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https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/10/25/g-s1-94482/drone-photo-contest-winners>
“A solitary horseman, illuminated by a beam of light, stands on the snow,
surrounded by eerie and jagged mountain peaks. It's an otherworldly image and
it raises the question: How did a photographer manage to make such a
captivating picture?
The answer: Drones!
That particular photo, titled "The Lone Horseman," by Dennis Schmelz, a
filmmaker based in Germany took top honors in this year's Siena awards, a
global competition that celebrates the art of aerial photography captured by
drones.
The image was made in Cappadocia, Turkey — a mecca for photographers because of
its rockscape with "fairy chimneys." Schmelz wanted to capture a different
perspective — instead of the tourists and hot-air balloons of summer, he wanted
a winter scene when snow covers the rocks.
"Silence fills the air and the whole region feels timeless and untouched," he
says.
He sent up his drone to photograph a horseman at sunset. "I noticed a narrow
plateau between two large rocks that formed a perfect natural stage. I asked
the rider to move right into the center of the frame," he says.
The final image is a vertical panorama made of two drone photos. Because of the
angle, it looks as if the rider is standing on a floating island — but there's
a hidden path on the left side that leads up there.
"That's what fascinates me about drone photography — it allows us to discover
new perspectives and reveal patterns that are invisible from the ground," says
Schmelz.
That's not to say drones work miracles. "The shooting angle must be carefully
calibrated," says Susanna Scafuri, a journalist and photo editor based in Italy
and a member of the jury.
But the result can be spectacular, she says.
And it's not just about the technology, stresses Cornelia Marchis, a German
photographer and photo editor based in Milan and another judge this year. She's
drawn to photos that offer "new ways of seeing familiar places" and "convey
strong information or tell a compelling story."
Here's a selection of award-winning and highly commended drone photographs from
the Global South countries that Goats & Soda covers with one geographic
exception — an image from Italy that's so delightful that we couldn't resist
including it.”
Via Janet Logan.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
