Goats and Soda : NPR

A lone horseman stands atop a rock outcropping in Cappadocia, Turkey.

Denis Schmelz

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Denis Schmelz

A lone rider, illuminated by a beam of light, stands on the snow, surrounded by strange, jagged mountain peaks. It’s an otherworldly image and it begs the question: how did a photographer manage to achieve such a captivating image?

The answer: drones!

This particular photo, titled “The Lone Horseman,” by Dennis Schmelz, a filmmaker based in Germany, took top honors this year at the Sienna Awards, a global competition that celebrates the art of aerial photography captured by drones.

The image was taken in Cappadocia, Turkey – a mecca for photographers due to its rocky landscape with “fairy chimneys”. Schmelz wanted to capture a different perspective: instead of the tourists and hot air balloons of summer, he wanted a winter scene when snow covers the rocks.

“Silence fills the air and the whole area seems timeless and untouched,” he says.

He sent his drone to photograph a rider at sunset. “I noticed a narrow plateau between two large rocks that formed a perfect natural scene. I asked the runner to stand directly in the center of the frame,” he says.

The final image is a vertical panorama composed of two photos taken by drone. Due to the angle, it looks like the rider is standing on a floating island, but there is a hidden path on the left side that leads to it.

“This is what fascinates me about drone photography: it allows us to discover new perspectives and reveal patterns invisible from the ground,” explains Schmelz.

This is not to say that drones work miracles. “The camera angle must be carefully calibrated,” explains Susanna Scafuri, a journalist and photo editor based in Italy and member of the jury.

But the result can be spectacular, she says.

And it’s not just a question of technology, emphasizes Cornelia Marchis, a German photographer and photo editor based in Milan and another judge this year. She is drawn to photos that offer “new ways of seeing familiar places” and “convey powerful information or tell a compelling story.”

Here’s a selection of award-winning and much-loved drone photography from the Global South that Goats & Soda covers with one geographic exception: an image from Italy so charming we couldn’t resist including it.

Dhaka City, an urban panorama

This is a panoramic photograph of the Buriganga River, which flows through Dhaka. The polluted waters of this busy river are visible, as are the chaotic and crowded constructions on each bank. An impressive city that never rests, filled with deafening noise.

Fran Arnau

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Fran Arnau

Photographer and creative director based in Barcelona, ​​Fran Arnau photographed “Dhaka, Urban Panorama” in the capital of Bangladesh in the early morning. The Buriganga River divides the setting in two: on one side, a dense network of buildings and urban life; on the other, the shipyards where boats are repaired, rest or prepare to leave.

“Viewed from the air, this composition reveals a delicate balance between chaos and order,” explains Arnau. “Ships line up like geometric shapes on dark water, while buildings form an earthy, colorful mosaic.”

Arnau merged 12 drone shots into a single panorama. This stitching technique “allowed me to embrace the full expanse of Dhaka’s landscape, both its dense vertical growth and its dynamic connection with the river.”

Traditional Boli Khela

Aerial view of Boli Khela, a century-old wrestling tournament held annually in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Mohammad Shahriar Foisal

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Mohammad Shahriar Foisal

The image was taken by businessman Mohammad Shahriar Foisal on April 25, 2024, during Abdul Jabbar’s Boli Khela, a century-old wrestling tournament held annually in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Founded in 1909 by respected local businessman Jabbar, the event arose at a time of growing resistance to British colonial rule as a means of promoting unity, physical strength and cultural identity.

Today, Boli Khela attracts thousands of people across 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,” Foisal explains. “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 photo is my tribute to the cultural richness and enduring energy of Boli Khela.”

The Fujian seaweed route

In Shajiang village in China’s Xiapu county, bamboo poles used to dry seaweed span the mudflats. Fishing boats sail across the poles.

Sarah Wouters

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Sarah Wouters

Last May, Sarah Wouters, a Dutch travel photographer living in Bangkok, visited the coastal town of Xiafu in China’s Fujian region, famous for seaweed farming.

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

Swallowed – a ship stranded in a dry lake.

The pleasure boat Artemia is stranded in the dry bed of Lake Urmia, Iran.

Mohammad Ataei Mohammadi

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Mohammad Ataei Mohammadi

Iranian photographer Mohammad Ataei 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 environmental scenes that are both beautiful and alarming.

Lake Urmia’s drought is not just a natural phenomenon, he says. “It is the result of a combination of human and climatic factors: poor management of water resources, excessive withdrawal of water for agriculture and industry, numerous dams blocking the natural supply of the lake and climate change, including rising temperatures, high evaporation and reduced precipitation.”

The power of this photo lies in its symbolic layers. “The streaks of white salt surrounding the ship look like arms pulling it down, reminding us that if we are not kind to nature, its inner monster awakens and can even consume humanity,” he says. “The ship, symbol of industry, technology and human presence, now appears small, alone and defeated in the face of the immense silent power of nature.”

“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor, but at the heart of this accomplishment is a deep sadness,” says Mohammadi. “Every time we praise the photo, it reminds me of the gradual death of a lake,” he says.

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

Every night in Varanasi, India, the Ganga Aarti ceremony takes place, honoring the Ganges River.

Thibault Gerbaldi

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Thibault Gerbaldi

Miami-based photographer Thibault Gerbaldi wanted a bird’s eye view of the Ganges River, where every evening thousands of people gather to witness prayers, fire and chants that celebrate the river as a source of life and purification. His goal was to show its full extent from above: “The density of people, the dedication that extends to the boats far from the shore and the extraordinary sense of collective faith.” he said. The image won first place in the People category of the drone awards.

Miniature paradise

The hot springs of Cascate del Mulino in Tuscany attract bathers on cool evenings.

Gilad Topaz

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Gilad Topaz

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

Gilad Topaz, an Israeli drone photographer, took the photo at sunset on a cold evening. “I was very surprised when I got there, dressed in warm clothes and saw all these people in the water,” he says. After a few minutes of observing the magnificent 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 The New York Times, the British Medical Journalthe BBC, The guardian and other outlets. You can find her on X @kamal_t