Down The Rabbit Hole
If you think about Italy, you probably think about things like pizza, pasta, wine, historic ruins, and great empires. You most certainly don’t think about massive pink rabbits. However, in 2005 that is exactly what a drone flying over the Piedmont area of northern Italy captured.
Don’t worry, this isn’t the start of some invasion by giant pink lagomorphic aliens. The Hase (German for rabbit) as it is known, is no less than 20 feet high and 200 feet long. This artwork was built in 2005 and according to the artist would remain until 2025, however, it had completely disintegrated by 2016, just 11 years later.
Oh No! Look Out
Many photos that drones have captured actually show something that no one was aware of at the time. Some of these discoveries can be quite terrifying. Few invoke as much fear, however, as the sight of these sailors completely unaware of the gigantic whale following them.
In the video footage captured by the drone, the whale can clearly be seen following the boat for 15 whole minutes. Fortunately, the whale, which is so big it dwarfs the boat, was merely curious and had no malice or aggression toward the boat or this would not have had a happy ending.
Notice Me
In 2017, photographer Florian Ledoux won the highest honors at the Skypixel awards for the following photo. The photo clearly shows a polar bear struggling to navigate the Arctic icecap. Not only is this an example of a perfectly timed, artistic photo but it also serves as a dire warning.
The photo clearly illustrates the serious and very real effects of climate change on the planet. Ledoux stated that he hopes the photo will not only raise awareness of the issue but also encourage people to find a solution.
The Ground Beneath Your Feet
This photo is of a massive sinkhole that had opened up in Guatemala City in 2010 in the wake of a powerful tropical storm. The storm, name Tropical Storm Agatha, pummeled the area for 24 hours before finally weakening.
The storm’s powerful onslaught caused the unexpected and massive sinkhole to appear. According to official reports, the hole was 65 feet wide, 300 feet deep, and had also swallowed a three-story factory. Experts say many things such as the Pacaya volcano erupting and the lax building codes in the city all factored into the increased appearance of sinkholes in the area.
Who's There?
While they are not uncommon, 2016 saw a sudden spike in reports of creepy clown sightings in Canada and the US. While no one actually knows who these clowns are or what they want, the one certainty is that they are terrifying. This photo was captured by a drone and has caused quite a lot of speculation.
Many people claim that it is a staged photo while others think it is real. On theory is that the clown sightings were all possibly part of a secret marketing campaign for 2017’s IT. Others think it is merely a hoax or prank. However, it has been such a serious thing that even McDonald’s decided not to use their clown mascot anymore.
Over The Edge
Many might think that this photo has somehow been digitally altered but sadly that’s not the case. The plane in the photo is Pegasus Airlines Flight 8622. The photo was captured after the plane had slipped off the runway while landing at the Trebizond Airport.
The plane barreled over the edge and slid down the embankment which was not far from the shores of the Black Sea. Fortunately, while the plane was damaged beyond repair and needed to be scrapped, all 168 people on board survived the ordeal without a single injury.
Ready For Love
Since drones are so common, it’s become even easier for the average person to use one. Many people have found incredibly clever and creative uses for their drones. The perfect example of this is a photo taken by this bride and groom.
Having found love in this crazy world, the pair decided to celebrate, and show off a little. They headed to this particular rooftop on their wedding day, lay down on the patch of grass and had the drone capture this amazing photo amid the many buildings and rooftops.
Killer Log
A drone flying over a tourist resort in Phuket, Thailand was capturing the local scenery and beauty when it snapped this terrifying sight. There in the crystal clear blue waters, a three-meter long crocodile can be seen swimming towards the land.
Local reports stated that the croc had, in fact, escaped from a crocodile farm located not far away. Crocodiles such as the Saltwater or Nile crocodiles are lethal. They are responsible for several deaths a year due to how stealthy they are and how suddenly the can strike.
Fathom This
In this photo of the famous Morrison’s Quarry in Chelsea, Quebec you can clearly see a large plane under the crystal waters. If you were to explore further you’d find other things such as cars under the water too as well as many other objects.
