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.

16. Fish-Shaped Island

Possible Drone Used: Parrot ANAFI
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $700*
The Parrot ANAFI might not be as widely used by photographers as DJI models, but it can still take quality pictures. This small drone is tiny but mighty. Throw it up into the air and you just might get a wonderful aerial shot like this.

Fish-Shaped Island @water.shapes.earth / Instagram.com
The photo is of a fish-shaped island in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia. The island’s name is Gaz. Gaz is a tiny island, and it is one of very few islands in the world with this shape. Gaz is part of Brijuni, a national park just off the West Istrian Coast. It makes up one of twelve tiny inlets (and two large islands) in the park.
It’s amusing and great to look at for a number of reasons. We’re used to seeing fish swimming in the ocean, but not fish-shaped islands. It offers up a perspective that we just aren’t used to seeing.

17. Abandoned Water Park, Dubai

Possible Drone Used: Autel Robotics EVO
Where to Buy: Autel Drones
Cost: $$1,049*
Autel has produced some great drones, including it’s slightly older EVO version. With four to five star reviews across the board, it’s not hard to see why customers keep going back for it time and time again. Who knows, this picture of an abandoned water park could be the work of an Autel.

Abandoned Water Park, Dubai @dxbdrone / Instagram.com
Abandoned structures have been sources of interest for many for years as they provide a snapshot to a different time. For urban explorers, getting some drone shots allows them to take things to the next level, without posing much of a risk.
However, if you’re an Urbex adventurer, you might want to steer clear of this waterpark, as it will be getting a revival soon. The waterpark will be revived for $490 million, getting apartments, shops, a cultural center, restaurants, and more. Soon, the waterpark’s drone photos will be full of life and people.

18. Parking Lot

Possible Drone Used: DJI Phantom 3 Standard
Where to Buy: DJI Drones
Cost: $700*
The DJI Phantom 3 is great to look at. It may be a little on the older side, but back when it was first released it had everything drone lovers were looking for, from stability to great shots. This shot captures another side to a car park that we never get to see.

@abstractaerialart/Instagram
With smooth lines – and some arguably horrendous parking – it just goes to show how tiny and insignificant us humans look from the sky. When we’re trying to park finding a space can be a nightmare, but do we ever realize just how many cars surround us? We might now!
DJI says that its Phantom 3 is a “drone for beginners.” It is easy to fly, and it is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. The Phantom 3 has a fully-integrated remote, live HD view, increased flight range, and is compatible with the DJI GO App. On Google, the 3 has a 4.5/5-star review.

19. Rural Ice Hockey

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic 2
Where to Buy: DJI Drones
Cost: $1,599*
What’s Russia without ice hockey? Photographer Maksim Tarasov captured this photo of a rural ice hockey rink in Russia, made by the players themselves. Though there’s no word on what drone was used to capture this photo, the DJI Mavic 2 would be perfect for such a long-distance photo.

Rural Ice Hockey @t_a.r_o / Instagram.com
The Mavic 2 is portable, and it has a nearly five-mile range. The drone isn’t for people on a budget, though the Hubsan H501S and Phantom 3 4K are two choices for people trying to save a little cash. If you’re looking to travel to these icy regions of Russia, dress warm as temperatures can easily sink to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

20. Weather Snake

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic Air 2
Where to Buy: DJI Drones
Cost: $799*
Drone photographer Ovi D Pop won the “Abstract” Category of the Drone Awards with “Weather Snake,” a photo so neatly divided that it almost looks like an optical illusion. Ovi D Pop took an aerial photo of a road in the middle of a Romanian forest near Derna in Bihor County. The dichotomy in the photo was stunning.

Weather Snake @WIRED / Twitter.com
The commune of Derna is so close to the northeastern Romanian border that it is called Felsoderna in Hungarian. It borders Chislaz, Bursturi, Spinus, and Popesti. Romania itself can have some wild weather, with temperatures sinking to -37.3 degrees Fahrenheit one year. Less than a decade later, temperatures hit 112 degrees Fahrenheit.
The drone used is unclear, but the aerial shot might have been accomplished with a drone such as the DJI Mavic Air 2, which lets you “Master the Skies,” according to the maker. It has a 5/5-star rating on Google. Though not cheap, the artistry it lets photographers accomplish makes it worth it.

