Bird Island ©AM Photo Co / Shutterstock
Drones have been around for a long time, but it’s only in recent years that commercial ones have hit the market and increased in popularity. Photographers are putting down their traditional cameras and taking to the skies to take some truly awe-inspiring shots.
Aerial photography has helped change the world. What was once only a provenance of government is now something that civilians can use everyday. The first photography drone was invented in 1882, when an inventor pioneered a kite that had a timed explosive charge attached to it that triggered a camera. Now, drones are a million times more high-tech.
Using a drone is a wonderful way to explore things from a different angle regardless of if you’re a pro or an amateur – but it’s not exactly a cheap hobby. Drones can sell on sites like Amazon for thousands of dollars. Technology in this field is still advancing, so pictures like this are just the beginning.

1. Gray Whale Plays Pushing Tourists

Possible Drone Used: SwellPro Splash Drone 3
Where to Buy: SwellPro.com
Cost: $1,399*
This awesome award-winning drone photo will tug at the heartstrings of animal lovers everywhere. In this photo, we see a group of passengers on a small travel boat. A gray whale is playfully bumping up against them, giving them one memorable photo op.

Gray Whale Plays Pushing Tourists @NatGeoPhotos / Twitter.com
According to Animal Planet, it’s likely that these tourists simply bumped into the whale on one of its migrations. The Gray Whale is a “great migrator,” with some of these gentle giants swimming around 12,430 miles (round-trip) a year. In the summer, they spend their time in the polar waters. In winter, they head down for a vacation to tropical waters.
This photo would be perfect, again, for a drone like the SwellPro Splash Drone 3, which is waterproof. The Drone’s maker, SwellPro, knows that it is popular among the fishing crowd, so it actually sells it with a “Fishing Bundle” for extra.” The Splash Drone 3 would be able to withstand a splash if the gray whale decided to smack his tail on the water.

2. The Fishing Net

Possible Drone Used: Potensic T25 GPS Drone
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $200-$250*
This beautiful photo from Trung Pham Huy is titled The Fishing Net. The Fishing Net was taken during Vietnam’s anchovy fishing season, and the artistry of the photo makes it look like a “floating flower on the sea” from the aerial view. Huy’s drone of choice is unknown, but the aquatic nature of the photo means that a drone like Potensic T25 GPS Drone could come in handy.

The Fishing Net @my favorities / Pinterest
Anchovy fishing in Vietnam is big business. Photos of the industry have made it to publications like the Vietnam Times, Daily Mail, and more, though, for these hardworking fishermen, this is just another day at work.
You can buy the Potensic T25 on Amazon. This drone, which has a 4.1/5-star rating on the site, has a 1080P HD live video camera. Its wide-angle camera is adjustable. One of the coolest features of the T25 is its “Return to Home” feature, which means that it will return to its starting point if the signal is lost.

3. Red Train

Possible Drone Used: PowerVision PowerEye
Where to Buy: Drones Direct
Cost: $4,000*
Contrasting colors make for the best photos, especially when it’s an unplanned scene. This red train snaking its way through pure white snow-topped trees couldn’t be anymore visually satisfying. To get a shot like this, you’d likely need one of the higher quality drones on the market.

Red Train ©marlys grisson / Shutterstock
In this case, the PowerVision PowerEye could do the job. With a max range of 5km and a speed of 40 miles per hour, this model could quickly get into position while you’re looking for the best angle possible. It also has interchangeable cameras, which isn’t to be sniffed at. And to think just a couple of decades ago we were making the most of Kodak disposables.
PowerVision PowerEye calls its drone a “revolution in productivity.” It is certainly convenient to carry, as its body is foldable and light, thanks to its collapsible design. The drone has a 3.1/5-star rating on Amazon, which is surprising, considering the beautiful photos that we see it is capable of taking.

4. Lightning Over Kuala Lumpur

Possible Drone Used: Swellpro Splashdrone 3+
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $2920*
Flying a drone in awful weather can be a complete disaster. After all, these are expensive pieces of technology that shouldn’t be messed with. Of course, there are companies that have thought of everything, including the makers of the Swellpro Splashdrone 3+.

Lightning Over Kuala Lumpur @petedemarco / Instagram.com
At almost $3,000 on Amazon these flying titans aren’t cheap, but you can’t put a price on incredibly timed shots like this. The lightning striking the busy city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is both stunning and eerie to look at. It was a case of right place, right time – right drone.
If you’re having sticker shock, you shouldn’t, as the features on this drone make it well-deserving of its high price. The SplashDrone 3+ has multiple layers of weather protection, which help keep it safe and return home. If you lose the controller signal (like in a lightning storm), the 3+ will simply return back to its starting point.

