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2025 SkyPixel Contest winners highlight epic aerial views of nature, cities and adventure
SkyPixel, the aerial photography and videography community, has announced the winners of its 10th annual contest. The contest this year drew thousands of participants, who submitted over 140,000 entries from around the world. While the contest has traditionally been exclusively open to aerial photos and videos, a handheld video category was added this year, opening submissions to more than just aerial shots. The contest features both photo and video categories, with two Best Video Prize winners –one for aerial and one for handheld – and one Best Photo Prize winner. Additionally, the SkyPixel contest selects the top 10 video and photo winners. There is also a "Nominated Entries" category (a people's choice award) with five video and five photo winners. You can learn more about the contest and see all of the winning images and videos on the SkyPixel Contest website. 2025 Annual Best Video Prize (Aerial): The War - My Transformation Journey by Bashir Abu Shakra Directed by Bashir Abu Shakra, The War - My Transformation Journey uses stunning aerial shots to tell his story of battling loneliness, leading to self-discovery. The project was filmed over the course of five years across eight countries, including China, Venezuela, Italy and more. Shakra purposefully chose each landscape to fit with the song's lyrics, aiming to use the contrast between the song and visuals to show how nature helped him overcome his struggles. Judge comments: "The opening shot is truly captivating, marked by its elongated duration, graceful camera movements, and the serene beauty of the time of day. The composition stands out as particularly noteworthy. It’s one of my favorites, and the overall quality is exceptional," said Claudio Miranda. "The War is an admirable film. Landscape photography is never a simple record, and every shot taken by this cinematographer is refined, precise, and captivating. The angles, the light all show his persistence and perseverance. It is a film where technique and the creator's inner vision are highly aligned. I really liked the ending," said Chenyu Jin. 2025 Annual Best Video Prize (Handheld): Japan Travel Cinematic by Henry Yue Image: Henry Yue The new handheld category of the SkyPixel contest celebrates videography created with handheld or stabilized cameras. The inaugural winner, Henry Yue, showcased popular and iconic destinations across Japan in Travel Cinematic. The video uses cinematic camera angles and transitions with creative compositions. You can view the video on the SkyPixel website. Judge comments: "The sound design and use of movement in this film were second to none, absolutely capturing the essence of Japan in the most stunning way. This was one of my favorites, and I felt immersed from the moment I hit play. Keep up the incredible work—this was truly something else," said Sam Newton. "Japan Travel is a work rich in visual elements, combining both motion and stillness without causing any sense of chaos. Henry expertly controlled the pace of the film, with clean tones and precise, appropriate exposure control that perfectly integrates all elements. It is a highly refined and cohesive piece," said Chenyu Jin. 2025 Annual Best Photo Prize: Gangerqia Photo: Gangerqia Photographer: Gangerqia Caption (machine translated): A red-crowned crane accidentally fell down when it landed, leaving a phoenix-like shadow on the snow-covered ice. The photographer used the dark spring as a guide point to capture this beautiful moment. Judge comments: "This aerial photo works beautifully because it almost tricks you at first glance—like you're looking at a drawing rather than a real landscape. There's a frozen pond shaped like an eye that immediately grabs your attention, and the neat line of footprints from the bird adds a playful sense of movement. It’s simple, clean, and has a bit of mystery to it. The minimal colors and subtle textures make the whole thing feel calming but intriguing at the same time," said Luke Stackpoole. Selection of Annual Top 10 Photo Winners Photographer: AB Gusai Image title: Mud bath bliss Caption: In the heart of the Indian countryside, a buffalo finds its own unique way to beat the heat. This aerial view captures the animal fully immersed in a vibrant pond, reveling in a luxurious mud bath. The deep, rich mud clings to its skin, providing a natural sunscreen and a soothing relief from the scorching sun. The buffalo seems to sigh contentedly, its eyes half-closed as it luxuriates in the cool, wet embrace of the mud. This image is a reminder of the simple pleasures in life, the joy of a good mud bath, and the resilience of nature's creatures in adapting to their environment. Photographer: Fadah Image title: Sailing through the ice Caption: None Photographer: hanifi Image title: bulgurcu Caption: Wheat harvested in the Gaziantep province of Turkey is turned into bulgur after various processes. The resulting bulgur is laid out in t
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SkyPixel, the aerial photography and videography community, has announced the winners of its 10th annual contest. The contest this year drew thousands of participants, who submitted over 140,000 entries from around the world. While the contest has traditionally been exclusively open to aerial photos and videos, a handheld video category was added this year, opening submissions to more than just aerial shots.
