Latest news with #dronephotography
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Stunning images from the 2025 International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest
Joanna Steidle's portfolio, which included this image of a spinner shark hunting a school of menhaden fish in the ocean off Southampton, New York, won the competition's top prize. (Joanna Steidle/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year via CNN Newsource) A humpback whale diving under the ocean's surface, cownose rays approaching menhaden bait fish, and a spinner shark on the hunt are all images taken by the inaugural winner of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Joanna Steidle, a professional drone pilot from New York, captured the stunning photos, taking home the top prize for her portfolio. The competition is a new global award celebrating the most striking photography captured from above. alumina mine tailings dam Colin Leonhardt's photograph of an alumina mine tailings dam in Collie, Western Australia won the abstract category. (Colin Leonhardt/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year via CNN Newsource) 'Aerial photography offers so many possibilities not yet explored,' Steidle, who is based in the Hamptons on Long Island, said in a press statement from the competition organizers. 'Every day is exciting.' Drawn to the 'unique subjects and moments' revealed by a bird's eye view, Steidle added that she tries 'to stay away from the ordinary.' flamingos and pelicans David Swindler, whose portfolio included this image of flamingos and pelicans, won third prize. (David Swindler/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year via CNN Newsource) 'I live in a very flat landscape,' she said. 'So top-down imagery has become quite a theme in my photos which happens to work well with my love for marine life.' The competition received more than 1,500 entries from around the world, organizers said. The only requirement was that all photos must be captured by a human, with no AI-generated content permitted. Cono de Arita Ignacio Palicios took first prize in the singles competition for this image of Cono de Arita in La Puna, Argentina. (Ignacio Palacios/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year via CNN Newsource) Spain's Daniel Viñé Garcia was awarded second place while third went to David Swindler from the U.S. Several other photographers were recognized with special prizes, with categories including best black and white photo, best drone photo, best abstract photo and the Chairman's Choice award. The awards were founded by Peter Eastway and David Evans — the duo behind the International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. Norway Thomas Vijayan took third prize in the singles competition for this image of the Bråsvellbreen glacier in Svalbard, Norway. (Thomas Vijayan/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year via CNN Newsource) According to the organizers, the new competition was created in response to a growing number of aerial submissions and a desire to highlight the unique power of this perspective. 'Photographers today are capturing some simply breathtaking views from above,' Eastway, the chairman of judges, said in the statement. 'Many are using modern drones equipped with high-resolution sensors, others are using more traditional (and more expensive) modes of transport, flying high above in planes, helicopters and even balloons.' A selection of the competition's winning and highly commended images can be seen in the gallery above.
CNN
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Stunning images from the 2025 International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest
A humpback whale diving under the ocean's surface, cownose rays approaching menhaden bait fish, and a spinner shark on the hunt are all images taken by the inaugural winner of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Joanna Steidle, a professional drone pilot from New York, captured the stunning photos, taking home the top prize for her portfolio. The competition is a new global award celebrating the most striking photography captured from above. 'Aerial photography offers so many possibilities not yet explored,' Steidle, who is based in the Hamptons on Long Island, said in a press statement from the competition organizers. 'Every day is exciting.' Drawn to the 'unique subjects and moments' revealed by a bird's eye view, Steidle added that she tries 'to stay away from the ordinary.' 'I live in a very flat landscape,' she said. 'So top-down imagery has become quite a theme in my photos which happens to work well with my love for marine life.' The competition received more than 1,500 entries from around the world, organizers said. The only requirement was that all photos must be captured by a human, with no AI-generated content permitted. Spain's Daniel Viñé Garcia was awarded second place while third went to David Swindler from the US. Several other photographers were recognized with special prizes, with categories including best black and white photo, best drone photo, best abstract photo and the Chairman's Choice award. The awards were founded by Peter Eastway and David Evans — the duo behind the International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. According to the organizers, the new competition was created in response to a growing number of aerial submissions and a desire to highlight the unique power of this perspective. 'Photographers today are capturing some simply breathtaking views from above,' Eastway, the chairman of judges, said in the statement. 'Many are using modern drones equipped with high-resolution sensors, others are using more traditional (and more expensive) modes of transport, flying high above in planes, helicopters and even balloons.' A selection of the competition's winning and highly commended images can be seen in the gallery above.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Photographer captures extraordinary surf event off Aussie coast: 'Pretty amazing'
