What happens when you cross a Star Wars fan with a drone enthusiast? You get photographer Ryan Ditch, who planned and took this lightsaber-themed photo with his DJI Mavic drone. We're a little surprised that no aspiring Luke Skywalkers had thought of this idea before!
Lightsaber imagery aside, this is still an amazing shot for the cool use of light and darkness captured in the photo. Plus, from this angle, this doesn't even look like the desert--it looks like a completely different world. Who knows, it could even be Tatooine!
Most people never get to experience the rural Mt. Loop highway in Snohomish county Washington. However, I bet that even locals have never had a view of this winding road quite as spectacular as this view from above! This is another remote nature shot from drone photographer Ryan Ditch.
We're not sure if it's fancy photo editing or just the angle of the shot, but this drone photo looks like it's taken from so high up that you can almost start to see the curve of the earth. This is definitely one place where you want to keep your eyes on the road or you might end up in the middle of the woods!
Is this real life or is this just fantasy? No, don't worry, we won't be reciting all of "Bohemian Rhapsody," but this strange image is sure a sight to behold. The way the water moves is almost surreal. What exactly is going on here is difficult to say.
Is this photo real or a mere work of art? The answer might be a little of both. It's distorted enough that you can't really tell. But isn't that life really? The image is plenty cool, nonetheless. But if you ever see anything like this on the beach yourself, you might need a nap.
Venice is an L.A. neighborhood where skating is a way of life. And you can't do much better when you're in Venice than the Skateland skate park. There may be plenty of thrill seekers getting air when they visit, but I bet no one has ever had a view of the park from this high up!
If you didn't know what you were looking at, you might not immediately realize that this collection of odd cement shapes was actually a skate park. With a little rain, this place looks like it could easily transform into a cement water park!
We don't know exactly everything that went into this perfectly timed self portrait, but one thing is for sure--this photographer definitely didn't get this amazing shot on the first try! Taking a photo with complicated lighting like this would be hard enough with a standard camera, but we're sure it was a real challenge with a drone.
The photographer said he took this photo of himself during lockdown, so he had plenty of time on his hands to get everything exactly right. It was definitely worth the effort because he ended up with a unique and memorable photo--made even cooler by the fact that it was taken by a drone!
Nestled on that white sandbank, surrounded by crystal-clear, turquoise waters, this woman is really living the dream. This looks so peaceful, it's almost criminal. The only thing missing from this picture is a nice cocktail to sip, but maybe the waiter is bringing it.
Have you ever wondered what gives the waters of the Caribbean that beautiful turquoise color? Well, it all has to do with the coast's tendency to scatter light. The combination of the white sand and the shallow waters gives the ocean that vibrant blue color that's unlike anywhere else in the world.
When engineers were designing this spillway for Malaga Lake in New Jersey, we're sure that they didn't give any thought to what the finished product would look like--they were probably more concerned with keeping the nearby road from flooding. But, luckily for this photographer, the view from above is absolutely mesmerizing.
Malaga Lake might be known for its swimming, but this is one spot that swimmers should probably steer clear of. We'll leave it to the drone photographers to keep safely exploring this place!
Plenty of tourists have been on the inside looking out from the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, but not many people have had an opposite view like this! You can just barely see the tiny observation windows that viewers have to peep out of at the top of this massive monument.
This drone shot is not only an interesting photo of the Gateway Arch--it's also a fantastic shot of the massive city of St. Louis behind it. It may just be a mid-sized city in the Midwest, but from this angle, it looks like a massive, sprawling metropolis.
Is there really anything cooler than a hedge maze? This one seems pretty intense though for a morning jog but who are we to judge? Blending the mind and body together always comes with the best benefits. Hopefully, this is just a regular maze and not like the one in The Shining.
Or worse yet, it could be like that one in Harry Potter. We can't imagine how long it must be to get out of a maze like this. Probably a lot longer than any of us have time for. Going in there, I'd probably get hungry halfway through.
From the ground, we're sure this that this lighthouse looks massive to the average viewer. However, as this drone photo shows, sometimes "massive" is a very relative term. From this angle, it looks like the lighthouse is about to be engulfed by the giant sea.
The pier leading to the lighthouse might be plenty sturdy and safe, but that's not the vibe we get from this picture. From this perspective, it looks like the pier is about one strong wave away from being completely washed out.
The Centennial Gardens is only one of many attractions at Hermann Park in Houston, Texas. However, it's definitely one of the most beautiful sights to see if you're in the area. As it turns out, these gardens were hiding a spiral secret that's much harder to notice when your feet are planted on the ground!
However, when shot from above, this gorgeous spiral mound looks even cooler than we imagined. The water almost makes it look like a slice has been cut of a beautiful, grassy pie. This place is definitely a must visit--even if you can't normally get an amazing view like this!
