The 2017 SkyPixel Photo Contest has recognised the most incredible photos taken by drones last year.
SkyPixel, an aerial photo and video sharing platform, sifted through over 44,000 submissions from 141 countries in order to select the winners.
A panel made up of professional photographers, filmmakers, and creative directors from the likes of TIME and the International Center of Photography helped judge the entries from both professionals and amateur enthusiasts.
Winners were chosen in a number of categories, including a Grand Prize for the photo the year, as well as the best landscape, portrait, and story photos.
Surprisingly, few spots in the region had successfully brought the luck to the winners and it could be rare sights to few of us.
Thank you for capturing the beautiful sight of this region, winners!
GRAND PRIZE, Professional, Landscape
Above the Polar Bear. French photographer Florian Ledoux used his Phantom 4 Pro to capture a polar bear jumping across ice floes in Nunavut, Canada.
SECOND PRIZE, Professional, Landscape
Sun's Up, Nets Out. The image shows an Intha fisherman set up his net to fish as he paddles his boat with a unique leg-rowing technique in Myanmar’s Inle Lake.
THIRD PRIZE, Professional, Landscape
Comet Into Darkness. "An early morning in Newfoundland, I was hiking on the East Coast Trail when I heard a bunch of seagulls. I quickly launched my drone to find out what was causing the mayhem. It was a small cod fishing boat steaming towards the harbour, a truly magical moment," said user Drone Hikers.
THIRD PRIZE, Landscape, Professional
This depicts Santa Maddalena village in front of the Geisler or Odle Dolomites Group, Val di Funes, Trentino Alto Adige, in Italy.
FIRST PRIZE, Enthusiast, Landscape
Lobsters Farm. The image shows a baby lobster breeding farm in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen province, central Vietnam.
SECOND PRIZE, Enthusiast, Landscape
Geometry of Liquid. "In Castilla La Mancha there are numerous fields of olive trees perfectly placed on the ground," according to photographer Javier del Cerro.
THIRD PRIZE, Enthusiast, Landscape
Raising Ducks. "At downstream of BA River (Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province, Vietnam) the farmers are raising ducks in the big numbers," user caokynhan explained. "The white ducks make a nice spot for a peaceful river."
FIRST PRIZE, Professional, Portrait
Balmoral Ball. Photographer Petra Leary captured "Auckland's hidden courts" from above.
THIRD PRIZE, Professional, Portrait
The Rebirth. Photographer Andrea said the photo, taken in Italy, makes you "witness to the rebirth of humanity."
FIRST PRIZE, Enthusiast, Portrait
Dancer. This minimalistic aerial photo from user cocoa next took the first prize in this category.
SECOND PRIZE, Enthusiast, Portrait
Free Wheeling. An incredible in-action shot captured by user nigelkwan.
THIRD PRIZE, Enthusiast, Portrait
晒面忙. The image comes with no description, but it's certainly mesmerising.
Source :World Economic Forum
