Every year, the Siena Awards drop a whole new level of magic into the photography world, but the Siena Drone Photo Awards 2025? Man, they hit different. This isn’t just another contest—it’s Siena’s way of proving that imagination still has wings. Born from a dream to turn the city into the global capital of photography, the Siena Awards crew keeps leveling up, mixing culture, creativity, and raw passion from creators across the planet. And this year’s drone winners delivered shots that feel like you’re looking at Earth from a whole new heartbeat.
The Drone Photo Awards lean hard into aerial storytelling—no limits, no rules, just pure sky-high vision. Whether it’s a fixed-wing plane, a buzzing UAV, a hot-air balloon drifting at sunrise, or even a kite catching a wild gust, the competition welcomes it all. That’s what makes these 25 winning images so special: each one brings a fresh angle, a new altitude, and a perspective that snaps you out of your everyday scroll.
You get deserts carved by wind like giant sculptures, cities glowing like electric galaxies, and coastlines curling like brushstrokes on the edge of the world. You’ll spot forests breathing through the morning fog, icy landscapes cracked like broken glass, and oceans that look straight-up unreal from above. These aren’t just photos—they’re moments where humanity and nature meet in mid-air.
What really defines the Siena Awards is their mission: creating a space where pros, newcomers, and dreamers can vibe together, pushing boundaries and igniting emotions. The 2025 winners remind us that photography still has the power to unite people, cross cult
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#1. Photo of the year: "The Lone Horseman" by Dennis Schmelz
"During the magic of blue hour, a lone rider stands atop a rocky outcropping in the heart of Cappadocia. Taken on the very first evening during Dennis’ winter trip, this photo showcases the beauty and mystery of Cappadocia in all its glory. Using his drone, Dennis managed to find a unique and breathtaking perspective that had never been captured before in this often-photographed landscape."
#2. Urban – 1st classified: "Swallowed" by Mohammad Ataei Mohammadi
"The Artemia pleasure boat stands marooned in the dried bed of Lake Urmia, Iran—trapped in a crater eerily shaped like a monster’s belly. Years of drought, mismanagement, and agricultural overuse have drained the lake, leaving behind symbols of its forgotten past."
#3. Urban – Runner-Up: "The seaweed road of Fujian" by Sarah Wouters
"Shajiang village, in Xiapu county, is famous for its ‘S-bend’ mudflats. The bamboo poles create a stunning visual pattern on the mudflats and are used for drying seaweed. Fishing boats navigating through these poles add dynamism to the scene."
#4. Urban – Highly commended: "Street-photography" by Barbara Eitel
"The fact that even a simple road with a cycle path can be aesthetically pleasing is particularly evident in winter, when the colors are reduced and the structures become clear thanks to the almost monochrome appearance."
#5. Wildlife – 1st classified: "Another World" by Joanna Steidle
"This is a top-down drone capture of a fever of cownose rays dividing a school of menhaden fish. Taken just off the coast of Southampton in August, the sky was clear and the sea was calm, allowing the sunlight to enhance the waters’ depth and the bursting sand clouds."
#6. Wildlife – Runner-Up: "Where Silence Casts a Shadow" by Mahdi Gholoum
"This is not merely an image of natural beauty; it is a visual statement. The eagle’s shadow does not simply fall on the ground—it marks it, confronts it. A silent environmental message emerges: no matter how high life flies, it remains tethered to the earth beneath."
#7. Wildlife – Highly commended: "Dive for the hunt" by Florian Ledoux
"A male polar bear just dived into a hole he had dug to access a seal lair where they give birth. The seal lairs are a better shelter for the pup, but the bears are extremely talented at finding them below the thick ice."
#8. Sport – 1st classified: "Running on Salt" by Shimon Perlstein
"Runners push forward as the first light of dawn breaks over the Dead Sea. The photo was captured during the Dead Sea Marathon, and this moment reflects both human endurance and the surreal beauty of the lowest place on Earth."
#9. Sport – Runner-Up:"The Dune" by Jb Liautard
"Kilian Bron riding down one of the highest sand dunes in the world. The photographer only had one attempt, and luckily, Kilian made a slight turn exactly at the right moment, lifting some sand in the air."
#10. Sport – Highly commended:"Going up" by Cyrille Pillet
"The climax of a 3-day ski touring adventure: 3400m of ski climbing and 39 kilometers to finally reach the mountaintop. In these last efforts, the front skier seemed to be battling the snow to find his way."
#11. People – 1st classified: "Aarti Under the Stars" by Thibault Gerbaldi
"Each night in Varanasi, the Ganga Aarti ceremony unfolds in a blaze of fire and devotion. People attend this sacred ritual either by walking or by sitting on neighboring boats, clustered together. The ceremony honors the Ganges River, believed to cleanse sins and purify the soul."
