Dronestagram Photo Contest 2015: Drone's eye view of Maringá Cathedral takes top prize

Yes, there really is an Instagram for drones...

Friday 03 July 2015 08:57 EDT

1st Prize Winner – Category Places: Above the mist by Ricardo Matiello (Tahitiflyshoot)

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The steeple of Maringá Cathedral pokes eerily out from the mist above the Brazilian city.

The bleak high-rise buildings contrast with the fog against the brilliant blue of the sky and the horizon feels unusually close.

This unique perspective (above) is neither bird’s eye view nor man’s, but is the mechanical and precise vantage point of a machine, a drone.

It is the winning photograph in this year’s International Drone Photography Contest which is organised by drone-only social networking site (yes, really) Dronestagram.

1st Prize Winner – Category Nature: Snorkeling with sharks by Tahitiflyshoot (Wanaiifilms)

2nd Prize Winner – Category places: Mont-Saint-Michel by Wanaiifilms (Wanaiifilms)

“Above the Mist” by Richardo Matiello was chosen as the winning image from among 5,000 entries across three categories: places, nature and dronies (selfies made with drones).

“Drone photography depicts a new vision of the world with stunning images taken from low altitude, near field,” says Eric Dupin from Dronestagram. “Only a drone allows [you] to discover and enjoy the cathedral from this point of view.