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Today, we’d like to present you with a list of the finalists for the 2024 Siena Drone Photo Awards. As we read on the contest's website: “Siena Awards is an independent project born from the dream of making Siena and its territory the international capital of photography; a great curator of exclusive events that aim to include and involve great international photographers, amateurs, emerging talents, enthusiasts, and all those who love culture.”

We’re excited to share with you the list of 36 nominees in 7 categories. It’s important to mention there are 2 more categories - Series and Video - that we’d highly recommend you check out on the organizer's website. The winning images will be announced at the Siena Awards ceremony on 28 September 2024.

Scroll down to see the best drone photographs and to read our interview with one of this year's nominees, Ivo Danchev.

More info: sienawards.com | Facebook | x.com | Instagram

Bored Panda reached out to Ivo Danchev, a Siena Awards finalist, whose image 'Shepherd with Herd' is nominated in this year’s People category. We wondered what inspired the photographer to capture this particular moment of the shepherd Nikola with his Karakachan sheep, and what message he hoped to convey through this picture. Ivo shared with us: “Back in 2013, I was working for Slow Food magazine in the western Balkan mountains of Serbia, near the border with Bulgaria. My job was to document one of the very last herds of Karakachan sheep and there was Nikola - their shepherd. After having a friendly conversation with him I could tell he had great love and care for his animals. His stories inspired me to make a portrait of him and his herd that captures his relationship and the protection he was for that bunch of brown survivors.”

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    #2

    “Ocean Clean Up” By Toby Nicol (UK)

    “Ocean Clean Up” By Toby Nicol (UK)

    Siena Awards Report

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    MacintoshID
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The whale looks so calm and relaxed. I wonder if they are getting a massage with this clean up.

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    #3

    “Elddreki / Fire Dragon” By Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove (Belgium)

    “Elddreki / Fire Dragon” By Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove (Belgium)

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    Asked how he felt while photographing this scene, the Siena Awards finalist said: “I was charmed by the beauty of my characters, both man and animals, and got super excited to be able to look at them and photograph them from above. It was the perfect angle. I wanted the viewers to fall in love with the characters – just as strong as I felt at that very moment.”

    #4

    “Cranberry Harvest” By Brad Weiner (USA)

    “Cranberry Harvest” By Brad Weiner (USA)

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    David McMullin
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    then I learned that since they flood the plants to harvest, that there are literally thousands of spiders climbing on the workers to escape the water. Since they need the spiders for pest control it is important not to injure them...

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    #5

    “A Polar Romance” By Florian Ledoux (France)

    “A Polar Romance” By Florian Ledoux (France)

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    MacintoshID
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like a Mama bear and her older cub, not a male and female. Like most bears, the two sexes stay away from each other unless it is for mating.

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    Next, Ivo told us what he learned about the cultural and historical significance of traditional Karakachan life through his project: “In the past, the Karakachan used to practice transhumance and a semi-nomadic lifestyle. They were migrating from the Egean Sea to the Black Sea following the high mountain pastures so their numerous sheep herds could graze. In the 1960s the communist party decided to take their herds and put them into blocks of flats.

    At that time, the military blocked the mountain passes and forced them to obey and give away their animals to slaughter. That was a time of great sorrow and loss of traditional lifestyle. They told me in the beginning they used to sleep on the balconies as the rooms felt like prison. The small brown sheep accommodated to harsh mountains weren’t producing enough milk compared to the lowland breeds and their numbers were decreased until, in the beginning of the 21st century, there were only few animals surviving in some remote areas.

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    Today, after about 20 years of hard work of devoted people like Nikola, there are several new herds and hope that the breed could be saved as part of the world's biodiversity.”

    #6

    “Marching In The Salt Marsh.” By Raj Mohan (India)

    “Marching In The Salt Marsh.” By Raj Mohan (India)

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    Kelly H. Wilder
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought this was a cave painting! It took me a minute to process it as a photo.

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    #7

    “Blika” By Brynjar Agustsson (Iceland)

    “Blika” By Brynjar Agustsson (Iceland)

    Siena Awards Report

    Lastly, we were curious about what future projects the photographer is particularly excited about exploring. Danchev told us: “Shepherds and animals have always been some of my favorite subjects. For the past 6 years, I have been working on a long-term book project on the extremely rich heritage of masked traditions of Bulgaria, and again it is a story of the ancient bond between man and animals. It seems to be my favorite story and I just can’t let it go.”

