The clock is ticking for photography and videography enthusiasts! DJI’s SkyPixel 10th Annual Photo and Video Contest, themed “Explore Without Limits,” is in its final stretch, with submissions closing on Feb. 10, 2025. If you’ve been thinking about entering, now’s the time to get creative and submit your best aerial and handheld works before it’s too late!
Since its launch in November 2024, the contest has attracted an incredible range of submissions, showcasing breathtaking landscapes, cultural moments, and innovative storytelling through the lens of DJI’s cutting-edge drones and handheld cameras. This year, SkyPixel introduced a dedicated Handheld Video category, encouraging creators to blend aerial and ground perspectives for richer visual narratives.
The contest has reached its final leg, and some of the entries have already set the bar sky-high! Let’s take a look at a few that have wowed judges and the SkyPixel community.
Tree of Life: A symbol of resilience
Photographer Wang Hanbing captured a solitary poplar tree standing amidst cracked earth. The contrast between the barren ground and the tree’s vivid foliage creates a powerful metaphor for resilience. Judge Luke Stackpoole praises the piece, saying, “It’s so simple, yet so powerful. The textures and colors create an incredible visual contrast.”
Icy Circle: A gateway to another world
In Iceland’s ice caves, Julia Pylak framed a mesmerizing shot that feels like stepping into another realm. The image’s composition, with a lone figure bathed in icy blues, highlights both the grandeur and fragility of nature. Chu Weimin, a 2023 World Press Photo Award winner, calls it “enchanting, with a perfect balance of color and scale.”
Scenes of a Fishing Village: A poetic glimpse into daily life
Photographer Xing She Cong Cong stitched together 30 consecutive shots to create a dreamy long-exposure effect of a boat gliding through a fishing village in Fujian, China. The result? A silky, ethereal scene capturing the passage of time. Judge Daniel Kolder notes, “The smooth textures and tranquil mood make this a truly poetic piece.”
From Xinjiang’s Altay region, Kevin Miao’s “Mysterious Altay” pieces together stunning aerial footage capturing misty rivers, golden sunbeams, and even a rainbow over Beautiful Peak.
This is exactly the kind of visual storytelling that drones like the DJI Air 3S and Mavic 3 Pro are built for! However, SkyPixel’s 10th anniversary isn’t just about aerial shots — it’s about storytelling from the ground up. The Handheld Video category has opened new creative possibilities for content creators who want to blend aerial footage with ground perspectives.
One standout entry, “Flight Mode” by David Karg, takes viewers on an adrenaline-pumping mountain biking adventure. Shot predominantly with the DJI Ronin series, the film’s dynamic motion and smooth stabilization bring the thrill of downhill racing to life. Judge Jin Chenyu remarks, “This is a work with high shooting difficulty and excellent execution.”
Another entry, “The City on the Ruins of Angkor Wat”, blends aerial and handheld cinematography to paint a vibrant picture of Cambodia’s historic Siem Reap. The combination of sweeping drone footage and intimate ground shots tells a compelling story of both past and present.
If you need more motivation, just take a look at what’s up for grabs! The Annual Best Photo Prize winner will take home a Hasselblad X2D 100C kit worth over $14,000. The Best Aerial Video winner will score a DJI Inspire 3 kit valued at $20,000, while the Best Handheld Video winner will receive a DJI Ronin 4D-8K kit worth $15,000.
Other prizes include the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, DJI Air 3S, DJI Avata 2, Osmo Pocket 3, and DJI store credits — a great way to upgrade your gear and push your creativity even further.
With the deadline fast approaching, don’t miss your chance to showcase your work and compete with some of the world’s best photographers and filmmakers. Whether you’re capturing sweeping aerial landscapes with a DJI Mavic 3 Pro or crafting dynamic handheld narratives with an Osmo Pocket 3, this is your moment to shine!
For full contest details and submission guidelines, visit the official SkyPixel contest page.
More: Best drone video, photos from DJI SkyPixel’s last annual contest
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