Anyone who's an L.A. resident (or a fan of the Angels) can immediately recognize the "Big A" sign that greets fans at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. However, we've never had a view of it as quite as impressive as this! The sign is pretty big in real life, but this perspective makes it look absolutely massive.
On top of all that, this is a very poignant picture. If you'll notice, the parking lot to the stadium is completely empty, and that's because this photo was taken during the height of coronavirus lockdowns. We weren't sure if baseball would ever return then, but it's clear that the Angels were holding onto hope the entire time!
There are plenty of amazing drone photos out there, but not all of them go to such great photographic lengths like this one did! It may have been more work for the photographer, but, judging by the results, it was more than worth the effort to get this amazing shot.
While it may look like these are Martian mountains being ringed by halos, the real explanation is more down to earth. The photographer utilized multiple drones--one to take a long-exposure image and others, attached with lights, to circle these desert mountains as the photo was taken.
It turns out that drone cameras can do more than photograph places at hard-to-reach angles. If this photo is any indication, the sky is clearly the limit when it comes to shooting creative, beautiful photographs with a drone.
For this interesting shot, the photographer relied on a couple of things--long-exposure photography and fireworks. Yes, you heard us right. This unusual pic is all thanks to strapping some fireworks onto a drone. All these curvy lines are either an artistic choice or it was the photographer struggling to navigate a drone with a bottle rocket attached!
Okay, sure, this photographer needed a little more than a drone to achieve this surreal shot, but it wouldn't have been possible at all without the ability to capture photos from high in the air. This mini planet is one of the most unusual uses of drone photography we've ever seen.
To make this possible, the photographer had to use a special panoramic, 360 degree photo lens--and we imagine that it took a fair bit of photo editing, too. While it may look like a faraway planet, this shot was actually taken in Mexico.
It doesn't matter how high you navigate your drone, there's one thing in Barcelona, Spain that's always going to stick out--the Sagrada Familia basilica. This massive church rises above the rest of the city, and it's definitely the first thing that catches your eye in this photo.
While this may be a gorgeous shot, locals are divided on the issue of the basilica. It's still technically unfinished even though it was started more than a century ago in 1882. Currently, it's listed as being 70% complete. Hopefully that will move to 100% sometime in the 21st century!
Going to a casino might be a gamble, but the odds were good that this drone photo of the Grand Lisboa casino in Macau, China would turn out great. And that it did! It's almost as if this unusual building was designed to be photographed from above.
The casino opened in 2007 and offers more than 400 hotel rooms and more than 1800 gambling tables and machines. As you can see from the photo, this building dwarfs everything around it, which makes sense, considering it's the tallest building in Macau area.
In February of 2021, the state of Texas suffered through three major winter storms that left millions without power for days. And in this photo, it's clear that large swaths of Garland, Texas were affected by these chilling issues. And thankfully, a drone photographer was there to capture what was going on.
We don't know exactly how power grids work, but we imagine it would be a real bummer to be one of the many stuck in the cold and dark while neighbors just down the street still had their power working just fine. Hopefully the folks in this photo managed to successfully weather the storms.
We know that the earth has a curve, but it appears to be curving the wrong way in this unique drone photo! This is something that looks like it would be straight out of Inception. But unlike that movie, this is a real, live shot...sort of...technically.
According to the photographer, who posted this amazing image on Reddit, it took more than a little creative editing to make this photo a reality. While the finished product looks like one big, curvy photo, it's actually been stitched together from five individual shots.
Either this is a very creative design for a hotel and resort, or there's a ship captain out there who really dropped the ball when it comes to navigating. This looks like it would be a great option for someone who loves cruising but hates being on the open seas.
This unusual building is actually the Sun Cruise Resort and Yacht and is located in Gangneung, South Korea. Apparently, they pump bird and ocean noises into the rooms to simulate sailing on a traditional cruise. It might not be quite the same as the real thing, but it's definitely an experience we'd like to try.
Not many people can say that they've looked down on a giraffe, but with the power of drone technology, anything is possible. We're sure this adorable guy was very curious about the strange-looking bird getting all up in his business. Little does he know, he's on camera!
This might not be the most stunning or creative drone shot that's ever been taken, but sometimes the best things in life are simple. And it gets major cute animal bonus points, which should count for something. Let's just all hope this giraffe doesn't get obsessed with taking selfies!
Tragedy has struck a home in this drone photo. This pic was submitted by a Reddit user who managed to snap the shot after his neighbor's house caught on fire. It looks like the firefighters have a major problem on their hands--this is dangerous business!
While this is a sad situation all around, it's not often that you get such an unusual view of such a destructive scene. And while the subject may be tragic, the shot is strangely beautiful. The house might not be salvagable, hopefully there weren't any injuries associated with this fiery accident.
