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A lone bird seemingly suspended over crimson grass, a solitary rower gliding across Lake Zurich, and the flood-manipulated red sand dunes of Namibia seen from 600 metres make up the starring landscapes of this year’s winners of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year awards.
Now in its second year, the global competition drew 1587 entries from around the world, celebrating the patterns, shapes and geometry only visible from the skies.
1st place: Azim Khan Ronnie, Bangladesh. Gliding through Serenity – A rowing team on Lake Zurich, Switzerland.
Photographer and former news journalist Azim Khan Ronnie, of Bangladesh, was named the overall international aerial photographer of the year for his compelling four-image folio.
Ronnie, who lives in France, captured a diverse array of global narratives, from the quiet simplicity of rowing in Switzerland to the vibrant, geometric patterns of red chilli peppers drying in Bogura, Bangladesh.
1st place: Azim Khan Ronnie, Bangladesh. Fasting Festival – Hindu devotees gather in Dhaka for Rakher Upobash, fasting and praying with incense and oil lamps to honour Baba Lokenath.
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1st place: Azim Khan Ronnie, Bangladesh. Thousands of Migratory Birds Feeding – Siberian seagulls in Yamuna Ghat in Delhi during annual migration.
“Behind each photograph was patience, waiting for the right light, the perfect arrangement of people, or a fleeting moment when everything came together. Those brief moments are what make aerial photography so rewarding.”
Taking out the top spot for the photograph of the year was Vitaly Golovatyuk of the Russian Federation. His winning image, captured in November 2025 at Elk Park in China’s Zhejiang Province, depicts a bird on a tiny lake surrounded by red grass, where the perfect clarity of the sky’s reflection creates the striking illusion of the bird floating in mid-air.
Photograph of the year 2026: Vitaly Golovatyuk, Russian Federation. Birdie in the Sky – A bird is sitting on the water of a tiny, crystal clear lake with reflection of the sky and surrounded by red grass, in Dongtai.
Photograph of the year 2026: Second place: Sanghamitra Sarkar, India. Wari – A gathering of Warkaris during Maharashtra’s Wari pilgrimage forms a circular pattern around the central palkhi.
Photograph of the year 2026: Third place: Kah-Wai Lin, United States. Thunder of Hooves – At sunset in Cappadocia, Yilki horses surge across the dusty plateau.
Closer to home, Australian photographer Barbara Brown secured third place in the prestigious photographer of the year folio category with her images.
Based in Perth, Brown turned her full attention to photography after retiring from a career as an environmental physicist – a background that has heavily influenced her photographic style.
“My background in mathematics provides a means to create precise and accurate visual compositions,” said Brown. “I use geometric shapes and mathematical concepts such as form, space and proportion to create appealing and balanced designs.”
Third place: Barbara Brown, Australia. Mud Trees – Flooding of Sossusvlei due to heavy rains generated tree patterns.
Third place: Barbara Brown, Australia. Pendant – Salt Works, Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Brown’s winning imagery was born from a deep, multi-decade fascination with the African continent.
“I first visited Namibia back in the early 2000s and fell in love with its landscapes and history. As a photographer, the colour, texture, and shapes of the shifting red sand dunes of Sossusvlei especially captivated me. So much so that I have visited the country seven times,” she said.
To capture her striking perspectives, Brown took to the skies in an open-air aircraft in April of this year. “I spent a total of four hours flying in a helicopter at about 2000 feet with the doors off, photographing dunes, salt works, and shanty towns.”
Third place: Barbara Brown, Australia. Sossuvlei Dune – Heavy rain had resulted in the dunes of Sossuvlei being flooded.
Third place: Barbara Brown, Australia. Cloud Over Dunes – Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Brown has travelled to more than 70 countries and has photographed aerial landscapes across Iceland, New Zealand and outback Australia.
The International Aerial Photographer of the Year awards were established to celebrate all the different aspects of creative visual storytelling from above, judged by an expert panel including Tom Hegen, Isabella Tabacchi and Joanna Steidle.
Every entry is evaluated individually by all three judges, with a strict ban on any AI-generated content. A total prize pool of $US10,000 was shared among the major winners, alongside a showcase of the competition’s top 101 finest contemporary aerial photographs.
International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026 winners
Photographer of the year
Azim Khan Ronnie, Bangladesh
Second place: Chin Leong Teo, Singapore
Third place: Barbara Brown, Australia
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Photograph of the year
Vitaly Golovatyuk, Russian Federation
Second place: Sanghamitra Sarkar, India
Third place: Kah-Wai Lin, United States
Special award winners
Chengming Liu, United States (Above Mountain)
Aleksandra Wilk, Germany (Above Snow)
Savadmon Avalachamveettil, Ireland (Above Water)
A.J. Rich, United States (Chairman’s Choice)