Goats and Soda : NPR

A lone horseman, illuminated by a beam of light, stands in the snow, surrounded by eerie and jagged mountain peaks. It's an otherworldly image, and it raises the question: how did the photographer manage to capture such a breathtaking image?

Answer: Drones!

This particular photograph, titled “Lone Rider,” shot by Dennis Schmelz, a filmmaker from Germany, won the top honor at this year's Sienna Awards, a global competition celebrating the art of aerial photography shot with drones.

The image was taken in Cappadocia, Türkiye – a photography mecca for its rocky landscapes with “fairy chimneys”. Schmeltz wanted to capture a different perspective—instead of summer tourists and hot air balloons, he wanted a winter scene with snow covering the rocks.

“Silence fills the air and the whole region seems eternal and untouched,” he says.

He sent his drone to photograph the rider at sunset. “I noticed a narrow plateau between two large rocks, forming a perfect natural scene. I asked the driver to move right into the center of the frame,” he says.

The final image is a vertical panorama made from two photographs taken from the drone. Around the corner, it looks like the rider is standing on a floating island, but there is a hidden path on the left side that leads there.

“That’s what fascinates me about drone photography—it allows us to open up new perspectives and reveal patterns that aren’t visible from the ground,” Schmelz says.

This doesn't mean drones work miracles. “The shooting angle must be carefully adjusted,” says Susanna Scafuri, a journalist and photo editor from Italy, a member of the jury.

But the results can be dramatic, she says.

And it's not just about technology, emphasizes Cornelia Marchis, a German photographer and photo editor based in Milan and another judge this year. She is drawn to photographs that offer “new perspectives on familiar places” and “convey a compelling message or tell a compelling story.”

Here's a selection of the award-winning and highly regarded drone photography from the Global South that Goats & Soda covers, with one geographic exception—an image from Italy that's so amazing we had to include it.

City, city government

Barcelona-based photographer and creative director Fran Arnau took the photo “Dhaka City Panorama” in the capital of Bangladesh in the early morning light. The Buriganga River divides the frame into two parts – on the one hand, a dense web of buildings and city life; on the other, shipyards where boats are repaired, rested, or prepared for a new voyage.

“From the air, this composition demonstrates the delicate balance between chaos and order,” says Arnau. “Ships line the dark water like geometric shapes, and buildings form an earthy, colorful mosaic.”

Arnau combined 12 drone shots into one panorama. This embroidery technique “allowed me to embrace the full breadth of Dhaka's landscape, both its dense vertical growth and its dynamic relationship with the river.”

Traditional Boli Khela

The photo was taken by businessman Mohammad Shahriar Foisal on April 25, 2024, during Abdul Jabbar's Boli Khela tournament, a centenary wrestling tournament held annually in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Founded in 1909 by respected local businessman Jabbar, the event was born during a time of growing resistance to British colonial rule as a way to promote unity, physical strength and cultural identity.

Today, Boli Khela attracts thousands of people from all over the country and abroad. The matches are intense, with powerful throws and strategic holds, and the energy of the crowd adds to the electric atmosphere.

“I was standing near the ring looking for the best place to launch my drone,” says Foisal. “This event has always been close to my heart. I wanted to capture not only the action in the ring, but also the spirit of the crowd and the tradition behind it,” he says. “This photograph is my tribute to the cultural richness and enduring energy of Pain Khel.”

Seagrass Road in Fujian Province

Last May, Sarah Wouters, a Dutch travel photographer based in Bangkok, traveled to the coastal town of Xiafu in China's Fujian region, which is famous for its seaweed farming.

“The seaweed is grown on long bamboo poles, and farmers use interconnected bamboo stakes that form a smooth S-shape that we can only see from a high vantage point,” says Wouters. She flew the drone over the village and began taking photos, hoping to capture this beautiful symmetry. 15 minutes later it started to rain. “I was very lucky to receive this winning photo,” she says.

Swallowed – a ship stuck in a dry lake.

Iranian photographer Mohammad Atai Mohammadi traveled 870 miles from his home in Gonbad Kavus in Iran's Golestan province to document the severe drought in Lake Urmia. Mohammadi uses drones to capture both beautiful and disturbing environmental scenes.

According to him, the drought on Lake Urmia is not only a natural phenomenon. “It is the result of a combination of human and climatic factors: mismanagement of water resources, over-abstraction of water for agriculture and industry, numerous dams blocking the natural flow of the lake, and climate change, including rising temperatures, high evaporation and decreased rainfall.”

The power of this photograph lies in its symbolic layers. “The white streaks of salt surrounding the ship look like hands pulling it down, reminding us that if we are not kind to nature, its inner monster will awaken and may even consume humanity,” he says. “The ship, a symbol of industry, technology and human presence, now appears small, lonely and defeated by a vast, silent force of nature.”

“It is a great honor to receive this award, but there is a deep sadness at the heart of this achievement,” says Mohammadi. “Every time the photograph is praised, it reminds me of the gradual death of the lake,” he says.

Aarti [offering of light to the gods] under the stars

Miami-based photographer Thibault Gerbaldi wanted to capture a bird's eye view of the Ganges River, where thousands of people gather every evening to witness prayers, fire and chants celebrating the river as a source of life and purification. His goal was to show its full scale from above: “The density of people, the devotion extending even to boats far from shore, and the extraordinary sense of collective faith.” he says. The image won first place in the People category of the Drone Awards.

Miniature paradise

Here's a photo from Italy that brings us vicarious joy: people relaxing in the hot springs of Cascate del Mulino.

Gilad Topaz, a drone photographer from Israel, took the photo at sunset on a cold evening. “I was really surprised when I got there in warm clothes and saw all these people in the water,” he says. After a few minutes of observing the beautiful springs, he launched his drone.

Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, South India. She reports on global health, science and development and has been published in New York Times, British Medical JournalBBC, Guardian and other retail outlets. You can find her on X @kamal_t