    #8

    “The Eye Of The Dragon” By Miki Spitzer (Israel)

    “The Eye Of The Dragon” By Miki Spitzer (Israel)

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    #9

    “Bridge Brings Into The City” By Xu Zhang (China)

    “Bridge Brings Into The City” By Xu Zhang (China)

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    #10

    “Tree Of Life” By Isabella Tabacchi (Italy)

    “Tree Of Life” By Isabella Tabacchi (Italy)

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    #11

    “The Shadow Jumper” By Edouard Salmon (France)

    “The Shadow Jumper” By Edouard Salmon (France)

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    #13

    “Sea Of Pink” By Paul Mckenzie (Ireland)

    “Sea Of Pink” By Paul Mckenzie (Ireland)

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    #14

    “Love From Above” By Joanna Zdancewicz (Poland)

    “Love From Above” By Joanna Zdancewicz (Poland)

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    #18

    “Village Under Snow” By Hüseyin Karahan (Turkey)

    “Village Under Snow” By Hüseyin Karahan (Turkey)

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    #19

    “Pelicanos Blancos” By Guillermo Soberón (Mexico)

    “Pelicanos Blancos” By Guillermo Soberón (Mexico)

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    #20

    “Apple Dream” By Tim Demski (Poland)

    “Apple Dream” By Tim Demski (Poland)

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    Trev Fontaine
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So after the ceremony hunny, we are going to climb across 10000 apples...yes in your heels and white dress. Dont worry darling they have a ladder

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    #21

    “Drifting In Space” By Gilad Topaz (Israel)

    “Drifting In Space” By Gilad Topaz (Israel)

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    #22

    “Tongue” By Daniel Viñé Garcia (Spain)

    “Tongue” By Daniel Viñé Garcia (Spain)

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    #23

    “Minimalist Action” By Alex Berasategi (Azerbaijan)

    “Minimalist Action” By Alex Berasategi (Azerbaijan)

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    #24

    “Chain Lights Of Cross-Country Skiiers” By Daniel Koszela (Poland)

    “Chain Lights Of Cross-Country Skiiers” By Daniel Koszela (Poland)

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    Jessica N
    Community Member
    5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This reminds me of the weirdest drive I ever had at night. Had about an hour drive home through Northern Wisconsin, beautiful forested drive. I saw a light hovering, seemed to bobble a little back and forth and a little up and down on the side of the 2 lane highway. Heart pounded a little, it was bizarre. Weirded out, I slow down to see what is causing it. It was a teenage Amish boy on rollerblades with a mining helmet pulling a small buggy! So as he pushed off with each leg the light would sway, left to right.

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    #25

    “Stay Where Your Heat Smiles” By Silke Hullmann (Germany)

    “Stay Where Your Heat Smiles” By Silke Hullmann (Germany)

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    #27

    “Blue Adrenaline: The Surge Of Pipeline” By Matt Dusig (USA)

    “Blue Adrenaline: The Surge Of Pipeline” By Matt Dusig (USA)

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    #29

    “Bucha, City Of Death” By Carol Guzy (USA)

    “Bucha, City Of Death” By Carol Guzy (USA)

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    Michael Asher
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Russia started this war! He can't be happy with what he's got! He wants Ukraine for it's resources so he kills all these people just for money and control. He's a KGB baby!

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    #30

    “Magical Lines” By Mohd Khorshid (Kuwait)

    “Magical Lines” By Mohd Khorshid (Kuwait)

    Siena Awards Report

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    Babs Ishkabibble
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This pic in particular could REALLY benefit from an explanation. What are we looking at?

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    #31

    “Girasoli Innamorati” By Matteo Originale (Italy)

    “Girasoli Innamorati” By Matteo Originale (Italy)

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    #32

    “Walking For A New Life” By Luis Acosta (Colombia)

    “Walking For A New Life” By Luis Acosta (Colombia)

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    #33

    “Mariage Au Sommet” By Alexandre Clair (France)

    “Mariage Au Sommet” By Alexandre Clair (France)

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    #34

    “Fuji Mountain” By Mohammad Alqattan (Kuwait)

    “Fuji Mountain” By Mohammad Alqattan (Kuwait)

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    #35

    “Love From Above” By Simon Biffen (United Kingdom)

    “Love From Above” By Simon Biffen (United Kingdom)

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    #36

    “Boli Khela” By Sanchayan Chowdhury (Bangladesh)

    “Boli Khela” By Sanchayan Chowdhury (Bangladesh)

    Siena Awards Report