5. Face in a Grain Field

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic Air 2
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $1,000*
This shot of a grain field makes it look like there’s a face in it, looking up and smiling like a gentle bearded old man. However, while the photo is undeniably wonderful to look at, it wouldn’t take quite as advanced of a drone as some of the others we’ve seen.

Face in a Grain Field @photographersWorld / dronstagram.com
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is largely hailed as a great all-rounder for anyone looking to get into the drone game. It’s mid-range price is palatable and you could still get insane aerial shots like this with a bit of practice. We love a Sony camera, but can they do this?
The Air 2 has high-ending imaging features, as well as powerful flight performance. Thanks to its half-inch sensor, it’s able to capture amazing trick shots like this one. The Air 2 has 2,320 reviews on Google, and it has an amazing 5 out of 5 stars, indicating that people love this drone.

6. Leme Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Possible Drone Used: Autel Robotics Evo
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $1,330*
It’s hard to tell what this picture even is. It looks like some kind of retro art print pulled out of a ‘60s office on Wall Street, but it’s actually much cleverer than that. This picture is of Leme Beach, a cute little spot close to Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro.

Leme Beach, Rio de Janiero @americovermelho / Instagram.com
To get a shot like this you need a drone with great stability, much like the Autel Robotics Evo. This photo relies on the different patterns and lines to work, so no drone unable to steady itself would do. It’s go big or go home with this one.
Autel Drones might have parts made in China, but the majority of the work and company management is done right here in America. The robotics company has its offices in Bothell, Washington. Its drones, especially the Evo line, are some of the best lithium-polymer-powered cameras on the market. They’ll go wherever you go.

7. Projects in Brooklyn, New York

Possible Drone Used: DJI Phantom 3 Pro
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $999*
The DJI Phantom 3 Professional was at the top of its game when it hit the market a few years ago. While drone tech has developed a little since then, it’s still a high quality machine capable of taking shots like this. This picture is of the projects in Brooklyn, New York.

Projects in Brooklyn, New York @sanllacer / dronstagram.com
If you’re not a native New Yorker then you’ve still heard of the projects, but few ever really get to see what the area looks like from up top. This clear as day view gives viewers an insight into the strange shaped buildings – and just how populated the public housing really is.
In the Marcy Houses alone, there are 4,286 residents. Brownsville houses 25,000 people. Fun (if not amazing) fact: rapper Jay Z grew up in the Marcy Projects. After he became a rap billionaire, he turned around and bought a 1.5% ownership stake in the same projects he grew up in.

8. Flock of Flamingos

Possible Drone Used: Ryze Tech Tello Quadcopter
Where to Buy: Best Buy
Cost: $89.99*
For anyone who looks at too many memes, this done photo is incontrovertible proof that birds are in fact real. While it’s undisclosed exactly which model the photographer used to snap this awe-inspiring image, one thing is certain, that there are few sights quite as striking as a flock of flamingos.

Flock of Flamingos ©bahadirsansarci/Shutterstock
If you too are an aspiring birdwatcher looking to capture some incredible photographs, you’re in luck. A simple drone model that won’t break the bank, but will still take some mind boggling photos, is for sale online at Best Buy for under $100.
If you’re a beginner, the Ryze Tech Tello Quadcopter is a pretty good drone to start with because it is easy to fly. It is a mini drone with an HD camera, two antennas, and long flight times. Ryze Technologies says that even a “beginner” can control the drone “effortlessly.”

9. Birds Nest

Possible Drone Used: DJI Spark
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $499*
Is it a giant animal head caught in a fence? Nope, it’s a gargantuan bird’s nest nestled in electric wire. This photo is so mind-bending that it’s strange to look at, but apparently bird’s nests that large really do exist. While some see them from below, drones like the DJI Spark allow us to see it from a whole new level.

Birds Nest @Rachael Ishaya / Pinterest
The DJI Spark is a fairly basic model compared to some of the other drones we’ve seen, but it shouldn’t be underestimated. It could take shots like this without too much fumbling, although its battery life isn’t quite as high as some newer versions.
The DJI Spark is also called the “Selfie Drone” by the company, but, as you can see, you can use it to take a range of photos, not just pictures of yourself. The Spark is currently not going to get a new iteration, though refurbished drones are still listed on the DJI website.

10. Diamond Mine (Russia)

Possible Drone Used: Hotbest Mavic Pro Clone
Where to Buy: Walmart
Cost: $43.99*
Another reason drones are great for photography is that they can help us reach heights we could never achieve without airplanes or helicopters, but are much more fuel efficient and affordable. This image of a giant hole left from a diamond mine in Russia is the perfect example of a picture that no average human could conceive of taking without drone photography.

