s easy and mysterious — and that’s precisely why it really works.”
Right here have been all the high 10 picture winners:
Profitable video merges aerial cinematography with private narrative
This yr’s high honor within the aerial video class went to The Conflict – My Transformation Journey, directed by Bashir Abu Shakra. The movie is a meditation on solitude and scale, putting its topic — usually Abu Shakra himself — as a solitary determine in expansive, untouched landscapes. The visible motif echoes themes of introspection and private change, whereas demonstrating superior technical precision in its digital camera work.
“The opening shot is actually fascinating,” stated Claudio Miranda, an Academy Award-winning cinematographer and one of many contest judges. “The angles, the sunshine — all present [Abu Shakra’s] persistence and perseverance.”
Fellow decide Chenyu Jin described the movie as “a uncommon alignment of method and imaginative and prescient,” noting the deliberate pacing and restraint proven in its development. Watch “The Conflict” right here.
Cinematic handheld work showcases Japan
For the primary time ever, DJI gave a nod to its handheld “Osmo” line of cameras, including the first-ever “Handheld” class to its entry kind.
The winner of the hand held video class, Japan Journey Cinematic by Henry Yue, takes a special method: grounded, tightly composed and plush intimately. Shot with stabilized handheld cameras, Yue’s movie balances movement and stillness in a means that judges stated conveyed a way of each journey and transcendence.
“The sound design and use of motion on this movie have been second to none,” stated Sam Newton, a journey filmmaker and contest decide. Jin added that the piece “combines clear tones with professional publicity management to create a refined and cohesive visible narrative.” Watch “Japan Journey Cinematic” right here.
A wider scope for the 2025 SkyPixel contest
Along with the highest awards, SkyPixel acknowledged ten further video entries for excellence. Amongst them: We Had been Meant to Fly by Daniel Tremsky, a cinematic ode to the dream of human flight; Journey to the Pole, which captured distant Arctic terrain; and DREAMS OF PHILIPPINES, a poetic journey movie exploring the archipelago’s pure magnificence.
Different honorees embody Expensive Buddy, which explored themes of connection and reminiscence by handheld videography, and My FPV Showreel 2024, a high-octane montage showcasing the rising affect of first-person drone racing footage in cinematic storytelling.
What’s subsequent for SkyPixel and aerial artwork?
Based a decade in the past, SkyPixel has matured from a distinct segment web site for DJI fans right into a globally acknowledged hub for aerial creativity. The platform now serves tens of millions of customers, and its annual contest is without doubt one of the most generally watched occasions within the drone house.
As drone know-how turns into extra accessible, light-weight, and clever, the road between newbie {and professional} manufacturing has blurred — a actuality on full show on this yr’s various mixture of creators. That democratization, SkyPixel’s organizers say, is the very level.
“The evolution of imaging know-how has made it potential for extra individuals to inform their tales — from the sky or from the bottom,” Zhang stated. “That’s what this contest is all about.”
The total gallery of successful entries spanning the perfect drone photographs of 2025 is now reside at www.skypixel.com/contests/2024, and can stay below public assessment till April 7, 2025.
Associated learn: The perfect drone photographs of 2024 (in keeping with SkyPixel)
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