#12. People – Runner-Up: "ISOBEL" by Benny Kasper
"Let’s see what the new Day brings if you feel lost today. Until the last rays of Sun disappear above the Clouds, it feels like Heaven. The image conveys a quiet message of hope and new beginnings. It speaks to those who feel lost, reminding them that each new day holds fresh possibilities."
#13. People – Highly commended: "Watermelon sleepers" by by Sm Mostafijur Rahman
"The tired workers are taking a nap among watermelons early in the morning onboard their cargo vessels after a night-long journey from the field to the wholesale market in Dhaka."
#14. Nature – 1st classified: "The Long Shadow" by Christopher Harrison
"On the first day of meteorological spring, the warm sunrise light filtered through the low-lying mist, casting a striking long shadow behind this small cluster of trees atop an ancient Bronze Age burial mound."
#15. Nature – Runner-Up: "Scale" by Thorarinn Jonsson
"An aerial view of two massive icebergs floating in deep blue Arctic waters deep within Greenland’s massive fjords, with their submerged portions glowing turquoise beneath the surface. A small sailboat in the distance adds scale and serenity to this striking polar seascape."
#16. Nature – Highly commended: "Monument of a Forgotten Era" by Carlo Alberto Conti
"A lone spire rises from ancient ground, sculpted by time and silence. This scene evokes a primordial Earth—untouched, raw, eternal. A glimpse into a world from long before us, where nature alone ruled the land."
#17. Abstract – 1st classified: "The eye" by Pawel Zygmunt
"An aerial view of Hveravellir, in Iceland, shows a geothermal pool shaped like an animal’s eye, with a dark blue center and rich brown textures surrounding it. The barren, rocky landscape and layered mineral deposits give the scene a raw, ancient feel."
#18. Abstract – Runner-Up: "Tide Money Tree" by Xu Zhang
"The Qiantang River tide is a famous natural landscape and phenomenon. When the tide recedes, it leaves many traces in the waterway. These tidal patterns, combined with the dry and yellow plants on the shore, resemble a huge money tree."
#19. Abstract – Highly commended: "Chromathic Rhythm" by Marian Plaino
"From above, a daily ritual becomes an abstract mosaic. Colorful broom heads laid out to dry turn the ground into a living canvas. What seems like pure geometry is, in fact, tradition, rhythm, and human craft seen through a drone’s lens."
#20. Wedding – 1st classified: "Eloping above the Clouds" by Oliver And Steph Prince
"A newlywed couple stands above the clouds after hiking up a hill on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. They emerged above an incredible cloud inversion to find the peace and solitude they needed for their elopement."
#21. Wedding – Runner-Up: "Into the abyss" by Tim Demski
"This photo was taken during an elopement photoshoot. An amazing location was found: a bridge over a large ravine in an ancient Italian town. The dark and gloomy sky, combined with the picturesque ruins in the background, created the perfect setting for this cinematic image."
#22. Wedding – Highly commended: "Mariage à carreaux" by Fred Payet
"Captured in Gironde, the photo benefited from the graphic elements of this pool. Its vintage colors and the unique lighting made it possible to create a truly original wedding image."
#23. Series – 1st classified: "The Great Colour Study: Vietnam" by Dipanjan Pal
"The series is an aerial exploration of Vietnam’s traditional professions, many of which have been passed down through generations for over 500 years. Captured from above using a drone, each photograph showcases not only the intricate patterns and details of these time-honored crafts but also the striking, dominant colors that define their essence. The collection celebrates the interplay of color, culture, and craftsmanship, offering a fresh perspective on Vietnam’s cultural heritage."
#24. Series – Runner-Up: "Lords of the Vanishing Wild" by Lakshitha Karunarathna
"This series follows the rare giants of Sri Lanka—mature male tuskers that now make up less than 2% of the island’s elephant population. As Sri Lanka holds nearly 10% of all Asian elephants, protecting these tuskers and their vital genes is crucial. These majestic bulls, seen here in diverse moments of wild life, face growing threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and intensifying human-elephant conflict. Preserving their existence means safeguarding the future of a keystone species—and a symbol of strength in Asia’s dwindling wilderness."
#25. Series – Highly commended: "Waterholes and the Australian Bush" by Nilmini De Silva
"Nilmini’s aerial imagery is inspired by how Indigenous Australians lived on the land and by their art. As a water engineer, she is also searching for water in the landscape. In the Australian outback, water is life and hence waterholes were sacred. They were shared with the animals that lived there and were often the places where Aboriginal Australians would gather for a ‘corroboree.’ This included dance, music, costumes and body decorations. People would travel from near and far to gather for such occasions."