The contest features both photo and video categories, with two Best Video Prize winners –one for aerial and one for handheld – and one Best Photo Prize winner. Additionally, the SkyPixel contest selects the top 10 video and photo winners. There is also a "Nominated Entries" category (a people's choice award) with five video and five photo winners.
You can learn more about the contest and see all of the winning images and videos on the SkyPixel Contest website.
2025 Annual Best Video Prize (Aerial): The War - My Transformation Journey by Bashir Abu Shakra
Directed by Bashir Abu Shakra, The War - My Transformation Journey uses stunning aerial shots to tell his story of battling loneliness, leading to self-discovery. The project was filmed over the course of five years across eight countries, including China, Venezuela, Italy and more. Shakra purposefully chose each landscape to fit with the song's lyrics, aiming to use the contrast between the song and visuals to show how nature helped him overcome his struggles.
Judge comments: "The opening shot is truly captivating, marked by its elongated duration, graceful camera movements, and the serene beauty of the time of day. The composition stands out as particularly noteworthy. It’s one of my favorites, and the overall quality is exceptional," said Claudio Miranda.
"The War is an admirable film. Landscape photography is never a simple record, and every shot taken by this cinematographer is refined, precise, and captivating. The angles, the light all show his persistence and perseverance. It is a film where technique and the creator's inner vision are highly aligned. I really liked the ending," said Chenyu Jin.
2025 Annual Best Video Prize (Handheld): Japan Travel Cinematic by Henry Yue
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| Image: Henry Yue |
The new handheld category of the SkyPixel contest celebrates videography created with handheld or stabilized cameras. The inaugural winner, Henry Yue, showcased popular and iconic destinations across Japan in Travel Cinematic. The video uses cinematic camera angles and transitions with creative compositions. You can view the video on the SkyPixel website.
Judge comments: "The sound design and use of movement in this film were second to none, absolutely capturing the essence of Japan in the most stunning way. This was one of my favorites, and I felt immersed from the moment I hit play. Keep up the incredible work—this was truly something else," said Sam Newton.
"Japan Travel is a work rich in visual elements, combining both motion and stillness without causing any sense of chaos. Henry expertly controlled the pace of the film, with clean tones and precise, appropriate exposure control that perfectly integrates all elements. It is a highly refined and cohesive piece," said Chenyu Jin.
2025 Annual Best Photo Prize: Gangerqia
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| Photo: Gangerqia |
Photographer: Gangerqia
Caption (machine translated): A red-crowned crane accidentally fell down when it landed, leaving a phoenix-like shadow on the snow-covered ice. The photographer used the dark spring as a guide point to capture this beautiful moment.
Judge comments: "This aerial photo works beautifully because it almost tricks you at first glance—like you're looking at a drawing rather than a real landscape. There's a frozen pond shaped like an eye that immediately grabs your attention, and the neat line of footprints from the bird adds a playful sense of movement. It’s simple, clean, and has a bit of mystery to it. The minimal colors and subtle textures make the whole thing feel calming but intriguing at the same time," said Luke Stackpoole.
Selection of Annual Top 10 Photo Winners
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Photographer: AB Gusai
Image title: Mud bath bliss
Caption: In the heart of the Indian countryside, a buffalo finds its own unique way to beat the heat. This aerial view captures the animal fully immersed in a vibrant pond, reveling in a luxurious mud bath. The deep, rich mud clings to its skin, providing a natural sunscreen and a soothing relief from the scorching sun. The buffalo seems to sigh contentedly, its eyes half-closed as it luxuriates in the cool, wet embrace of the mud. This image is a reminder of the simple pleasures in life, the joy of a good mud bath, and the resilience of nature's creatures in adapting to their environment.
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Photographer: Fadah
Image title: Sailing through the ice
Caption: None
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Photographer: hanifi
Image title: bulgurcu
Caption: Wheat harvested in the Gaziantep province of Turkey is turned into bulgur after various processes. The resulting bulgur is laid out in the sun to dry. Bulgur needs to be stirred frequently to ensure it dries quickly. The different geometric shapes that emerge during this process are preserved.
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Photographer: Joanna Steidle
Image title: Another World
Caption: This is a top-down drone capture of a fever of cownose rays mixing their way through a school of menhaden fish. Taken just off the coast of the Hamptons, Southampton, New York , USA . On this day the sky was clear, and the sea was calm, allowing the sunlight to enhance the depth and bursting sand clouds.
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Photographer: qb.pixels
Image title: Alien made symbol
Caption: The crest of Buri in Sicily is likely a rocky ridge with Mediterranean vegetation, offering scenic views and possibly historical ruins from Sicily’s rich past.
