136. The Tower

Possible Drone Used: DroneNerds Golden Eagle Quadcopter
Where to Buy: B&H Photo Video
Cost: $14,800*
Taken by Kristian Stigel, “The Tower” was a Commended Photo in the Drone Photo Awards of 2021. It was a strong contender in the “Urban” category, and it is easy to see why. The juxtaposition of man-made and natural is strong here, as the perfectly-symmetrical tower is surrounded by not-so-even trees.

The Tower ©anninhthudo /Pinterest
Stigel, a Danish photographer, is part of the Danish National Photography Team. His subject, the Forest Tower, stands hundreds of feet above sea level. It has a spiral walkway that leads to the top. Though a long climb and not for the faint of heart, the views from the lookout of the Forest Tower are magnificent.

137. Waterways in Geamăna, Transylvania

Possible Drone Used: Ryze Tello
Where to Buy: Best Buy
Cost: $150*
At the Drone Photo Awards in 2021, Gheorghe Popa won in the “Abstract” category with a rather gloomy photo, taken above waterways in Transylvania. Though These waterways look beautiful, this beauty is actually poisonous.

Waterways in Geamăna, Transylvania @culturawow/Pinterest
The blue of the waters has been marred by chemical waste from gold and copper mining near Geamana. Geamana is a small Romanian village that has been exploited by mining companies for decades. In its prime, Geamana produced 11,000 tons of copper per year. But, as the years have passed, the little town is now a site of destruction and ruin from the pollution from this seemingly-lucrative industry. Though this photo is lovely, it hides a dark secret.

138. Chishan Lake in Winter

Possible Drone Used: Parrot ANAFI
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $370*
Another winner in the Drone Photo Awards category was “Chishan Lake In Winter,” snapped by Wujiang Zhu in China. Chishan Lake Park got its name from the Chishan Forest, which is one of the largest forests in Eastern China. Zhu’s aerial perspective makes the trees look like splashes of color against a blueish-gray backdrop.

Chishan Lake in Winter ©floriandelalee /Pinterest
The Chishan Forest is known for its scenery and one-of-a-kind ecological environment. The water fir forest is one of its highlights, and the entire Lake Park is a way to get out of the city and enjoy nature in one of the busiest industrial countries in the world.

139. Compete for the top

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
Where to Buy: DJI.com
Cost: $1,179*
Social media user @AndyAndy took this photo, which he titled “Compete for the Top,” in Shanghai, China. Shot on a DJI Mavic 2 Zoom at 1/1000s, this picture shows a heated race in a much calmer way. Though the rowers on the water are no doubt in a feverish competition, the aerial view of this competitive struggle is pretty soothing.

Compete for the top @popularphoto/Pinterest
Aerial photography has a way of using perspective to change the way we think about the world. Though it might seem like sweat, blood, and tears on the ground, a bird (or drone) flying overhead will catch a far more peaceful, distanced viewpoint.

140. Gold at the end of the Rainbow

Possible Drone Used: DJI Phantom 4 Pro
Where to Buy: Walmart
Cost: $4,000*
Titled “Gold at the End of the Rainbow,” Australian drone photographer Phil De Glanville caught a shot that only a drone, operating in a split second, would have made. He won the “Sport” category, and the picture showing a surfer cruising through a wave is separated, beautifully, by a slash of rainbow.

Gold at the end of the Rainbow @Cnn/Pinterest
Rainbows aren’t always easy to capture, but De Glanville managed to get the shot. The “gold” at the end of this rainbow is Ollie Henry, a professional surfer who De Glanville said was “escaping a monster wave” (something for which the Aussie coast is known) when he snapped this shot.

141. Shark

Possible Drone Used: DJI Phantom 4 Pro
Where to Buy: Walmart
Cost: $4,000*
Thanks to this amazing photo of a shark at an angle we rarely get to see, Phil de Glanville (@phlyimages on Instagram) was named a 2021 Finalist in the Hasselblad Masters In Aerial & Wildlife Categories. De Glanville called the nomination a “huge honor” and, judging from his photo, this honor was well-deserved.

Shark @phlyimages/Instagram
The shark pictured here is a Great White, the King/Queen of the Ocean. This huge shark can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, and it has a bite force of 4,000 PSI. These Great Whites are listed as “Vulnerable” in terms of their conservation status, and beautiful photos like this really drive home the need to protect these iconic sea creatures.

142. Tillage

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic 3
Where to Buy: Best Buy, Amazon
Cost: $2,049*
Social media user @EmptyMountainBird took this photo, titled “Tillage,” in Guizhou, China. This picture was an award winner at the DJI SkyPixel Contest, and it shows a man and his cattle tilling land. The drone used was likely from the DJI brand.

Tillage @dronedj.com/Pinterest
One of the best DJI drones for nature photography such as this is the DJI Mavic 3. It is the same camera that Paul Nicklen, a world-renowned wildlife photographer, uses. The DJI Mavic 3 puts “Image Above Everything,” and you can find it at Best Buy or on Amazon for $2,049. Though pricey, it is worth it if you are looking to take professional-quality pictures like “Tillage.”

