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See the winners of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year Competition: Photos

byEleanor Blake
July 1, 2025


The winners of the first International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition have been announced.

From more than 1,500 entries from across the world, Joanna Steidle, a professional drone pilot and artist from the Hamptons, Long Island, New York, has taken the top prize for her stunning portfolio.

She said: “Aerial photography offers so many possibilities not yet explored. Every day is exciting as I look for unique subjects and moments. I try to stay away from the ordinary.

“I live in a very flat landscape, 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, which invited both professional and amateur photographers to submit portfolios of at least four images, also recognised runners-up Daniel Viñé Garcia from Spain (second place) and David Swindler from the United States (third place).


Photographer of the Year: Joanna Steidle, United States. A fever of cownose rays approaching a school of menhaden bait fish, taken just a few hundred feet from the coast of Southampton, NY. USA. Joanna Steidle/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Photographer of the Year: Joanna Steidle, United States .A humpback whale diving back under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean after taking a breath of air. This was taken within 500ft of the coast in Southampton, NY, USA.
Photographer of the Year: Joanna Steidle, United States .A humpback whale diving back under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean after taking a breath of air. This was taken within 500ft of the coast in Southampton, NY, USA. Joanna Steidle/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Photographer of the Year: Joanna Steidle, United States. Top down drone photography of a small fever of cownose rays stiring up some sand along their travels. Southampton, NY, USA.
Photographer of the Year: Joanna Steidle, United States. Top down drone photography of a small fever of cownose rays stiring up some sand along their travels. Southampton, NY, USA. Joanna Steidle/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Photographer of the Year: Joanna Steidle, United States. Top down aerial drone photo of a spinner shark creating a gateway into a school of menhaden fish in the Atlantic Ocean, Southampton, NY.
Photographer of the Year: Joanna Steidle, United States. Top down aerial drone photo of a spinner shark creating a gateway into a school of menhaden fish in the Atlantic Ocean, Southampton, NY. Joanna Steidle/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Second Place: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain. Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano as it cooled. The cracking pattern of the lava formed a skull, creating an eerie natural illusion for a few moments.
Second Place: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain. Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano as it cooled. The cracking pattern of the lava formed a skull, creating an eerie natural illusion for a few moments. D. Viñé Garcia/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Second Place: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain. A dormant volcano in the high-altitude Puna of Argentina reveals intricate erosion patterns sculpted by wind and time.
Second Place: Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain. A dormant volcano in the high-altitude Puna of Argentina reveals intricate erosion patterns sculpted by wind and time. D. Viñé Garcia/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Third Place: David Swindler. Flamingos and pelicans..
Third Place: David Swindler. Flamingos and pelicans.. David Swindler/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Third Place: David Swindler. Flamingos over a lake, USA. David Swindler/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Third Place: David Swindler. Desert Playa.
Third Place: David Swindler. Desert Playa. David Swindler/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Swimmers in the frozen Baltic Sea. After a short trip, the icebreaker stopped and passengers were given the opportunity to go into the freezing cold water.
Swimmers in the frozen Baltic Sea. After a short trip, the icebreaker stopped and passengers were given the opportunity to go into the freezing cold water. Gilad Topaz/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Polar bear on Svalbard after eating on a walrus carcass. Thanks to the drone with a telephoto lens, this rare scene could be captured without any disturbance. Svalbard, Norway.
Polar bear on Svalbard after eating on a walrus carcass. Thanks to the drone with a telephoto lens, this rare scene could be captured without any disturbance. Svalbard, Norway. Pal Hermansen/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


Nearly 24 hours after the start of the 9 July 9 2023 Litli-Hrutur eruption in Iceland, this three image panoramic showcases the newly formed cinder cone and associated lava river. Mike Mezeul I I/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


The Bråsvellbreen glacier, part of the Austfonna Ice Cap in Svalbard. Early melting and powerful waterfalls reveal the urgent reality of climate change reminding us what's at stake if we fail to act.
The Bråsvellbreen glacier, part of the Austfonna Ice Cap in Svalbard. Early melting and powerful waterfalls reveal the urgent reality of climate change reminding us what’s at stake if we fail to act. Thomas Vijayan/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS


These two seals are lounging peacefully on a drifting slab of ice in the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon in southern Iceland.
These two seals are lounging peacefully on a drifting slab of ice in the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon in southern Iceland. Fabien Guittard/Int. Aerial POTY / SWNS



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Eleanor Blake
Eleanor Blake is a seasoned entertainment journalist known for her captivating coverage of the film, television, and music industries. With a career spanning over a decade, Eleanor has become a trusted voice in entertainment media, offering readers insightful analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, and exclusive interviews with some of the industry’s most influential figures.
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