Contest Expands to Showcase Aerial and Handheld Videography with Over $170,000 in Prizes
A Decade of Creativity and Community
DJI and SkyPixel have officially launched the 10th Annual SkyPixel Photo & Video Contest, celebrating a decade of stunning aerial photography and videography. From November 7, 2024, to February 10, 2025, participants can submit entries to win prizes worth over $170,000. The contest showcases a journey of creative expression, culminating in the addition of the first-ever “Handheld” category this year. This new category acknowledges the growing use of handheld cameras among artists who capture moments on the ground, broadening the contest’s focus from the skies to more diverse perspectives.
Reflecting on SkyPixel’s evolution, Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI, remarked, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for 10 years now, the SkyPixel Annual Photo & Video Contest has been proud to award photographers and videographers for capturing and sharing their perspective of beauty with the world.” He added, “The SkyPixel platform continues to be a community that ignites imaginations, reimagines the art of imagery, and embraces the diverse experiences of individuals and communities across the world.”
An Established Platform for Global Storytelling
Since its founding in 2014, SkyPixel has grown into a vibrant community of over 55 million users who share over 50 million aerial images and videos. With nine previous contests, SkyPixel has attracted over 400,000 submissions from photographers and videographers worldwide, collectively reaching more than 1 billion views. This success highlights how technology, including DJI’s drones and handheld devices, enables a wide range of users to capture and share unique cinematic moments.
The new “Explore Without Limits” theme encourages contestants to unleash their creativity across the expanded category options, making this year’s contest more inclusive. Participants can now choose between “Aerial Photography,” “Aerial Videography,” and “Handheld Videography,” with all submissions accepted via SkyPixel’s official website and DJI’s social media channels.
New Handheld Category and Popularity Awards
The addition of the “Handheld Videography” category expands the contest’s focus to include ground-based perspectives, which SkyPixel hopes will inspire even more participants. Each month, SkyPixel will also highlight emerging trends by awarding “Popularity Awards” to innovative entries that push creative boundaries.
This year’s competition includes three distinct categories:
- Aerial Photography: Celebrates images capturing grand landscapes, cityscapes, sports, and emotional portraits, allowing participants to present a unique perspective from above.
- Aerial Videography: Encourages video entries showcasing natural wonders, urban life, and events from an aerial view, with the challenge of capturing at least 50% of footage from DJI drones.
- Handheld Videography: Acknowledges storytelling on the ground, capturing intimate life moments, dynamic sports, and tranquil nature, allowing DJI handheld cameras to interpret each filmmaker’s vision.
Participants can view the detailed requirements for each category, including eligible DJI devices, on the SkyPixel website.
Renowned Judges and Diverse Prizes
An impressive roster of judges will review the submissions, including professionals with expertise in both photography and videography. The photography panel features Anne Farrar of National Geographic Magazine, landscape photographers Weimin Chu and Daniel Kordan, and travel photographer Luke Stackpoole. For video submissions, acclaimed cinematographers Claudio Miranda and Chenyu Jin, commercial videographer Tianhong Pan, and filmmaker Sam Newton will lend their insights.
Grand prizes will be awarded to winners in each category:
- Aerial Photography: A Hasselblad X2D 100C kit valued at over $14,000.
- Aerial Videography: A DJI Inspire 3 kit, worth over $20,000.
- Handheld Videography: A DJI Ronin 4D-8K cinema camera set, valued at over $15,000.
Each Grand Winner will also receive a SkyPixel trophy and official recognition as a “SkyPixel Creator.” In addition to grand prizes, SkyPixel will offer over 80 prizes throughout the contest, including popular DJI products like the Mavic 3 Pro, Air 3S, Avata 2, and the Osmo Pocket 3. Entrants will also receive DJI credits redeemable at DJI’s online store.
Submission and Contest Details
Submissions opened on November 7, 2024, and will close on February 10, 2025. DJI and SkyPixel will announce winners on March 27, 2025. To enter, contestants can visit the SkyPixel 10th Annual Photo & Video Contest website, where they will find detailed contest rules and guidelines: SkyPixel Contest 2024.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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