Aerial Photographer of the Year: the 2025 winners
The judging panel selected the top 101 images for publication and awarded the ultimate accolade to Joanna Steidle of the United States. Daniel Viñé Garcia, from Spain, and David Swindler, another American, took second and third place respectively in the photographer of the year category.
Australia's Ignacio Palacios won photograph of the year, second and third place going to Talor Stone and Thomas Vijayan respectively. Awards for special categories spanning black and white, abstract, drone and chairman's choice were also handed out.
Pal Hermansen, who won the special award in the drone category, captured a snow blizzard by a lake's edge in Norway
COVER IMAGES
Colin Leonhardt's photo of an alumina mine tailings dam, a waste pond for bauxite ore extraction, earned the special award in the abstract category
COVER IMAGES
Two seals lounging on a drifting slab of ice in the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, southern Iceland, helped Fabien Guittard seal the win in the chairman's choice category
COVER IMAGES
A lava river flows out of the Litli-Hrutur volcano, Iceland, hours after its 2023 eruption, in this panoramic shot by Mike Mezeul
SWNS
Ignacio Palacios's photo of the Cono de Arita in the middle of the Arizaro salt flats in Argentina earned him the photograph of the year award
COVER IMAGES
A polar bear in Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago, after eating a walrus carcass, captured by Pal Hermansen, the winner of the special award in the drone category
COVER IMAGES
The alumina mine near Collie in Western Australia, photographed by Colin Leonhardt
COVER IMAGES
The Brasvellbreen glacier, part of the Austfonna Ice Cap in Svalbard, earned Thomas Vijayan third place in the photograph of the year category and reminded the public of the reality of climate change
COVER IMAGES
David Swindler captured a swarm of flamingos surrounding a small group of pelicans, as he won third place in the photographer of the year contest
COVER IMAGES
Glacial calving, the process where chunks of ice break off from a glacier, reveals an organic pattern in the waters of Northeast Greenland National Park in this photograph by Talor Stone
COVER IMAGES
Daniel Viñé Garcia caught the moment lava from Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano formed a pattern resembling a skull
COVER IMAGES
Joanna Steidle, the overall winner, also took a photograph of a fever of cownose rays approaching a school of menhaden off the coast of Southampton, New York
COVER IMAGES
David Swindler's photo of a desert playa, among the flattest of landforms, which can periodically get covered by water — leaving salt, sand and mud after it evaporates
COVER IMAGES
A dormant volcano in the high-altitude Puna plateau of Argentina reveals intricate erosion patterns sculpted by wind and time in a photo by Daniel Viñé Garcia
COVER IMAGES
Barbara Brown, the winner of the special award in the black and white category, photographed a salt lake in the Goldfields region of Western Australia
COVER IMAGES
Joanna Steidle's shot of a humpback whale diving back under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Southampton
COVER IMAGES
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie shoppers furious over 'sneaky' new detail in Pepsi and Mountain Dew: 'Absolute scandal'
Shoppers are furious after discovering the original recipes of the iconic Pepsi and Mountain Dew soft drinks have been quietly changed. Russell Stuart, known as Russ Eats on social media, went on an expletive rage when he noticed the heath star ratings had switched from 0.5 to 1.5 stars. Upon a closer look at the ingredients list on the label, up to 35 per cent of the sugar has been replaced with sweetener. 'Worst news in f***ing junk food history - this is going to make some people cry. Full sugar Pepsi and Mountain Dew are gone,' Russ said in his video. 'Now the packaging looks the same, that's what's so sneaky. But the health star has went up. Guess what? They've taken out some of the sugar and added sweetener. 'Look at the Mountain Dew, there was sugar, now there's sweetener. Absolute bulls***... Full sugar Pepsi should not be touched.' Russ pointed out that Sprite, Fanta and Lift varieties all have versions with reduced sugar content following tweaks to their original recipes, which he isn't a fan of. 'They did this with Sprite, Fanta and Lift - and they all suck now,' he said. Shoppers are furious after discovering the original recipes of the iconic Pepsi and Mountain Dew soft drinks have been quietly changed. Russell Stuart, known as Russ Eats, went on an expletive rage when he noticed the heath star ratings had switched from 0.5 to 1.5 stars 'Remember when Coke changed the recipe? I wasn't born (at the time), but apparently people nearly punched on.' The food content creator went on to say that if consumers preferred less sugar, they would choose Pepsi Max or Mountain Dew No Sugar options. 'Why a half a*** version? That would only make sense maybe in sports drinks, not fizzy. Even diabetics rely on the full sugar versions to get their sugar levels up when they go low,' Russ said. 'We had a half a*** Pepsi before, it was called Pepsi Next... There was Coke Life, no c*** bought them, they went off the f***ing shelves. 'Now they've done it secretly to the ones we love. This is an absolute scandal.' PepsiCo responds PepsiCo, which owns Pepsi and Mountain Dew, confirmed the ingredients have been altered. There is still sugar in the new formulas of the soft drinks - just less of it. 'We have reduced the sugar content in Pepsi and Mountain Dew in response to consumers who tell us they are looking for products that contain less sugar,' a PepsiCo spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'The new formulas contain low-calorie sweeteners and a lower sugar content. 'We've also undertaken extensive sensory research to ensure we're still delivering the same great taste consumers know and love.' Russ's video has been viewed more than 600,000 times - with many saying they were devastated by the change to their popular beverages. 'Not my Dew…. NOT MY DEW,' one said, crying. 'They ruined Mountain Dew when they made it energised. It was perfect as it was 10 years ago,' another shared. 'I'm fuming about the Mountain Dew! Why are they forcing no sugar on us?' one raged. 'If it tastes different I'll cry. I don't even like the no sugar drinks as it is. They have a weird aftertaste - I'd still have them but they're not preferred especially with soft drinks,' one added. 'How dare they do this to me. I honestly drink Mountain Dew everyday for the past eight years, I have been noticing that they taste different recently,' another shared. Many explained that if they wanted low sugar alternatives, they would choose sugar-free versions. Meanwhile, many expressed their emotions after their favourite soft drinks were either tweaked or taken off the shelves. 'I cried when they removed Diet Coke from Maccas, planes and pubs. It sucks,' one confessed. 'THAT'S why I hate Fanta now... I didn't realise,' another shared, suggesting they had only just discovered that their go-to soft drink now has reduced sugar. While one suggested: 'As long as they don't EVER change Pepsi Max or normal Coke I'll sleep well at night.'
Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Devastated footy star Jackson Hastings makes a solemn promise to his mother as he mourns her in shattering post: 'I'd do anything to hug you again'
Crestfallen NRL star Jackson Hastings is mourning the death of his mother Megan, who he labelled 'my biggest fan and best friend.' Hastings, 29, posted a lengthy message via Instagram on Wednesday, where he was in disbelief at the devastating news. 'I can't believe I'm actually sitting here writing this in utter shock and absolute heart break, simply the day no one ever wants to come I've lost a complete half of me, the post began. 'To my beautiful mother, my rock, my number one supporter, the best nanny ever, and best dog parent anyone could ever ask for I thank you. 'Megsy I thank you for everything I'm the luckiest kid on earth to of had you as my mother for 29 whole years. 'You had nothing but gave me and the girls absolutely everything. You are a warrior and my hero I always had and always will look up to you mum. 'You were my harshest critic, my biggest fan, my best friend and the one and only person I'd want to cry too. 'You're the reason I've been successful, you're the reason I'm the brother I am, partner I am, dad I am and hopefully the best son I could have possibly been. 'Not a day has or will go by without me thinking of you. You've made me so fu**ing proud. Your fight, resilience and work ethic is a testament to who you are as a women and that women being my super mum! I love you so much, I have done and would do anything all over again just to see a smile on your face and give you a hug one more time. 'Life will never ever been the same again. 'I promise to look after Jorja, Jonte, Bruce, Benny and of course little Scottie as best as I can as I know you'll be looking down keeping tabs on me! '9-6-64 / 1-7-25 Megan Megsy Harrod, Rest in love mum! I love you.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
After complaining about too much focus on her courtroom catwalk... Antoinette Lattouf does a 360 and BRAGS about the designers who dressed her while asking her followers 'what is your favourite look?'
Antoinette Lattouf has boasted about her recent courtroom looks in a social media post - despite previously complaining about the focus on her outfits in her case against the ABC. Last week, the radio host, 41, was awarded $70,000 in damages after winning her unlawful termination case against the public broadcaster in the Federal Court. After her win, she posted a gallery of images to Instagram in which she is seen parading all the stylish outfits she wore to court. She also tagged the expensive designers who dressed her - even though she previously called out the media for their focus on her fashion. 'Court couture. Massive shoutout to the legends who styled, stitched, and slayed these looks into existence (all tagged),' Lattouf wrote. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'You didn't just dress me — you armoured me. 'Oh and to the tabloids losing it over the fact I cried, cared, wore couture and claimed: it's called being multidimensional — look it up babes.' She then asked her followers: 'P.S. What was your fave look?' For one of her looks, Lattouf wore a $1,399 black coat by Australian designer Rebecca Vallance and carried a $11,950 Chanel handbag. She also put on a stylish display in a $990 blue suit jacket and $690 pants set by Farage. During another court appearance , she opted for a $800 checked double-breasted blazer and $490 matching pants by Farage. Lattouf also wore an all-white power suit consisting of a $899 blazer by Rebecca Vallance and matching $499 trousers and carried a $2,425 Jimmy Choo cocktail handbag. On another day, she looked glamorous in a black designer dress by the Aussie designer, which retails for $799. Lattouf was also dressed by Lillian Khallouf, opting for a $1200 white hourglass-shaped short dress. Despite bragging about the outfits she wore during the trial, Lattouf previously slammed media for focusing on her appearance in February. 'I knew my appearance would be dissected, analysed, and judged—because that's what happens when you're a woman in the public eye. 'Women who had been down this road before tried to prepare me for what to expect,' she said. 'For the record, the outfits and accessories I wore were either loaned, borrowed or generously donated by folks in fashion (it also helps to have four sisters!) 'I was explicit that any GoFundMe money raised is solely for legal fees. The amount raised so far accounts for about a quarter of the cost of this litigation. Not a cent of it has been spent on anything else. The fact otherwise is being implied by some media outlets is pathetic and plain wrong. 'Anyway, while you're here, take a moment to appreciate this wild idea: you can seek justice and dress however you want while doing it. Crazy, huh?' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Antoinette Lattouf for comment. The casual radio host and Palestine advocate was hired for a week-long stint on ABC Radio Sydney 's Mornings program in December 2023. She was let go after just three shifts for sharing a Human Rights Watch post that said Israel was using starvation as a 'weapon of war' in Gaza. The ABC claimed it took Lattouf off the air because she failed to follow a direction not to post about Israel or the war in Gaza during her five-day shift. But Justice Darryl Rangiah disagreed, finding pro-Israel lobbyists formed an 'orchestrated campaign' to pressure then-ABC chair Ita Buttrose to take Lattouf off air. He found the ABC contravened the Fair Work Act by terminating Lattouf's employment 'for reasons including that she held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza'. Justice Rangiah ordered the ABC to pay Lattouf compensation of $70,000, with the public broadcaster also potentially on the hook for 'pecuniary penalties' for breaking the law.
