In a field of 1,549 participants, American Joanna Steidle emerged victorious in the inaugural edition of the ‘International Aerial Photographer of the Year’ contest. She was followed by Spaniard Daniel Viñé Garcia, and American David Swindler.
“Aerial photography offers so many unexplored possibilities. Every day is exciting as I seek out unique subjects and moments. I strive to stay away from the ordinary. I live in a very flat landscape, so top-down images have become prevalent in my photography, which, incidentally, works well with my passion for marine life,” said Joanna Steidle, as quoted by the New York Post.
Additionally, Australian Ignacio Palacios won the Photographer of the Year award, followed by Talor Stone from the United States and Thomas Vijayan from Canada.
There were also special awards for black and white photography, drone photography, abstract photography, and a President’s Choice award judged by Tom Hegen, Tom Putt, and Isabella Tabacchi.
The competition, which honored the 101 most “stunning” aerial photographs, followed a decade after the launch of the ‘International Landscape Photographer of the Year’ awards.
According to organizers Peter Eastway and David Evans, the award has only one rule: “All entries must be created by a real person, and no AI is allowed.”
The contenders include, among others, smiling wolf jumpers, a bouncing deer, builder birds, and even kissing gorillas.
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“No matter how educated and experienced a panel of judges is, they often express very different opinions. Often, one judge personally feels that a tenth or fiftieth place is as impressive as the first place, so our philosophy is to award the ‘101 best’ photographs of each year,” they further explained.
In this way, by having a larger “collection,” the judges have the space to “applaud photographs of all kinds and different genres, from drones to medium format, unique captures and compositions, abstractions, and breathtaking interpretations of Mother Nature.”
This first edition of the competition received 1,549 entries from around the globe, which exceeded the organizers’ “expectations.” To reach the top 101 and have their photographs published in the award’s book, a minimum score of 86.67 was required.
See some of the awarded images in the gallery above.
