With studioSPORT, drone specialist, Dronestagram’s partner

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It has become a must-attend event for this period of the year. The Dronestagram drone imaging platform unveils today its top 20 of the most beautiful and amazing, even stunning drons photos published on the site during 2017.

This 2017 vintage, selected from thousands of photos published during the year, is incredible for several reasons. First of all, drone photography has become a discipline in its own right with its codes and rules. Then, the pilots-photographers have become more and more experienced over the last few months and the level is rising dramatically. Finally, drone technology is constantly improving as prices fall, and especially so that the machines become more accessible due to their size and ease of use. The year 2017 will have been marked by the arrival of the DJI Spark, the latest addition to China’s DJI giant, a fabulous flying camera whose transport and commissioning take up no more space or time than a good old-fashioned SLR, and which, thanks to its excellent equipment and agility, produces still and video images of a totally amazing quality.

Humans and wildlife in the spotlight

One of the characteristics of drone photography, which we probably most appreciate, is the ability to fly over subjects or landscapes at low altitude and invite oneself into scenes where only a drone can move. This year, less spectacular scenery but more close-up views, and especially a lot of people and wildlife. This is the common point in this 2017 vintage: with the exception of a single picture, all of them show men, animals, or both, for encounters that are sometimes improbable.

Clicking on the titles will take you directly to the photo page in a better resolution on Dronestagram, and it will also allow you to access all the information such as publication date, geolocation on a map, the hardware used and even EXIF data. Clicking on the author’s name will bring you to his complete file.

A big thank you to all the authors of these shots, and to the entire Dronestagram community for their active participation in this exciting adventure that makes us discover the world every day as we have never seen it before.

We wish you a very happy new year!

Here are the 20 most beautiful pictures by drone of 2017

Kefalonia Melissani cave

Exploring the Melissani cave on the Greek island of Cephalonia by boat.

Author : Calin Stan

Waterlily

A woman harvests water lilies in a pond in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.

Author : helios1412

Concrete Jungle

A breathtaking view of Dubai’s buildings.

Author : bachirm

Dawn on Mercury Tower

The work of professional stringers on the “Mercury” tower in Moscow City.

Author : Alexey Goncharov

Salt fields

The salt fields are also the speciality of Bac Lieu. Bac Lieu is the salt basket of the Mekong Delta, with extensive salt fields along the coast. The salt fields of Bac Lieu are divided into squares and rows with lots of sparkling white salt under the sun.

Author : helios1412

Portuguese surfer

Portuguese surfer braving the cold of February.

Author : jcourtial

Rising Waters

In Alexandria Bay between New York and Canada, when water levels rise and fall colours begin to take root.

Author : JustenSoule

Marigolds

Gardeners pick marigolds in the morning in Sukhothai province of Thailand.

Author : seksan saowarod

Stairway to heaven

The long staircase leading to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, Portugal.

Author : jcourtial

Quad Bikes in the Dunes

Cross the immense Namibian sand dunes when the sun falls under the horizon.

Author : LukeMaximoBell

Stingray and girls

Friendship.

Author : tahitiflyshoot

Motorbike Bridge Over River In Thailand

Two scooters crossing the bridge in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Author : tominspires

Cruising the Route 66

A couple in a classic blue Ford Mustang Convertible, driving on historic Route 66.

Author : Raf Willems

The Majestic Beast Nanuk

The large polar bear Nanuk in Inuktitut is an impressive animal. In this photo, we can see him crossing between two pieces of sea glacier, or we can imagine him trying to hold it as it melts.

Author : Florian Ledoux

Girls at the Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Stays at the beach in the morning and afternoon.

Author : marihenud

Swimming with a whale

Aerial view of an incredible experience.

Author : DroneFilmsProject

Tropical island beach, Dominican Republic

The beaches of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Author : ValentinValkov

Hippos.

Hippopotamus in Serengeti National Park.

Author : yannick68

Cracked mud boating

Family sailing on Burke Lake, which looks like a dry mud scene.

Author : MiloAllerton

Sveti Stefan Hotel

Un hotel in Montenegro.

Author : smakadron

Bonus: as we didn’t have the heart to decide between the finalists, here are two more photos that we couldn’t fail to show you because they made us so high.

The most famous waterfall in Iceland Gullfoss

Iceland’s most famous waterfall Gullfoss has an impressive double cascade (2 in 1).

Author : Vaidas

Home. Sweet. Home.

Home. Sweet. Home.

Author : yannick68

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With studioSPORT, drone specialist, Dronestagram’s partner