DJI, the world's leading drone and aerial imaging company, has partnered once again with SkyPixel, the premier online community for aerial photography and videography, to launch the 11th annual SkyPixel Photo and Video Contest. The competition features an impressive total prize pool worth over $200,000, offering photographers and videographers around the world an exceptional opportunity to showcase their skills and win substantial rewards.
The contest invites visual artists to "Frame the World" through both aerial and handheld photography and videography. For the photography section, all entries must be aerial creations captured using eligible DJI drone models, including the Inspire, Mavic, Air, Mini, Phantom, Neo, and Flip series drones. This requirement ensures that all photographic submissions demonstrate the unique perspectives that only aerial imaging can provide.
The videography component of the contest is divided into two distinct categories: aerial and handheld. For aerial video submissions, entries must be less than five minutes in duration, with at least 30 seconds of footage captured using eligible DJI products such as Inspire, Mavic, Air, Mini, Phantom, Neo, Flip, Avata, and DJI FPV drones. Additionally, aerial footage must comprise at least 50 percent of the total submission to qualify for this category.
The handheld videography category welcomes a broader range of DJI equipment, making it accessible to creators with various types of gear. Participants must include at least 30 seconds of footage shot using eligible DJI products, including Ronin gimbals and cinema cameras, Osmo Action, Osmo Pocket, Osmo Mobile, Osmo 360, and Osmo Nano devices. Similar to the aerial category, handheld footage must represent more than 50 percent of the submission.
This year's competition features an distinguished panel of judges comprising leading photographers and videographers from around the world. The photography category will be evaluated by outdoor photographer and filmmaker Jake Guzman, renowned landscape photographers Daniel Kordan and Jiang Ping, and curator and Professor at the School of Photography Zhu Jiong. Their expertise ensures that winning entries represent the highest standards of aerial photography.
For the video categories, the judging panel includes cinematographer Wally Pfister, known for his work on acclaimed films such as "The Dark Knight" and "Inception." Joining him are Director of Photography Ryan Hosking from the hit series "Yellowstone," cinematographer and editor Zeng Jian who worked on "Blind Massage," and photographer and natural history cinematographer Benjamin Hardman, who has collaborated with major networks including Netflix, BBC, National Geographic, and Disney.
The 11th annual contest will distribute a total of 53 prizes across all categories, with the combined prize pool valued at over $200,000. All grand prize winners will receive a commemorative trophy along with a SkyPixel Creator Contract, providing additional recognition and opportunities within the aerial imaging community.
The grand prize awards are particularly impressive, reflecting the contest's commitment to supporting creative professionals. The overall winning photographer will receive a Hasselblad X2D II 100C Combo valued at more than $15,000, representing one of the most advanced medium format camera systems available. The aerial video category winner will take home a DJI Inspire 3 and Mavic 4 Pro combination worth over $22,000, providing professional-grade equipment for future aerial cinematography projects. The handheld video grand prize winner will receive a DJI Ronin 4D-8K cinema camera valued at more than $18,000, offering cutting-edge technology for filmmaking endeavors.
Submissions for the contest are currently open and will remain so until March 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM UTC+8. Participants can submit their entries through the official SkyPixel website or via DJI's various social media channels. Those seeking inspiration for their submissions are encouraged to review the outstanding winning entries from the 10th annual SkyPixel Photo and Video Contest, which showcase the exceptional creativity and technical skill that the competition celebrates each year.
