The 2025 SkyPixel winners have been named. Sure, the world’s largest aerial images and videography group introduced the winners of its tenth Annual Picture & Video Contest, marking a decade of award-winning drone-based visible arts. And with it, we’ve the definitive record of the most effective drone pictures of 2025.
The 2025 SkyPixel contest attracted practically 140,000 entries from across the globe — a testomony to the medium’s rising relevance not solely in artistic communities, but in addition in broader cultural and technological conversations. The competitors, launched in 2014 by DJI, the Shenzhen-based drone producer, has turn out to be some of the distinguished platforms for showcasing the evolving potential of drone and handheld imagery.
“This contest not solely highlights the expertise of our international group, but in addition showcases the transformative energy of aerial and handheld imaging in storytelling,” stated Christina Zhang, DJI’s senior director of company technique.“
The successful picture for 2025 SkyPixel
The winner of this yr’s nonetheless images prize, Mysterious Realm by Gangerqia, is a top-down picture of a frozen pond — its form evocative of a human eye. A single line of chook tracks intersects the body, breaking the symmetry simply sufficient to attract the viewer in.
“It nearly tips you into considering you’re taking a look at a drawing,” stated Luke Stackpoole, a journey photographer and decide. “It’s easy and mysterious — and that’s precisely why it really works.”
Right here have been the entire prime 10 photograph winners:
Profitable video merges aerial cinematography with private narrative
This yr’s prime honor within the aerial video class went to The Battle – My Transformation Journey, directed by Bashir Abu Shakra. The movie is a meditation on solitude and scale, putting its topic — typically Abu Shakra himself — as a solitary determine in expansive, untouched landscapes. The visible motif echoes themes of introspection and private change, whereas demonstrating superior technical precision in its digital camera work.
“The opening shot is actually charming,” stated Claudio Miranda, an Academy Award-winning cinematographer and one of many contest judges. “The angles, the sunshine — all present [Abu Shakra’s] persistence and perseverance.”
Fellow decide Chenyu Jin described the movie as “a uncommon alignment of approach and imaginative and prescient,” noting the deliberate pacing and restraint proven in its building. Watch “The Battle” right here.
Cinematic handheld work showcases Japan
For the primary time ever, DJI gave a nod to its handheld “Osmo” line of cameras, including the first-ever “Handheld” class to its entry kind.
The winner of the hand-held video class, Japan Journey Cinematic by Henry Yue, takes a unique method: grounded, tightly composed and luxurious intimately. Shot with stabilized handheld cameras, Yue’s movie balances movement and stillness in a method that judges stated conveyed a way of each journey and transcendence.
“The sound design and use of motion on this movie have been second to none,” stated Sam Newton, a journey filmmaker and contest decide. Jin added that the piece “combines clear tones with skilled publicity management to create a refined and cohesive visible narrative.” Watch “Japan Journey Cinematic” right here.
A wider scope for the 2025 SkyPixel contest
Along with the highest awards, SkyPixel acknowledged ten extra video entries for excellence. Amongst them: We Had been Meant to Fly by Daniel Tremsky, a cinematic ode to the dream of human flight; Journey to the Pole, which captured distant Arctic terrain; and DREAMS OF PHILIPPINES, a poetic journey movie exploring the archipelago’s pure magnificence.
Different honorees embrace Pricey Good friend, which explored themes of connection and reminiscence via handheld videography, and My FPV Showreel 2024, a high-octane montage showcasing the rising affect of first-person drone racing footage in cinematic storytelling.
What’s subsequent for SkyPixel and aerial artwork?
Based a decade in the past, SkyPixel has matured from a distinct segment website for DJI fanatics right into a globally acknowledged hub for aerial creativity. The platform now serves tens of millions of customers, and its annual contest is without doubt one of the most generally watched occasions within the drone house.
As drone expertise turns into extra accessible, light-weight, and clever, the road between newbie {and professional} manufacturing has blurred — a actuality on full show on this yr’s various mixture of creators. That democratization, SkyPixel’s organizers say, is the very level.
“The evolution of imaging expertise has made it doable for extra individuals to inform their tales — from the sky or from the bottom,” Zhang stated. “That’s what this contest is all about.”
The complete gallery of successful entries spanning the most effective drone pictures of 2025 is now stay at www.skypixel.com/contests/2024, and can stay underneath public overview till April 7, 2025.
Associated learn: The most effective drone pictures of 2024 (in keeping with SkyPixel)
Associated
Uncover extra from The Drone Lady
Subscribe to get the newest posts despatched to your e mail.