Diamond Mine (Russia) @Antje Ream / Pinterest
Another drone that won’t break the bank, but will still wow your friends and family with incredible pictures is the Hotbest Mavic Pro Clone. While it likely wasn’t the same drone that took this incredible image of an abandoned diamond mine in Mir, Russia, it has all the capabilities to take such images. You can find it online at Walmart or other similar retailers.
There’s very little chance that you could have taken the Mir Mine photo without the help of a drone, as it isn’t very safe. The Mirny Mine, as it’s known, is an open pit mine in Siberia. It is more than 1,722 feet deep and over 3,900 feet wide at the opening, making it something you definitely don’t want to risk falling down.

11. Big Bunny

Possible Drone Used: Yuneec Q500
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $600*
Let’s face it, this isn’t going to be winning any prizes for best picture quality, but that doesn’t make the image any less impactful. The giant pink bunny sprawled out over a field may be the work of computer trickery, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t start out as a drone snap.

Pink Bunny @Sue Bamford / Pinterest
This hilarious photo could have come from the Yuneec Typhoon 4K, a quadcopter equipped with a 4K camera. The all-in-one system has an Android touchscreen controller, which means it can be set up quickly. The Quadcopter can capture video too—1080p/120fps—though let’s hope it never gets video of this bunny trying to stand up.
A Yuneec Q500 could get a job like this done – and why wouldn’t you want a snap of a giant bunny in wasteland? Art comes in many forms and this isn’t the weirdest we’ve seen by a long shot. Although, it is possibly one of the funniest.

12. Shark Next to Man

Possible Drone Used: Parrot BeBop
Where to Buy: eBay
Cost: $500*
Not every drone has to cost over a thousand dollars to take an interesting photo. One like the Parrot BeBop is under $500 but can still capture shocking snaps like this. Little did that man know when he was taking a casual swim that he was within just a few feet of a huge shark.

Shark next to man @CBSDFW / Youtube.com
It’s worrying to know that drones see much more than we can see, even though they’re much further away than we are. Just one wrong move and that swimmer could’ve been shark bait. Luckily (at least we hope) the man escaped unharmed.
It’s likely that he was fine. As the NOAA says, sharks have a scary reputation, but they really don’t attack people. Humans are too much work—they’d rather chow down on marine mammals and fish. There are over 300 species of sharks, but only a dozen are known to attack, and even those only attack when confused or curious.

13. Fishing Boat in Vietnam

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic Mini
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $450*
The DJI Mavic Mini might be a tiny drone, but it packs a big punch. This gorgeous photo has heavily enhanced to show the full beauty of a Vietnamese fishing boat casting its net, but it’s not entirely unreasonable to think a $450-dollar Mini could snap something like this.

Fishing Boat in Vietnam @phtrung0611 / Instagram.com
Billed as the “tiny drone you want in your Christmas stocking” according to DP Review, the drone has all the quality of larger DJI models. Pictures like this one encapsulate the beauty of simple things that happen every day. To us, it’s a work of art – but to the fisherman, it was just another day at work.
And this photo, though beautiful, could be one of millions. Around four million people are employed in Vietnam’s fishery sector. Aquaculture employs 2.6 million, which 1 million fish for shrimp and the other 1.8 are marine fishers. It’s one of Vietnam’s most profitable industries, though, like we said, likely just another day at work for this man.

14. Blue Lagoon

Possible Drone Used: Hubsan X4 H502S
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $400*
There are many high altitude drones on the market, including the Hubsan X4 H502S. This little piece of tech may not be the best at what it does, but with the right operator it could take photos just like this tranquil shot of a Blue Lagoon.

Blue Lagoon @balazsbusznyak / Unsplash.com
We don’t know where this shot was taken, but the cool ice blue compared to the road and the green forest makes for a wonderful visual. It just goes to show that we walk past things of pure beauty every day – we just don’t always realize it.
On Amazon, the Hubsan X4 H502S has a 3.6/5-star rating. The drone is GPS and a 720p HD camera. The drone has a little bit higher rating on Google, scoring a 4.5/5, but on BHPhotoVideo.com, it has a 2.5/5. The reviews are mixed, with some people finding it inefficient and others saying it’s the best.

15. Camel’s Shadow

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic Air
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $800*
Before the DJI Mavic Air 2 came the DJI Mavic Air. The tech may have been upgraded since then, but this drone still got the job done. With brilliant resolution, the Air could have been the one to capture this still of a camel in the desert.

Camel’s Shadow @abstractaerialart / Instagram.com
If the shadow wasn’t there, you probably wouldn’t even realize there was a camel there in the first place. It’s a simple scene that works incredibly well. You can almost feel the heat radiating out from the photo – and that’s no small feat.
As aforementioned, the DJI Mavic Air would be a good drone to take this photo, even in the scorching hot desert where this camel lives. The Air has a maximum flight distance (no wind) of 6.21 miles. The maximum wind speed resistance it can tolerate is 18-23MPH, which is pushing it, as desert winds reach 28MPH on average.