This drone photographer was in the right place at the right time to snap this stunning photo of a line of camels making their way through the desert. Judging by the landscape, this is probably not the most comfortable trip to make--for the camels or for the people riding them!
This photo was posted to Reddit by a user who confirmed that the photo was taken in the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China and was part of the ancient trading route, the Silk Road. There may be easier ways to trade these days, but it still looks like a beautiful location!
No matter what angle you view it from, the Interlace in Singapore is a dizzying building. However, this aerial shot from a drone shows just how crazy this place actually is. If you happen in to find yourself in this building, you better hope you have a map because you're definitely getting lost!
Completed in 2013, the Interlace is an apartment building that covers almost two million square feet. It stands out from the more traditional buildings found in big cities like Singapore, but the reception to it has been overwhelmingly positive. Apartment life might not be glamorous, but it looks pretty fun if you lived here!
There's not many things that are more breathtaking than a waterfall, but this one really takes the cake. We're glad this drone photographer managed to snag this shot, because there's no way we'd be going up there ourselves! One wrong step and you'd find yourself taking a short "tumble" down this dangerous rock face.
This stunning photo is of Mardalsfossen waterfall in Norway. What this photo doesn't show is that the falls continue on down for quite a bit more. All in all, the fall is a total of 2300 feet! This is definitely one spot for your tourist bucket list--as long as you're not afraid of heights!
New York City may be the city that never sleeps, but this drone photo makes it look like Denver seems to be a pretty lively place 24/7 too! Coors Field is front and center in this spectacular shot. Denver definitely proves that there's more to do in Colorado than just the Rocky Mountains!
Cityscapes may not be the most original or groundbreaking genre of photo out there, but you can't deny just how impressive this picture looks. This drone photographer definitely knows the perfect shot when he sees it, and Denver is clearly a picturesque place to be!
Basically any city skyline looks amazing when you're coming from the point of view of a drone, but this photographer managed to take things a step further. He managed to capture this nicely symmetrical shot instead of just choosing a position at random. Geometry never looked so good.
This is a beautifully illuminated shot of the capitol building in Madison, WI. Politics might not be the most exciting thing in the world, but this shot makes government look downright dazzling. The structure has been in use since 1917 and is the fifth building in the state to be used as the capitol.
This drone photo allows us to take a different view of history. Back when these bunkers were constructed, no one probably ever thought about what they would look about from above. However, the view is stunning from up there and this photographer managed to capture a beautiful shot.
These bunkers were installed in Denmark during World War II and have held up surprisingly well throughout the years. And with this unique photo, they really come to life. Unfortunately, these bunkers were used by Germans in the war, as Denmark was important to them for attacking Norway.
This pic of a winding road obviously took a little fancy editing work, but what you end up with is well worth the effort - and it was all made possible thanks to the power of drones. Whether you're a winter person or a spring person, this photo has a little something for everyone in every season.
This photo clearly resonated with a lot of people because it ended up being an award winner. The pic won the 2018 Drone Awards that were sponsored by Design Boom. It's not hard to see why this one was a winner, even if it did have some stiff competition!
There are some people want to sail the seas, but there are others who want to take to the skies. Thankfully, with this amazing drone photo, you get to do both! It's amazing how different things look from above. Even from this elevated location, you can tell this ship is absolutely massive.
Judging from the waves breaking on the coast, something also tells us that this ship has wound up somewhere it wasn't meant to be. Hopefully it wasn't too much of a pain to get this huge thing moved! But even if it was, this amazing photo is almost worth the trouble...almost.
It's a chilly day on the water in this spectacular drone photo! It might not be a great day to hit the lake, but you can deny that the view is unbeatable. This looks like a great place to be if you want small town living without being in the middle of nowhere.
This fantastic shot was taken in Marquette, MI on the banks of Lake Superior. The ice looks like it's kind of frozen, but it definitely doesn't look sturdy enough to skate on! On average, about 50% of Lake Superior freezes every winter--although a complete freeze has happened in the past.
This is not normally how bridges work, but this is one amazing idea (and photo) nonetheless! This is a unique way for both drivers and boaters to get around that you don't see every day. Let's just not ask questions about what happens to the cars below if the river floods...
On top of being such an amazingly designed structure, this is also a perfectly timed photo--we actually get to see the water bridge in action! The drone is flying so high up there we bet that these boaters don't even know that they're the stars of this photograph!
These swimmers definitely made the right choice in sticking with the beautiful pool and not the waves crashing on the craggy rocks! This is one stunning drone photo capturing an interesting contrast. Maybe it's just the angle of the shot, but it looks like the ocean is going to spill over into the pool at any minute.
This photo was taken at Bronte Baths in Sydney, Australia. This stunning hot spot is the place to be if you're looking to take a dip and get some amazing views down under! This is just one of several ocean baths available in the city, but this one is the best. Why? Because it's free!
