10th February submission deadline looming
The SkyPixel Annual Photo and Video Contest, hosted by DJI's professional aerial photography and imaging social platform SkyPixel™, has accompanied global creators through a decade of brilliance. This year's contest, themed “Explore Without Limits”, not only showcases the uniqueness of aerial photography but also introduces handheld video as an independent category for the first time, infusing works with the possibility of more narrative and emotional depth. Since the contest submissions opened on 7th November, 2024, the contest has reached its midway point. Capitivating submissions continue to pour in, highlighting the unique depth and aesthetic value of both the moving and still image.
Breathtaking Moments From Aerial and Handheld: An Artistic Feast Through the Lens
The submissions cover a diverse range of subjects from natural landscapes to cultural customs, reflecting the creators' unique understanding of their work.
“Tree of Life” is a masterpiece by photographer Wang Hanbing, who shared: “A vibrant poplar tree grows on this land. Its turbulent fate, tenacious life, and unyielding spirit attracted me. On cloudy days, the light contrast is low, and the tree casts almost no shadow, giving a visual impression that is both abstract and concrete.”
SkyPixel Judge Luke Stackpoole, a trailblazer in the world of travel and adventure photography, said, “The cracked earth is harsh and stark, but then you’ve got this vibrant tree in the middle—it’s such a strong symbol of resilience. It’s so simple, yet so powerful. The contrast between the textures and the colors is incredible.”
Another work by Wang Hanbing, “Dialogue”, also uses the poplar tree as a creative subject, yet it creates a completely different style of image. He shared: “The snow-covered lake surface forms a scene of dialogue between nature and humans, sparking imagination.”
SkyPixel Judge Luke Stackpoole, said, “This one feels like a blend of art and photography. The stark contrast between the textured black and the icy white creates an abstract, almost painterly effect. It’s mysterious and open to interpretation—a very thought-provoking piece. ”
Photographer Julia Pylak captured this during her exploration of an ice cave in Iceland. The work “Icy Circle” has been composed to make you feel that you are entering a different world.
Chu Weimin, SkyPixel judge and the 2023 World Press Photo Award winner, said, “The shooting scene of this photo is very unique. The shape and texture of the ice cave are very enchanting, and the color of the person contrasts well with the ice, while also conveying the grand scale of the glacier to the viewer. ”
The work “Scenes of a Fishing Village” by the creator “Xing She Cong Cong” captures the life of boat in Nantangao Village, Ningde, Fujian. At high tide, the sea gradually submerges the fishing nets, and a small boat slowly approaches.
“I captured this piece by stacking thirty continuous shots to simulate a long exposure effect.”, said, Xing She Cong Cong.
Renowned landscape photographer and SkyPixel Judge Daniel Kolder, said, “His photo captures the unique scenery of Nantangao Village. The moment when the rising tide gradually submerges the fishing nets, paired with the slow approach of the small boat, exudes a poetic and tranquil atmosphere. The technique of stacking thirty shots to simulate a long exposure creates a silky smooth texture on the water, enhancing the dreamlike quality of the scene.”
Photographer Kevin Miao's “Mysterious Altay” uses pure aerial shots to present a memory from Altay, Xinjiang. The rainbow over the Beautiful Peak, the morning mist over the Kanas River at 6 a.m., and the golden triangle formed by sunlight and the riverbank. Kevin, said, “All of this deserves to be recorded, and perhaps this is the true charm of imagery.”
Jin Chenyu, cinematographer of Blossoms Shanghai and SkyPixel Judge for the video category, said, “The understated color grading, the soothing editing rhythm, and the mist under the clouds at the end elevate the emotional resonance.”
‘The City on the Ruins of Angkor Wat’, was shot in Siem Reap, Cambodia, by creator “KM-DC”. The work combines aerial and handheld ground shots to showcase not only the ancient ruins, but also the vibrant lifestyle of the people in Siem Reap.
Advertising Photography Director and Founder of MediaStorm, SkyPixel Judge Pan Tianhong, said, “The color tone is comfortable, and the transitions combined with animation are interesting and vivid, showcasing the vibrant small-town scenery and the profound human history.”
SkyPixel Judge Jin Chenyu, said, “This is a mature piece of humanistic promotional film work, with well-controlled composition and exposure. As a short film, it has a high level of completion both technically and artistically.”
