The year’s best drone photography, from eagles to fireworks

While small “drones” have raised controversy in the US, they’ve made a lasting contribution to the world of photography. A light camera and a quadcopter can capture beautiful aerial shots that might once have been difficult or impossible for most photographers. Last year, Dronestagram launched as a place for both amateurs and professionals to upload their work. This year, it opened a contest to find the very best ones. The winners, picked with the help of users and National Geographic, represent the spectrum of drone photography, from high-flying nature shots to athletic spectacles to people who are just wondering what’s up there looking at them. “Went back to my home town in the Philippines. I was flying in the park one Sunday morning when suddenly people had become really interested,” writes Jericsaniel, who captured the second-place photograph above. “Looking at this picture, I realized how happy my drone makes these people.” And the winning photographer, who deserves every bit of that accolade, has actually managed to make a drone fly with the eagles.