Despite their appearance, however, these objects didn’t end up there due to disasters or accidents. Morrison’s Quarry is a popular spot for bungee jumping and diving. As a result, these things were put here to make it more interesting for divers.
Only Mine
To many this image may appear to be the product of photoshop. The truth, however, is that you are seeing the massive Mir mine that lies deep within the heart of Siberia. Holding the record as the biggest man-made hole on the planet, this diamond min was first developed by the Soviet Union.
At the height of production, this mine produced almost 10,000,000,000 carats of diamonds per year. The diamonds were first discovered in 1955 by Chief Geologist Yuri Khabardin. Full-scale excavations started shortly afterward received the Lenin Prize for his find.
Rainbow Delight
Fall is a gift to photographers. The trees and plants with their amazing range of hues and colors offer one last colorful explosion before the dreary winter sets in. One photographer, however, managed to capture an amazing photo with his drone.
Not only do we see the vivid and striking colors the fall leaves have to offer, but we also see the powerful image of man’s encroachment on nature. There amid the natural beauty, we see the sharp contrast between nature and man as the road cuts through this forest of fiery colors.
A Strange Sight
You might think that this is the scene of some tragic accident. However, a man named Bruce Campbell (not the actor), bought this plane when it was decommissioned.
He bought it for $100,000 and had it taken to his land outside Portland, Oregon. He turned this Boeing 727 into his home.
Dutch Engineering
This almost three-hundred-year-old fort was built in Holland. It is no longer used in the countries defense and is currently a historical monument. These walls and moat have stood for several hundred years.
Something else you might notice in this photo is the wonderfully maintained forest which also belongs to the museum. Interestingly enough, a fort with a similar design in South Africa that was also built by the Dutch around the same time.
Seems Like Something From A Movie
This photo is part of a documentary about the relationship between sharks and humans by Mark Romanov and Forrest Galante. It was taken off the Southern Californian coast.
The two girls, called Jessica and Kelly, seem oblivious to the ominous dark shape swimming around under their paddleboards.
Plane Graveyard
Something you might not think about is where fighter planes are sent once they are decommissioned. The answer is: they get sent to Tucson, Arizona. “The Boneyard” is a disposal and storage facility that was created after the Second World War. There are almost 4,000 planes stored here.
The low humidity in the area is what makes it so perfect as a location. The metal doesn’t rust and corrode in that kind of environment. The base sends about $500 million of spare parts back to the government and Congress approved private parties.
Irate Commuters
China is the most populous country in the world with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants. Obviously this also means that China has some horrendous traffic jams ever seen. This photo of a 50 lane road that became a bottlenecked traffic jam was taken on the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau highway on the border of Hong Kong.
The “Golden Week” is a Chinese holiday week where people travel home to see their families. Each year more and more people take to the roads. In 2010 this traffic jam was so bad that it lasted 12 days and some people were only able to travel a single mile in a day.
Record Catch
This well-timed photo captured the moment when a fisherman from Panama City Beach, Florida caught a hammerhead shark. The images show how he is battling to pull up the shark.
The fisherman not only succeeded but also released the shark back into the ocean.
Ever Abandoned
This haunted Silverdome stadium was once home to the Detroit Lions football team before moved to the newer Ford Stadium in 2002. This stadium has hosted the Super Bowl, a pope, the NBA final, an Elvis concert, and many others.
It was bought in 2009 with the plan of turning it into a football stadium. This never happened and no one has any idea what the future holds for this stadium.
Christ The Redeemer
This is an example of the amazing angles that people can only capture with a drone. This photo is a top-down view of the Redeeming Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro. It stands 2,329 high atop Mount Corcovado. The statue is 124.7 feet high and took all of 9 years complete.
As huge as it is, this is only the 3rd largest statue of Christ in the world. There are larger statues are in Bolivia and Poland. The statue in Rio is routinely struck by lightning, even losing a finger as a result of the storm.
Six Flags
Located in New Orleans is an abandoned Six Flags theme park. The park has been closed since Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. This photo was taken by a flying drone just two weeks after the storm passed, and as you can see, the park is still flooded.