The sports-themed work “Flight Mode” was completed by David Karg using DJI Ronin series products. 80% of the film's content uses ground perspectives to showcase the thrilling and breathtaking scenes of mountain biking through forest trails.
SkyPixel Judge Jin Chenyu, said, “This is a work with high shooting difficulty and completion.”
A Decade’s Evolution of Aerial Photography from “Capturing” to “Creating”
As an international competition organized by DJI for global aerial photography and imaging enthusiasts, the SkyPixel Annual Photo and Video Contest is one of the largest aerial photography competitions in the world. Since its inception in 2015, it has attracted over 400,000 photography works from over 140 countries and regions worldwide, with over 1 billion exposures.
The SkyPixel Annual Photo and Video Contest has now spanned a decade, witnessing the exploration and breakthroughs in aerial photography and imaging creation. Initially, aerial photography offered a different perspective. Images that previously required climbing to capture were easily solved by drones, and this ‘aerial experience’ enticed photographers to try a new method of shooting. Subsequently, photographers began to pursue ‘composing’ the image, focusing on light and angles to produce spectacular and tension-filled masterpieces, using aerial photography to record the world's magnificent mountains, rivers, and urban landscapes.
Today, an increasing number of photographers are beginning to try “creative aerial photography”. Photographers are no longer satisfied with a simple ‘aerial view’; instead, they incorporate an artistic and narrative eye, drawing inspiration from traditional or contemporary art to provide aesthetic enjoyment through their images while expressing unique perspectives. They pursue the combination of imagery, emphasize layering, and seek more artistic compositions, recognizing the scarcity of time to make aerial photography works more profound and meaningful.
Tenth Anniversary Sees Introduction of Handheld Video Category
Over the past decade, image creators have also presented countless brilliant ideas through handheld videos from a ground perspective, focusing more on the creative content presentation and expression of intent beyond the traditional functions of video storytelling. Taking advantage of this tenth anniversary, the contest extends the exploration of imagery from the ground.
This year, themed “Explore Without Limits”, the competition acknowledges these ground based creators with the new Handheld Video category. Submission categories are now divided into three independent groups: Aerial Photography, Aerial Video, and Handheld Video. Entries in the video categories must include more than 50% aerial or handheld footage, with at least 30 seconds of footage shot using DJI products. Additionally, the competition has opened social media channels for participation, allowing users to publish their works on various video platforms. Photographers can submit drone aerial videos, handheld device ground perspective videos, or videos created combining both.
The SkyPixel 10th Annual Photo and Video Contest is not only a platform for showcasing excellent works but also a global exchange event for creative ideas. The competition brings together various creators’ visions, becoming a stage for all to exchange and spark inspiration, and promote mutual progress. At the same time, the competition also focuses on trends and features of aerial photography, providing the audience with a window into the evolution of imagery.
Join the Contest and Share the Glory of Creation
The SkyPixel 10th Annual Photo and Video Contest is now in the countdown stage. This year's competition has 83 awards, with a total value of over US $170,000. The competition awards include 1 Annual Best Photo Prize, 1 Annual Best Aerial Video Prize, 1 Annual Best Handheld Video Prize, 20 Annual Top Photos and Videos Prizes, 15 Nominated Prizes, and 45 People's Choice Prizes.
Among them, the winners of the Annual Best Photo Prize, Annual Best Aerial Video Prize, and Best Annual Handheld Video Prize will respectively receive a Hasselblad X2D 100C kit worth over $14,000, a DJI Inspire 3 kit worth over $20,000, and a DJI Ronin 4D-8K kit worth over $15,000. All grand winners will also receive a SkyPixel trophy and be recognized as an official SkyPixel Creator. Other prizes include the Skypixel 10th Anniversary Booklet, as well as popular products such as the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, DJI Air 3S, DJI Avata 2, and Osmo Pocket 3. In addition, all entrants will also receive DJI credits which can be used at store.dji.com.
Submission Details
Submission Start Date: November 7, 2024, 12:00 (UTC+8)
Submission End Date: February 10, 2025, 23:59 (UTC+8)
Award Announcement: March 27, 2025, 12:00 (UTC+8)
DJI SkyPixel 10th Anniversary Video Contest—looking forward to your participation and joining this visual feast. For more contest details and participation guidelines, please visit the official website of the SkyPixel 10th Anniversary Photo and Video Contest https://www.skypixel.com/contests/2024.