A veteran drone photographer has captured an extraordinary natural phenomenon off the nation's east coast, stunning thousands of Australians around the country with a spectacle described as "truly amazing". Queensland man Doug was filming off the coast of Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast, just before lunch on Wednesday when he came across the spectacular sight — tens of thousands of mullet swarming to form a massive underwater bait ball. In an interview with Yahoo News, Doug explained he's lucky enough to witness the event annually, but despite its yearly occurrence he still feels fortunate to be able to catch a glimpse each time. "It's pretty amazing, actually," he said. "I live here on the coast, and I've been doing drone footage since 2007. People love seeing it — it's a natural spectacle we're lucky to see so close to shore." While the sight's undoubtedly impressive to view, it's actually fairly normal fish behaviour. Used as a defence against attacks, fish like mullet typically swarm together in tight, swirling formations when threatened by a predator, like a dolphin, shark, or large fish, beneath or nearby. "They bunch up tight for protection — safety in numbers," Doug of Bluey's Photography said. "When something rushes at them, you'll see a real burst of white water on top of them. Could be a big snapper, could be a shark." From above, bait balls look like moving shadows, shifting spirals, or pulsing galaxies in the water. Drones have made it possible to see this beauty from a new perspective, turning marine biology into an art form. "When the fish get disturbed, they panic, flutter and surge — something's lunged up from beneath. I watched for over an hour with a fisherman, [wondering] "What is it? What's chasing them?" — but we couldn't see anything. I've seen sharks and dolphins do it before, but this time it must've stayed deep," Doug said. "They'll break away from the ball, form a long line, then regroup into another ball — all to stay away from predators." Aussie's 'dream-like' moment during rare ocean encounter Aussies flock to coastline to witness incredibly rare moment Pilot captures extraordinary scene during record-breaking event Each year, around this time, generations of the same mullet fishing families gather on the beaches near Caloundra, anticipating the mullet run. Because fishing is prohibited within the Pumicestone Passage — a marine park where mullet spawn — the fishermen rely on lookouts with radios to monitor the fish as they migrate up from Moreton Bay. Once conditions are right — typically when calm seas and westerly winds prevail — the mullet exit the passage and swim close to shore, offering a narrow window for the fishermen to cast their nets, and for Doug to capture his footage. "They use the roe from the females for export, and then send the rest to bait shops, the cannery, or for pet food," he said. In places like southeast Queensland, bait balls are a predictable but short-lived event, tied to water temperature, spawning cycles, and wind conditions. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Inside the unique European village where all 6,000 residents live on the same street
A picture-postcard village in Poland might be an extrovert's dream - or an introvert's worst nightmare - as all 6,000 of its residents live and work on the same stretch of road. Sułoszowa, located around 29 km north-west of the regional capital, Kraków, is home to an intricate patchwork of green and gold fields and a cluster of modest homes with red and blue roofs. Though life in the seemingly ordinary village is described by locals as 'slow and fairly quiet,' Sułoszowa has seen a surge in tourism over recent years due to its rather unique layout. A singular road, one of the longest in Poland at approximately nine kilometres, runs through the vast green space - where all 6,000 residents live, shop and work. From a birds eye view, the village's winding network of fields and linear roads resembles a leaf, as noted by Katarzyna Bieda from the Gmina Sułoszowa council. She told the Express: 'Sułoszowa is immersed in nature with lots of forests and fields. These fields have made us famous all across the world thanks to drone pictures in which our fields surrounding the main street look a little bit like a leaf.' On why the town has been built around a single road, Bieda explained: 'The one street thing comes from the past, when it was easier for people to live on one street, mostly because of road communication.' Posted and shared millions of times online by mesmerised social media users, tourists have since flocked to the village to see its colourful sweeping fields first-hand. In 2023, MailOnline visited Europe's 'hidden gem,' part of the Ojcowski National Park, to find out whether life is as idyllic on the ground, as it appears from above. Local shop owner, Edyta, said: 'I saw the aerial picture on the internet and I know that people are talking about us, and I am not that surprised, it is a lovely view.' 'There is a good sense of community here. We have Strawberry Days where we all get together and taste the new crops and play live music. We also have Potato Days where we do the same thing.' However, she added: 'But people like to gossip. And everyone knows everyone.' Another resident, local tractor driver Marian Gęgotek, said: 'Life here is slow and fairly quiet, but I like it. Until I saw the pictures from above, I didn't really appreciate how nice it is here.' The sleepy village, which was founded in the 16th century by an aristocratic army officer, is isolated from other villages by long stretches of empty road. While its extraordinary structure may initially draw visitors, Sułoszowa has become something of a hotbed for tourism, with visitors flocking to explore local cliffs, ravines and over 400 caves each year. Dubbed a 'little Tuscany', at one end of the village is a dramatic rock formation on top of which is perched a 14th castle with 'to-die-for views' of the local countryside. There is also the 'Bludgeon of Hercules', a 98-foot-tall limestone column thrusting into the sky. One of the attractions is the so-called Trail of the Eagles' Nests, a string of fortifications stretching from Krakow to the holy city of Czestochowa 100 miles away. But despite the throngs of tourists descending on the village, more and more of its younger residents are leaving. One of the village's oldest residents, 74-year-old Stanisław whose house sits directly under a towering rock of sandstone said: 'I wouldn't call it idyllic here. 'The youngsters are going abroad or to big cities for work. And those that are here race their cars and motorbikes up and down the street outside my house. 'It's unbearable. Sundays are the worst because then we get all the tourists staring through my window.' With no local pub, and with the village restaurant closing around 5pm, when not racing each other, the 'youngsters' often head to club Apogeum in the neighbouring village of Trzyciąż, 6.5 miles away. For the rest of the village, in addition to the 'strawberry and potatoes days' the local community centre holds a regular 'Club for Seniors.' Local nun Jolanta from the village's 14th-century Sacred Heart of Jesus church said: 'The village's Seniors' Club is a great place that is buzzing with activities.' She added: 'I think the reason our village is such a hit is because people here take good care of their fields, this is way it looks so nice, the fields are cultivated. 'And it is wonderful to walk among them and enjoy the countryside and silence, you are almost guaranteed to see some deer and other wild animals.' It comes as a little-known lake in Slovenia has been described as one of Europe's 'most beautiful' places to visit in 2025. Lake Bohinj picked up the accolade in a ranking of Europe's 15 best beauty spots by Lonely Planet. Spanning 318 hectares, Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia and is located in the country's Triglav National Park.