A number of different plans have been announced to redevelop the site, but none have been completed. The site remains abandoned and in poor condition. Nevertheless, the park is guarded 24 hours a day by the New Orleans police as thrill-seekers attempt to break into the park to see the ghost town amusement park.
A Nightmare in the Sky
This impressive view shows an aerial photo of a drone overlooking the city of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has the largest number of skyscrapers in the world and, although they are beautiful to look at, they also represent a larger underlying problem in the city’s real estate market.
This impressive view shows an aerial photo of a drone overlooking the city of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has the largest number of skyscrapers in the world and, although they are beautiful to look at, they also represent a larger underlying problem in the city’s real estate market.
Gulliver The Gentle Giant
This somewhat disturbing image was taken by a drone seen from the sky over a field in Edinburgh, Scotland. The statue, called Gulliver the Gentle Giant, was created by Jimmy Boyle, a former gangster, and convicted murderer, while he served a sentence at Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow.
The statue was unveiled in 1976 and has become the favorite playground for children in the region. Over time, the statue decayed and was finally removed from the site in 2011.
Mont Saint-Michel
This photo was taken as part of the “Dronestagramme” travel photography competition. It is Mont Saint-Michel. It is one of the most recognizable sites in France and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Normandy, this emblematic town attracts more than three million visitors per year. The island has had strategic fortifications since antiquity and has been the seat of the monastery since the 8th century AD.
At low tide, the island is accessible to pilgrims who come to visit the abbey. And at high tide, the island is very defensible to potential invaders. Mont Saint-Michel remained undefeated during the Hundred Years’ War, even though the English tried several times to seize the town by force.
Basilica of St. Francis
In what appears to be a castle straight out of the hit Game of Thrones series, this view can be seen in person in Umbria, Italy – but only by drone. And it is not really a castle, but a church known as the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The construction of the imposing basilica began in 1228.
The complex consists of two churches built on the hillside and a crypt where the remains of Saint Francis lie. Saint Francis lived and died in the city of Assisi, one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites in Italy. The basilica has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Weaving Birds
No, it is not a giant sculpture of a moose head, but rather the most famous bird’s nest in the world. This photo of a drone was taken by a South African photographer in the Kalahari Desert, which covers an area of about 350,000 square miles across much of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Such a large nest can support hundreds of weavers.
Since the bird species regularly maintains its nests, they can last extremely long, sometimes up to 100 years. Massive nests are made of natural materials such as twigs, grass, and cotton. The weaver’s common nest is a rare phenomenon among birds.
Feeding the Ducks
This beautiful image of a drone was taken over the Ba River, just downstream of the city of Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. A farmer can be seen feeding the hundreds of beautiful white ducks that surround him. There is a long tradition of duck farming in Vietnam.
Some 30 million ducks are raised each year in the country, which provides a significant amount of meat and eggs to its inhabitants. Many ducks are raised seasonally in rice fields at the beginning of crop growth, as ducks help to control insects and weeds, as well as provide manure for rice plants that provide additional nutrients.
Staten Island Boat Cemetery
Did you know that in the middle of one of the world’s largest cities, New York, there is a boat cemetery that hides in plain sight? The place is locally known as Staten Island Boat Cemetery, located just off the north shore of the borough. This cemetery was founded in the 1930s.
Originally used as a salvage yard, the boats were dismantled and sold as spare parts, but the project was eventually abandoned. Today, there are still about a hundred ships that are decomposing on the site. The destination has become a popular point of view for photographers and artists, especially drones photographers who are looking to capture this unusual view.
Drones of Dubai
Over the last few decades, Dubai has created one of the most spectacular city skylines on the planet. This offers perfect opportunities for drone pilots to get dramatic photographs from interesting viewpoints, as we can see here.
The stunning modern architecture on show in Dubai is crying out for photographers to showcase it, and using drones gives us breathtaking new perspectives.
Bubbling Up
Since drones have come on the scene, photographers have had the opportunity to take pictures of never before seen natural phenomena in areas that were just too hazardous to enter previously.
