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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

#1

“Shepherd With Herd” By Ivo Danchev (Bulgaria)

“Shepherd With Herd” By Ivo Danchev (Bulgaria)

Siena Awards Report

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.”

#2

“Ocean Clean Up” By Toby Nicol (UK)

“Ocean Clean Up” By Toby Nicol (UK)

Siena Awards Report

#3

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

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

Siena Awards Report

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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)

Siena Awards Report

#5

“A Polar Romance” By Florian Ledoux (France)

“A Polar Romance” By Florian Ledoux (France)

Siena Awards Report

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)

Siena Awards Report

#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)

Siena Awards Report

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#9

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

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

Siena Awards Report

#10

“Tree Of Life” By Isabella Tabacchi (Italy)

“Tree Of Life” By Isabella Tabacchi (Italy)

Siena Awards Report

#11

“The Shadow Jumper” By Edouard Salmon (France)

“The Shadow Jumper” By Edouard Salmon (France)

Siena Awards Report

#12

“Ground Vein” By Xiaoying Shi (China)

“Ground Vein” By Xiaoying Shi (China)

Siena Awards Report

#13

“Sea Of Pink” By Paul Mckenzie (Ireland)

“Sea Of Pink” By Paul Mckenzie (Ireland)

Siena Awards Report

#14

“Love From Above” By Joanna Zdancewicz (Poland)

“Love From Above” By Joanna Zdancewicz (Poland)

Siena Awards Report

#15

“What Remains” By Carol Guzy (USA)

“What Remains” By Carol Guzy (USA)

Siena Awards Report

#16

“Rocket” By Yuriy Stolypin (Russia)

“Rocket” By Yuriy Stolypin (Russia)

Siena Awards Report

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#17

“Jiashao Bridge” By Sheng Jiang (China)

“Jiashao Bridge” By Sheng Jiang (China)

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#18

“Village Under Snow” By Hüseyin Karahan (Turkey)

“Village Under Snow” By Hüseyin Karahan (Turkey)

Siena Awards Report

#19

“Pelicanos Blancos” By Guillermo Soberón (Mexico)

“Pelicanos Blancos” By Guillermo Soberón (Mexico)

Siena Awards Report

#20

“Apple Dream” By Tim Demski (Poland)

“Apple Dream” By Tim Demski (Poland)

Siena Awards Report

#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)

Siena Awards Report

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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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#25

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

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

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#26

“Lights And Shadows” By Ignacio Medem (Spain)

“Lights And Shadows” By Ignacio Medem (Spain)

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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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#28

“Last Minute” By Roberto Hernandez (Mexico)

“Last Minute” By Roberto Hernandez (Mexico)

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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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#30

“Magical Lines” By Mohd Khorshid (Kuwait)

“Magical Lines” By Mohd Khorshid (Kuwait)

Siena Awards Report

Note: this post originally had 36 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.