Summary
- Azim Khan Ronnie from Bangladesh was named International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026.
- The competition received 1,587 entries from around the world.
- Vitaly Golovatyuk won International Aerial Photograph of the Year 2026.
- The winning single image was captured in China in November 2025.
- The Top 101 images highlight different approaches to aerial photography.
Azim Khan Ronnie from Bangladesh has been named International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026, in a competition that received 1,587 entries from around the world.
The second International Aerial Photographer of the Year has announced its 2026 winners, with Azim Khan Ronnie taking first place in the Photographer of the Year category, which is based on a portfolio of at least four images. Ronnie is a professional photographer from Bangladesh, currently living in France, with extensive experience in travel photography, aerial photography, documentary work, sports, humanitarian issues and everyday life.
The distinction matters because it highlights the power of aerial photography to transform familiar scenes into images with new geometry, scale and narrative force. The competition received 1,587 entries and awarded both single images and complete portfolios, showing that photography from above continues to offer a fresh perspective in contemporary photography.
The overall winner of 2026
Azim Khan Ronnie won the title of International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026 with a portfolio that combines human scenes, patterns, colour and narrative strength.
The photographer began in journalism, having worked for more than 19 years in television media, while he has been working professionally in photography for the past 11 years. His work focuses on real stories, aiming to document moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
According to him, aerial photography interests him because it reveals elements that cannot be seen from the ground: patterns, textures, geometry and relationships between people, nature and the environment.
Azim Khan Ronnie’s images
The winner’s portfolio includes scenes from different countries and environments. Among them are the calm of a boat on Lake Zurich, the interaction between people and birds at Yamuna Ghat in Delhi, red chilli peppers drying in Bogura, Bangladesh, and the atmosphere of the Rakher Upobash religious ritual in Dhaka.
Ronnie says that each image required patience, the right light and the right moment when people, place and composition came together. His approach is based on storytelling, not simply on an impressive point of view.
For his equipment, he uses mirrorless cameras, action cameras, drones and professional lighting. For aerial photography he works with a DJI Mavic 4 Pro and a DJI Mavic 3 Classic, while shooting exclusively in raw. For editing he uses Adobe Photoshop, with a philosophy focused on enhancement rather than altering reality.
The winner of the best single photograph
The title of International Aerial Photograph of the Year 2026, awarded for a single image, went to Vitaly Golovatyuk from the Russian Federation.
Golovatyuk is a professional cinematographer and photographer with more than 15 years of experience, 11 of which are dedicated to aerial imaging. His winning photograph was taken in November 2025 at Elk Park, outside Dongtai City in Zhejiang Province, China.
The image shows a bird over a small lake surrounded by red grass. The reflection of the sky on the water creates the impression that the bird is floating in the air, giving the scene an almost surreal feeling.
The other distinctions
In the International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026 category, second place went to Chin Leong Teo from Singapore and third place to Barbara Brown from Australia.
In the International Aerial Photograph of the Year 2026 category, second place went to Sanghamitra Sarkar from India and third place to Kah-Wai Lin from the USA.
The competition also included special awards. The Above Mountain Award 2026 went to Chengming Liu from the USA, the Above Snow Award 2026 to Aleksandra Wilk from Germany, the Above Water Award 2026 to Savadmon Avalachamveettil from Ireland and the Chairman’s Choice Award 2026 to A.J. Rich from the USA.
You can take a look of all the winners here.
The jury and the competition’s philosophy
The judging panel consisted of Tom Hegen from the USA, Isabella Tabacchi from Italy and Joanna Steidle from the USA.
Competition chairman Peter Eastway noted that aerial images remain special because they do not simply offer a view from above, but reveal patterns, shapes and compositions that cannot be perceived from the ground.
In the 2026 competition, the Top 101 images are recognised, while the main awards include total prize money of 10,000 US dollars. According to the organisers, all entries must be created by a real person and AI that generates new content is not permitted.
What we think
This year’s edition shows that aerial photography has moved beyond the stage of pure visual impact and into meaningful storytelling. The images that stand out are not based only on altitude, but on composition, light, timing and the photographer’s ability to see a story where most people would simply see a landscape.
Frequently asked questions
Who won International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026?
The winner was Azim Khan Ronnie from Bangladesh, with a portfolio of at least four images.
How many entries did the competition receive?
The competition received 1,587 entries from around the world.
Who won International Aerial Photograph of the Year 2026?
The title for the best single photograph went to Vitaly Golovatyuk from the Russian Federation.
Where was the winning single photograph taken?
Vitaly Golovatyuk’s photograph was taken at Elk Park, outside Dongtai City in Zhejiang Province, China, in November 2025.
Is artificial intelligence allowed in the competition?
The organisers state that all entries must be created by a real person and that AI generating new content is not permitted.
