Dronestagram, an app devoted to drone photography, has announced the winners of its second annual photo competition.
The contest was judged by National Geographic Deputy Director of Photography Ken Geiger, National Geographic France Editor in Chief Jean-Pierre Vrignaud, and Dronestagram CEO and founder Eric Dupin. They looked through over 5,000 entries, watching for “creativity, photographic quality and respect of the theme.” (See last year’s winners.)
“Drone images can be made where no other image can,” says Geiger, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer. He adds that drones are opening photography to the masses in the same way digital technology did.
“Drone photography is a new kind of visual language,” Dupin says. “It’s a new way of seeing the world.”
The competition’s categories include nature, places, and “dronies,” selfies from an aerial view. “It’s like the ultimate selfie-stick,” Geiger says. This year’s “dronie” winner featured a Where’s Wally gathering in Cyprus where dozens of red-and-white striped Wallies reached up to the hovering drone above them.
Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune off the coast of Normandy, France. This photo earned second in the places category.
Lost Island
Tourists wait for a sunset in French Polynesia, a group of islands in the South Pacific. This photo placed third in the nature category.
Glorieto Rodolfo Sanchez Taboada
A cliff diver jumps into the ocean in Mazatlan, Mexico. This photo was the third most liked picture on Dronestagram’s website.
Plovdiv by Night
Plovdiv, Bulgaria, is one of Europe’s oldest inhabited cities. This photo was the second most liked picture on Dronestagram.
La Jolla
Swimmers compete in the La Jolla, California, annual ocean race. This photo earned second place in the nature category.
Above the Mist
The Cathedral of Maringa pokes through heavy fog in Parana, Brazil. This photo won first in the places category.
Tulip Fields
Men inspect tulip fields in Holland to remove virus-infected flowers. This photo earned third in the places category.
Where’s Wally?
People look up at a drone at a carnival in Limassol, Cyprus. This photo was the first-place dronie.
Snorkeling With Sharks
Snorkelers swim with sharks near Moorea Island in French Polynesia. This photo won first place in the competition’s nature category.
source: nationalgeographic.com By Greta Weber
The Fat Cat Collective 