DJI’s annual picture and video contest is again for one more yr, however this SkyPixel 2025 contest has a particular type of milestone. That is the tenth yr of the huge on-line aerial artwork contest, which is placed on by SkyPixel, the net drone group affiliated with drone maker DJI.
The competition continuously evolves to embrace the traits in drone expertise, and this yr is not any completely different. In reality, this yr expands past drones. In a nod to DJI’s handheld “Osmo” line of cameras, this yr’s contest contains the first-ever “Handheld” class.
In fact, the competition nonetheless largely facilities round drones. And for people who enter, there’s a complete prize package deal value greater than $170,000 up for grabs.
How you can enter the SkyPixel 2025 Picture and Video contest
The entry window is open now, and it closes on Feb. 10, 2025. Now in previous years, entrants needed to add their pictures to the SkyPixel web site. However for the primary time, contestants may submit their entries by way of all DJI social media channels.
In a departure from the numerous classes of previous yr, SkyPixel obtained extra streamlined because it entered double digits. This yr’s contest has been simplified to only three separate classes: Aerial Pictures, Aerial Videography and Handheld Videography. Listed here are some particular particulars on every class:
Aerial Pictures
DJI recommends a shot “overlooking the world, framing moments of eternity. Whether or not awe-inspiring nature or grand structure, energetic sporting moments or portraits brimming with emotion – all present the appeal of the artwork of images.”
Entries should be shot on aerial images tools and entered as a single work with a single picture of at least 3MB and a decision of at least 300dpi.
Aerial Videography
DJI recommends movies the place you “soar by the skies and seize the magnificent fantastic thing about the earth. From pure wonders to city jungles inside cities, from impassioned sporting occasions to tranquil or colourful getaways – push the boundaries and let your creativity shine.”
With this class, DJI requires you employ precise DJI merchandise to shoot. Extra particularly, entries should be now not than 5 minutes in size. A minimum of 30 seconds of footage will need to have been shot on DJI drones. In accordance with DJI, DJI FPV, DJI Neo, in addition to the Encourage, Mavic, Air, Mini, Avata and Phantom sequence are all eligible.
Handheld Videography
With these entries, DJI desires you to “maintain the digital camera and report probably the most intimate moments of life. Whether or not it’s the heart beat of town, the serenity of nature, the velocity and fervour of the sports activities area, the thrill and expertise of journey, you’re free to interpret the spirit of the footage and inform your distinctive story.”
As is the case with the Aerial Videography class, DJI requires you employ precise DJI merchandise to shoot. And once more, entries should be now not than 5 minutes in size. A minimum of 30 seconds of footage will need to have been shot on any of the next DJI merchandise: Ronin Stabilizer, Ronin Cinema Cameras, Osmo Motion, Osmo Pocket or Osmo Cellular sequence.
Maximize your odds of profitable the SkyPixel 2025 Picture and Video contest
Profitable the SkyPixel 2025 Picture and Video contest is not any straightforward feat. For starters, brace your self for excessive competitors. Over the course of its previous 9 years, DJI says its SkyPixel contest has obtained a mixed 400,000+ submissions from across the globe.
That mentioned, there are some methods you possibly can enhance your odds of profitable.
Embrace the theme: This yr’s theme is “Discover With out Limits.” Reasonably than importing a generic seashore, attempt to tie it into the theme — even when it’s a generic seashore. In fact, be artistic and attempt to snap a photograph that leans into the ‘exploration’ or ‘no limits’ vibes.
Enter early: Whereas there may be the large, general prize, there are additionally smaller prizes alongside the best way. Every month will function “Recognition Awards.” DJI says the winners listed here are those who “recognizing content material that explores “discover new traits or innovate artwork.”
Play to the judges: I’ll clue you in to who they’re, so you possibly can tailor your submissions to their pursuits. The images judges are Anne Farrar (Assistant Managing Editor-Pictures at Nationwide Geographic Journal), Weimin Chu (panorama photographer), Daniel Kordan (panorama photographer) and Luke Stackpoole (journey and journey photographer).
The video judges are: Claudio Miranda (Academy Award-winning cinematographer recognized for initiatives together with Lifetime of Pi, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Prime Gun: Maverick), Chenyu Jin (Director of Pictures recognized for Blossoms Shanghai and Like A Rolling Stone), Tianhong Pan (founding father of MediaStorm) and Sam Newton (journey filmmaker).
Get impressed: Use the previous winners to glean insights into what the judges like. I’ve shared the very best drone pictures of 2023 and the very best drone movies of 2023, highlighting the 2023 SkyPixel contest winners. And extra lately, I shared the greatest drone pictures of 2024 and the greatest drone movies of 2024, once more highlighting final yr’s SkyPixel winners.
What are the prizes?
SkyPixel will announce the awards on March 27, 2026. So what’s up for grabs? This yr, three Grand Winners (that’s one from every of the classes) will win the very best prize package deal. However that’s not all. DJI plans to offer away greater than 80 prizes over the course of the competitors.
Right here’s what’s in these prize packages:
- Picture Grand Winner prize: A Hasselblad X2D 100C, XCD 3.5-4.5/35-75mm, and an XCD F4/45P (value over $14,000)
- Video Grand Winner prize: A DJI Encourage 3 drone, a DL 18 mm F2.8, PROSSD 1TB, and two TB51 Batteries (value over $20,000)
- Handheld Grand Winner prize: A DJI Ronin 4D-8K cinema digital camera, DJI Transmission, and two TB50 batteries (value over $15,000)
Discover out in regards to the different smaller prizes on the official SkyPixel web site.
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