These 15 winning photos from the Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards reveal Earth's hidden patterns
International Aerial Photographer of the Year winners With affordable drones making aerial photography accessible to virtually anyone, the number of photographers shooting from above has skyrocketed. This boom didn't go unnoticed by Peter Eastway and David Evans, organizers of the International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards. Inspired by this growth in aerial photography, they established a dedicated competition: The International Aerial Photography of the Year Awards. The 2025 competition drew over 1500 entries from around the globe, with American photographer Joanna Steidle winning top honors for her captivating images of marine life near her Southampton, New York, home. We're excited to share some of the winning images from this year's competition. The complete collection of 101 winning images is available as an e-book on the competition's website. Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place The judges selected photographer Joanna Steidle of the United States as the overall winner of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards. Steidle, based in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York, submitted a portfolio of images featuring marine life photographed just 7-13km (4-6 miles) from her own home. "Growing up, I never saw whales or dolphins from the shore," explains Steidle. "But due to conservation efforts, our coastline has rebounded with a plethora of sea creatures in the past few years." Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States Title: Another World Description: A fever of cownose rays approaching a school of menhaden bait fish, taken just a few hundred feet from the coast of Southampton, NY. USA. Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States Title: Concerto Description: A small fever of cownose rays stirring up sand along their travels. Taken in Southampton, NY, USA, just a few hundred feet from the coast. Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States Title: The Gateway Description: A spinner shark hunting in a school of menhaden bait fish in the Atlantic Ocean, Southampton, NY, USA. Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States Title: Diving Description: A humpback whale diving back under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean after taking a breath of air. This was taken within 500ft of the coast in Southampton, NY, USA. Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photographer of the Year: 2nd place Photographer: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain Title: Smoking Skull Description: Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano as it cooled. The cracking pattern of the lava formed a skull, creating an eerie natural illusion for a few moments. Copyright Daniel Viñé Garcia / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photographer of the Year: 2nd place Photographer: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain Title: The Nipple of the Earth Description: A dormant volcano in the high-altitude Puna of Argentina reveals intricate erosion patterns sculpted by wind and time. Copyright Daniel Viñé Garcia / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photographer of the Year: 3rd place Photographer: David Swindler, United States Title: Flamingos and Pelicans Description: Dark skies provide a dramatic background as sunlight highlights a desert butte. Copyright David Swindler / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photographer of the Year: 3rd place Photographer: David Swindler, United States Title: Flamingos Over a Lake Description: Seven flamingos fly over the dark waters and patterns of a lake. Copyright David Swindler / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Aerial Photograph of the Year: 1st place Photographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia Title: Cono de Arita Description: Anti-crepuscular rays at Cono de Arita, La Puna, Argentina. Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year Aerial Photograph of the Year: 2nd place Photographer: Talor Stone, United States Title: Tree of Ice Description: An aerial perspective of glacial calving reveals an unexpected organic pattern in the water. Northeast Greenland National Park. Copyright Talor Stone / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year Aerial Photograph of the Year: 3rd place Photographer: Thomsa Vijayan, Canada Title: Austfonna Ice Cap Description: The Bråsvellbreen glacier, part of the Austfonna Ice Cap in Svalbard. Early melting and powerful waterfalls reveal the urgent reality of climate change – reminding us what’s at stake if we fai
International Aerial Photographer of the Year winners
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With affordable drones making aerial photography accessible to virtually anyone, the number of photographers shooting from above has skyrocketed.
This boom didn't go unnoticed by Peter Eastway and David Evans, organizers of the International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards. Inspired by this growth in aerial photography, they established a dedicated competition: The International Aerial Photography of the Year Awards.
The 2025 competition drew over 1500 entries from around the globe, with American photographer Joanna Steidle winning top honors for her captivating images of marine life near her Southampton, New York, home.
We're excited to share some of the winning images from this year's competition. The complete collection of 101 winning images is available as an e-book on the competition's website.
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place
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The judges selected photographer Joanna Steidle of the United States as the overall winner of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards. Steidle, based in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York, submitted a portfolio of images featuring marine life photographed just 7-13km (4-6 miles) from her own home.
"Growing up, I never saw whales or dolphins from the shore," explains Steidle. "But due to conservation efforts, our coastline has rebounded with a plethora of sea creatures in the past few years."
Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States
Title: Another World
Description: A fever of cownose rays approaching a school of menhaden bait fish, taken just a few hundred feet from the coast of Southampton, NY. USA.
Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place
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Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States
Title: Concerto
Description: A small fever of cownose rays stirring up sand along their travels. Taken in Southampton, NY, USA, just a few hundred feet from the coast.
Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place
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Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States
Title: The Gateway
Description: A spinner shark hunting in a school of menhaden bait fish in the Atlantic Ocean, Southampton, NY, USA.
Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 1st place
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Photographer: Joanna Steidle, United States
Title: Diving
Description: A humpback whale diving back under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean after taking a breath of air. This was taken within 500ft of the coast in Southampton, NY, USA.
Copyright Joanna Steidle / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 2nd place
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Photographer: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain
Title: Smoking Skull
Description: Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano as it cooled. The cracking pattern of the lava formed a skull, creating an eerie natural illusion for a few moments.
Copyright Daniel Viñé Garcia / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 2nd place
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Photographer: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain
Title: The Nipple of the Earth
Description: A dormant volcano in the high-altitude Puna of Argentina reveals intricate erosion patterns sculpted by wind and time.
Copyright Daniel Viñé Garcia / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 3rd place
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Photographer: David Swindler, United States
Title: Flamingos and Pelicans
Description: Dark skies provide a dramatic background as sunlight highlights a desert butte.
Copyright David Swindler / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photographer of the Year: 3rd place
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Photographer: David Swindler, United States
Title: Flamingos Over a Lake
Description: Seven flamingos fly over the dark waters and patterns of a lake.
Copyright David Swindler / The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photograph of the Year: 1st place
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Photographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia
Title: Cono de Arita
Description: Anti-crepuscular rays at Cono de Arita, La Puna, Argentina.
Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photograph of the Year: 2nd place
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Photographer: Talor Stone, United States
Title: Tree of Ice
Description: An aerial perspective of glacial calving reveals an unexpected organic pattern in the water. Northeast Greenland National Park.
Copyright Talor Stone / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Aerial Photograph of the Year: 3rd place
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Photographer: Thomsa Vijayan, Canada
Title: Austfonna Ice Cap
Description: The Bråsvellbreen glacier, part of the Austfonna Ice Cap in Svalbard. Early melting and powerful waterfalls reveal the urgent reality of climate change – reminding us what’s at stake if we fail to act.
Copyright Thomas Vijayan / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Black and White Award
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Photographer: Barbara Brown, Australia
Title: The Tempest
Description: Salt lake, Goldfields region of Western Australia
Copyright Barbara Brown / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Drone Award
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Photographer: Pål Hermansen, Norway
Title: Relax after the Meal
Description: Polar bear on Svalbard after eating on a walrus carcass. Thanks to the drone with a telephoto lens, this rare scene could be captured without any disturbance. Svalbard, Norway.
Copyright Pål Hermansen / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Abstract Award
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Photographer: Colin Leonhardt, Australia
Title: Twisted Owl
Description: Alumina mine tailings dam near Collie, Western Australia.
Copyright Colin Leonhardt / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Chairman's Award
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Photographer: Fabien Guittard, France
Title: Above the Ice
Description: Two seals lounging peacefully on a drifting slab of ice in the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, southern Iceland.
Copyright Colin Leonhardt / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