21. Hippos in Tanzania

Possible Drone Used: Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Hexacopter
Where to Buy: Drones Direct
Cost: $1,862*
Getting close enough to photograph wildlife is hard for even the most experienced photographer, so when drones finally hit the market it opened up a ton of new doors. Suddenly, we could get views of incredible animals that we never had before.

Hippos in Tanzania ©zekegraphics/stock.adobe.com
This jaw dropping snap of hippos bathing in Tanzania shows us so much about the animal kingdom. On top of that, the green, grey, and orange makes for a stunning visual that just can’t be matched. A drone similar to a Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Hexacopter is perfect for animal photography.
The drone is for sophisticated photographers, and it comes with its own travel bag. With its one-inch 4K camera, it can capture photographs like the Tanzanian hippos. The Typhoon H Plus has triple-axis sensor-driven image stabilization, so, even when it’s flying in the bright sunlight and scorching heat of climates like Tanzania, it can still take the shot.

22. Dutch Tulip Field

Possible Drone Used: DJI Mavic Pro 2
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $1,468*
The Dutch tulip fields get hordes and hordes of visitors every year. Some people just want to show up and snap a photo or two on their phones, while other photographers take the trip a little more seriously. With a DJI Mavic Pro 2, you could be taking inspiring snaps just like this one.

Dutch Tulip Fields ©/
Go high enough and the tulips can look like blurred lines. That’s more than what any Apple iPhone can do. This just goes to show there’s a million ways that drones can turn already beautiful scenes into completely different works of art.
There are few better drones to capture the beauty of the tulip fields in Holland, which is one of the region’s most-beloved tourist attractions. Most of the farms in Holland can be found in the Noordoostpolder in Flevoland. Tulip-growing started out as the preferred hobby of the wealthy, but the middle class took it up as a symbol of prosperity.

23. Lofoten, Norway

Possible Drone Used: DJI Phantom Pro V2.0
Where to Buy: Amazon
Cost: $2,500*
It may seem easy to throw a drone up in the air, press a few buttons and hope that what comes out is something worthwhile, but over the years these machines have become important pieces of tech. Serious photographers may turn to the DJI Phantom Pro V2.0 to take stunning aerial shots like this.

@Taneli Lahtinen/Unsplash
This drone costs a pretty penny and is at the higher end of the market, but the quality of photos can be vastly superior to other cheaper models. This snap was taken in Lofoten, in Norway. The island’s outline is clear while the soccer pitch at its center stands out like an emerald heart. You won’t find a piece of tech like this at Costco.
The V2.0 is an improvement on the prior Phantom 4 Pro. It has an OcuSync transmission system, lower-noise propellers, and improved ESCs. The V2.0 was relaunched in the beginning of 2020, and, though it uses the same cameras as its predecessor, it has many improvements over the Phantom 4. DigitalTrends rated it a 10/10.

24. Fall Leaves

Possible Drone Used: DJI Inspire 2
Where to Buy: Wex Photo Video
Cost: $4,000*
Fall leaves have always been an inspiration for artists across the globe, regardless of their medium. The stunning visuals that changing colors provide aren’t to be missed. Nature in all its glory nearly always has the best views – this picture is no different.

Fall Leaves @dronestagram / Instagram.com
If detailed optics like this are your thing, then look no further than the DJI Inspire 2. With high ratings it’s understandable that it has a high price to match, but when you consider the ability of the flying fantastic, it’s worth every dime. Just make sure you purchase the real thing and not an eBay knock off.
And trust us, drone knockoffs are surprisingly common on eBay. For example, an unbranded/generic DJI Mavic Pro Camera drone costs just $49.99. Though that price might seem appealing, you pay for what you get. Many YouTube reviews have looked into comparisons of the generic and real drones and found the latter to be far better.