143. Fishing in Mangrove Forest

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mini 2
Where to Buy: Best Buy
Cost: $450*
If you’re an American and you see the phrase “mangrove forest,” you likely think of dense thickets of green trees found in Florida. However, that is not the case in the wintertime in Vietnam. Trung Pham Huy took this photo of a fisherman paddling through a grove of mangrove trees in Tam Giang Lagoon, located in Hue.

Fishing in Mangrove Forest @nprpins/Pinterest
In the winter, mangroves shed their leaves, exposing white trunks and branches. This makes the fisherman look as though he is paddling through an eerie, underworld-like forest. It is easy to see why Huy’s photograph won awards at the 2021 Drone Photo contest.

144. Red Chiles Harvesting

Possible Drone Used: DJI Inspire 2
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $2,299*
Red chiles, better known as chili peppers, are a spicy addition to dishes that want to pack a lot of heat. These red peppers are harvested around the world, but some locations are more famous for their chiles than others. In Bogra, Bangladesh, Bogura Chiles are famous around the country for their heat and taste.

Red Chiles Harvesting ©npr/Pinterest
MD Tanveer Hassan Rohan took this photo of women sorting through dry chiles at a Bogura factory. According to Rohan, these workers are only paid $2 for ten hours of work, and some places pay even “less.” For such backbreaking work to produce these peppers, they deserve more.

145. Poodle in Rapeseed

Possible Drone Used: Potensic T25 GPS Drone
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $200-$250*
Another interesting image to come out of the 2021 Drone Photo Awards is this one, titled “A Poodle in Rapeseed.” Amid a field of yellowish rapeseed, there is the outline of what appears to be a poodle made from green trees and matching grass.

Poodle in Rapeseed ©cdn1 /Pinterest
More than likely, this poodle came about as a happy coincidence, rather than a planned pup outline. Rapeseed is a bright-yellow flower that is cultivated for its seeds, which are oil-rich and have a lot of erucic acid. Mostly, rapeseed is produced for industrial purposes, including providing oil for hydraulic fluids, plastics, lubricants, and similar items.

146. Drone Panorama of Cao Bang

Possible Drone Used: Traxxas Aton Quadcopter Drone
Where to Buy: Traxxas.com
Cost: $399*
Photographer Pham Huy Trung took this stunning picture of Cao Bang, Vietnam. If you thought that this was an illustration when you first looked at it, you’re not alone, as the pastel colors and ethereal-like vibe of this photo make it look like a delicate painting.
Cao Bang is located in the northern part of Vietnam, and it is the largest settlement in the province. Cao Bang has a population of nearly 74,000, and it brings in many tourists a year who want to experience its natural sites. Much of the city is under UN protection as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

147. Waves

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic Pro 2
Where to Buy: DJI Drones
Cost: $1,449*
Australian photographer Phil de Glanville is famous for his blue-water, natural pictures that show off the best that Australia’s marine scene has to offer. This photo is titled “Waves,” and it was taken at the beginning of 2021. Though a simple photo, there is so much diversity of color in Australia’s waters.

Waves @gaspanik /Unsplash.com
Australia’s waves are unique in the world for their beauty and ferocity. Though this trio of breakers is pretty calm, some Aussie waves can get as high as forty to sixty feet. Surfers bold and skilled enough to take on these harsh waters flock from all over the world to get a piece of the action.

148. Bank Of Buriganga

Possible Drone Used: Autel Evo II Pro
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $2,699*
This colorful photo was taken by MD Tanveer Hassan Rohan, a photographer who is excellent at capturing the natural beauty of Bangladesh. He took this picture by drone from the banks of the Buriganga in 2020. These boats, which are abandoned in the photo, are used by people crossing the Buriganga with goods.

Bank Of Buriganga @mathrubhumi.com /Pinterest
Titled “Bank of Buriganga,” this photo is a reminder of how much the world changed just a few years ago. The Buriganga River, which flows outside Dhaka, the capital city, is usually bustling with life and activity. In this photo, all is still.

149. Sheep in Congress

Possible Drone Used: Ruko B7 4K
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $150*
Though sheep might not seem like the most thrilling of photography topics, photographer Yoel Robert took a snapshot of a herd of sheep that turned these humble farm animals into something truly fascinating and beautiful. Yoel’s photo came from the northern part of Israel.
Sheep in Congress ©theguardian/Pinterest
Robert, who submitted this photo to the Drone Photography Awards in 2021 and won a prize for it, took this image as part of his documentation of a herd of 1,500 sheep. Throughout the summer and winter, the herd became 1,900, and Robert followed these gentle animals as they searched for fresh grass, had their wool cut, and gave birth.

150. Floating People

Possible Drone Used: SwellPro Splash 3
Where to Buy: Swellpro.com
Cost: $1,199*
If you’re someone with a bit of claustrophobia or fear of water, you might want to look away from this image. We all know when a waterpark’s Lazy River is crowded, as bumping into people becomes a constant. Seeing this crowding from an aerial view is truly fascinating.

Floating People @theguardian/Pinterest
This award-winning photograph was taken by Raf Willems. Titled “Floating People,” it was a “Commended” selection in the “People” category of the 2021 Drone Awards. In this image, people in inner tubes are attending a concert, which is taking place on a floating stage. Drone photography really does give you a whole new view of things.