In this photograph, a photographer has used a drone to get a close-up picture of an Icelandic volcano erupting. Any photographer trying to get to this spectacular fire lake on foot would be taking their life in their hands, but with a drone, we get all the beauty but none of the risk.
Drones and Divers
At 60 years old, most of us are thinking about the rocking chair and slippers, but not this individual, who chose to celebrate his birthday by diving off a waterfall. The Yellow River in China holds many world records for waterfall diving, and for this picture technology, nature, and human courage have combined to produce an amazing image.
Using a drone, the photographer gives us an incredible view of the action and at the same time shows us just how small human achievements are against the majesty of nature.
Solitary Living
For those who really value their privacy and solitude, it’s hard to imagine a better residence than a cottage floating on the surface of the ocean. Clearly whoever built this house was determined to get as far away from the rest of humanity as they could.
All we know about this photograph is that the location is somewhere in the Atlantic between Canada and New York; the drone certainly makes it look as though the homeowner will never have trouble with their neighbors.
Frozen Rivers
This shot of the Delta River in Iceland was taken from 1500 feet up using a drone. The amazing mystical frozen landscapes of Iceland’s winter mountains look here as if they have been created by the most gifted painter – and in a way, they have been, by nature, the most talented painter on Earth.
The swirls and curves of ice look quite magical here, don’t they? This picture is part of a series named “Elemental”, devoted to capturing the amazing sights nature blesses us with.
Unlucky for Some
When someone’s having a really bad day, that can make a good day for a photographer. The driver of this truck clearly won’t be happy after jackknifing and spilling his load across the road, but the photographer with his drone must’ve thought it was Christmas!
There is a fascinating juxtaposition of the stationary truck and the traffic carrying on to speed by oblivious, showing just how isolated we can be from each other in our busy world.
Country Colors
All we know about this photograph is that the photographer is named Anders – and that he has an eye for a beautiful picture. In this shot, he has used a drone to capture an amazing patchwork of contrasting colors between fields and a river.
Before drones came onto the market, pictures like this would require the massive expenditure of hiring helicopters, etc.; now the equipment needed is within the budget of most amateurs.
Hurricane Harvey
Most of these photographs are about the beauty of nature, but we always have to remember that it can be destructive as well. This photograph shows us the appalling damage caused by Hurricane Harvey as it rampaged across Texas and Louisiana.
30,000 people were driven from their homes by this event, which ranks with Hurricane Katrina as one of the greatest natural disasters in America’s recent history; the final bill came to around $125 billion.
A New York Christmas
Bryan Dumas took this incredible photograph of a winter’s morning in Central Park in New York using a drone-mounted camera. It’s an amazing depiction of the way nature can still keep a foothold even in this richest and most urban of cities.
Anyone who has visited New York, or who lives there, knows just how important Central Park is to give relief from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, and this image captures its stillness and beauty perfectly.
Lombard Street
Lombard Street in San Francisco has long been a photographer’s favorite, but they have always been confined to ground-level before.
This drone image gives us a new perspective on the way this famous road snakes its way across the steep slopes of the San Francisco Hills.
Science Fiction?
Drones have given photographers and scientists the opportunities to penetrate areas that had previously been far too dangerous for humans to visit – they are still pretty dangerous for drones, apparently many were lost in the project to capture these images.
Still, we feel it was worth the cost to bring back such amazing pictures, telling us more and more about our planet.
El Nino – Bad Boy
Its name might mean “boy” in Spanish, but the El Nino weather phenomenon is nothing if fully grown. This drone image shows the incredible damage the cyclones it causes bring to the unfortunate countries in its path.
We can see here that residents have abandoned their homes on the coast, and that it won’t be long before more of the coastline crumbles into the sea. It’s a sobering reminder of just how fragile our hold on the planet is.
Californian Catastrophe
In October 2017, the Tubbs Fire began in California. Although the state is used to having forest fires virtually every year, this one was different, rampaging across a wide area and doing billions of dollars of damage in the state’s most costly conflagration.
More than 5600 buildings were destroyed by the fire, from Hollywood millionaire mansions to humble single-story homes. Nearly 37,000 acres of land were burned, and, tragically, at least 22 people were killed.