Protests, Nature and A World in Lockdown Are Captured from Above in Drone Photo Awards 2020

‘Sunrise Surfing’ by Jim Picôt was commended in the sport category.

Jim Picôt/Drone Photo Awards

Animals, landscapes, protests and empty streets, all caught by photographers from hundreds of feet above, have been highlighted by judges of the 2020 Drone Photo Awards. The annual competition dedicated an entire category to pictures that showed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with several haunting images of empty cities honored by the judges.

But shots of roads packed with protesters also featured, along with scenes from nature as seen by an eye in the sky.

More: Drone Photo Awards

This beach volleyball shot by Kenny Beele was also highlighted.

Kenny Beele/Drone Photo Awards

‘Hot Attack’ by Marc Le Cornu was commended by judges.

Marc Le Cornu/Drone Photo Awards

A photo of thousands of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong was the runner-up in the People category.

Tugo Cheng/Drone Photo Awards

‘Colored Watermix’ by Ignacio Medem, highlighted in the nature category.

Ignacio Medem/Drone Photo Awards

Greece’s Kleanthis Vikelidis stadium was captured in flames by Dimitris Tosidis.

Dimitris Tosidis/Drone Photo Awards

Indian rhinos look for new grazing grounds, captured by Rajarshi Banerji.

Rajarshi Banerji/Drone Photo Awards

Images showing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, like this one by Ingrid Hendriksen, were given their own category.

Ingrid Hendriksen/Drone Photo Awards

A photo from South India by Rakesh Pulapa shows how densely-packed human communities co-exist with natural landscapes.

Rakesh Pulapa/Drone Photo Awards

Stefan Emanuel’s “Time is the only witness” shows a slow pace to life in the Italian countryside.

Stefan Emanuel/Drone Photo Awards

Fabio Muzzi caught pictures of an empty Italy during the coronavirus pandemic.

Fabio Muzzi/Drone Photo Awards

Carmine Chiriacò’s image of a marina in Dubai caught the judges’ eyes.

Carmine Chiriacò/Drone Photo Awards

“Boats Of Buriganga” by Md Ali Asraf Bhuiyan was honored in the urban category.

Md Ali Asraf Bhuiyan/Drone Photo Awards

Thomas Vijayan’s shot of hundreds of flamingos was also picked.

Thomas Vijayan/Drone Photo Awards

An image by Azim Khan Ronnie shows Eid prayers.

Azim Khan Ronnie/Drone Photo Awards

A picture of a Shangai skyscraper in the early morning light.

Rex Zou/Drone Photo Awards

A buffalo herd moves to shelter, in this picture by Mehmet Aslan.

Mehmet Aslan/Drone Photo Awards

“Forest Path” by Mehmet Aslan.

Mehmet Aslan/Drone Photo Awards

Dubai in lockdown, captured by Bachir Moukarzel.

Bachir Moukarzel/Drone Photo Awards

Sheep shelter from the sun, in a shot by Marek Biegalski.

Marek Biegalski/Drone Photo Awards