Dizzying: the best photos from the Drone Awards 2019

The judges of the prestigious international Drone Awards 2019 contest reviewed more than 4,500 images sent by professional and amateur photographers from 107 countries to announce the best aerial photographs of the year. Not only drone footage was allowed to participate, but also from airplanes, helicopters, balloons, airships, kites and parachutes.

The winner of the main prize of the Drone Awards 2019 was Polish photographer Jacek Deneka with a picture of skiers at the classic 50-kilometer race "Piast Run" in Yakushitsa. Among the best works of the year were named a picture of Antarctic seals on an ice floe, an ancient settlement in Algeria, a Large prismatic spring and other wonderful aerial photos.

The main winner was determined in the competition, who gets the title "Aerial Photographer of the Year 2019" and the wonderful crystal sphere "Pangea Prize". The winners and finalists in the categories were also named: "Abstraction", "Nature", "People", "Sports", "Wildlife" and "City". The award ceremony will take place in the Italian city of Siena in October at the exhibition "The Sky is the Limit" at the Teatro dei Rozzi during the photography festival.

The competition was organized by the non-profit association Art Photo Travel. It creates cultural initiatives aimed at the dissemination and development of photography, art and culture. Since 2015, Art Photo Travel has established the Siena International Photo Awards, which annually attracts the best photo works in different categories from around the world.

Winners and finalists of Drone Awards 2019:

"Aerial Photography of the Year". "A shoal of colorful fish". The author of the photo: Jacek Deneka.

A photographer from Poland captured skiers in a 50 km classic style race as part of the Bieg Piastów ("Piast Run") ski marathon in Jakuszyce, Poland.

The winner in the category "City". "Beni Isguen". The author of the photo: George Steinmetz.

The frame captures Beni Isguen, the most beautifully preserved of the ancient mountain settlements in Gardai, Algeria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Residents diligently take care of their old houses, the roofs of which are often fenced and serve for washing and sleeping outdoors on hot nights of the Sahara.

Second place in the "City" category. "In the age of aviation." Photo author: Yassen Todorov.

Finalist in the category "City". "Soldier Field in a blizzard." The author of the photo: Jamie Link.

A picture of the Soldier Field football stadium in Chicago during a snowstorm in November 2018.

Finalist in the category "City". "Waltz of the overpass". The author of the photo: Ming Lee.

Only from the air can you show the absolute symmetry of the overpass, which is perfectly combined with the surrounding flower beds. Foshan, Guangdong Province, China.

Winner in the category "Abstraction". "The Infinite Eight". The author of the photo: Marc Le Cornu. The photo was taken on the Channel Island of Jersey (USA).

Finalist in the category "Abstraction". "Cooling tower" ("Cooling tower") Photo by Reginald Van de Velde.

An abandoned cooling tower in Belgium, an inside view. Cooling towers are used to remove excess heat from power plants.

Finalist in the category "Abstraction". "Irrigation". Photo author: Gomei Yang.

Flower garden and park complex with intricate patterns, located in Jiangsu Province, China.

Winner in the category "Nature". "Love Island". The author of the photo: Jeremias Gedek. Among the fields of flowering rapeseed in a picturesque Polish environment.

Second place in the category "Nature". "The Mirror of the Earth". Photo author: Shihu Liu.

Aerial view of the Great Prismatic Spring, the largest geothermal source in the United States and the third largest in the world. Located in Yellowstone National Park.

Finalist in the category "Nature". "Lonely Boat". Photo author: Shihu Liu.

Aerial photo of a boat cruising among lotus flowers in Gulao Village, Guangdong Province, China.

The winner in the category "Sport". "After the snowstorm." Photo author: Joson.

Second place in the category "Sport". "Ascent". The author of the photo: Sebi Scollo.

Finalist in the category "Sport". Football in the forest. The author of the photo: Yura Borshchev.

Winner in the category "Wildlife". "Crab-eating seals on ice". The author of the photo: Florian Ledoux.

Filmed in Antarctica in the spring, when there are not so many large icebergs. Crab-eating seals rest on an ice floe in between foraging.

Second place in the category "Wildlife". "Alone." The author of the photo: Diana Buzoyanu.

Finalist in the category "Wildlife". "Nomads". The author of the photo: Bashir Mukarzel.

Finalist in the category "Wildlife". Feeding humpback whales, Antarctica. The author of the photo: Florian Ledoux.

Finalist in the category "Wildlife". "Flamingo". The author of the photo: Talal Al Rabah. Several dozen birds captured at dawn in Kuwait.

The winner in the category "People". "Flowers on the water". The author of the photo: Khan Fan.

Women in Vietnam wash water lilies, which will be collected in a bundle and taken to the market.

Second place in the category "People". Durvey Beach. The author of the photo: Benoit Stichelbaut.

Finalist in the category "People". "Govinda's participants". The author of the photo: Mani Sharma.

People at the Dahi Khandi Festival build a human tower to get a clay pot.

Finalist in the category "People". "2 people, 2 dogs and 4 shadows." The author of the photo: Evgeny Samuchenko.

Finalist in the category "People". "A Moment of peace", Norway. The author of the photo: Atle Sveen.

Finalist in the category "People". "Making incense". The author of the photo: Nong Thanh Toan.