The Winning Shots From This Drone Photography Contest Will Blow Your Mind

These images are stunning.
1st Prize Winner in Sports and Adventure category. Moab rock climbing in Utah.
1st Prize Winner in Sports and Adventure category. Moab rock climbing in Utah.
maxseigal/Dronestagram

Flying high above the ground and operated remotely, drones can be used for military engagements, surveillance purposes -- and taking extraordinary photographs.

Many people use drones to capture remarkable images from locations that lie beyond their physical reach. Aerial photographers from around the globe submitted more than 6,000 pictures to the third annual Dronestagram contest, an international competition supported by National Geographic.

After careful consideration, judges selected winners for three photography categories: Travel; Nature and Wildlife; and Sports and Adventure.

Max Seigal, the photographer who shot the above image of the climber in Moab, Utah, said using a drone has enabled him to take photos that would have otherwise been impossible to capture.

"Two years ago I started flying drones, and I quickly realized their potential to capture stunning, never-before-seen views," he explained. "I've been hooked ever since!"

Check out the other incredible winning shots from this year's Dronestagram competition:

mbernholdt/Dronestagram
1st Prize Winner in Nature and Wildlife category. Kalbyris forest in Denmark.
fcatutto/Dronestagram
1st Prize Winner in Travel category. Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Umbria, Italy.
maxseigal/Dronestagram
1st Prize Winner in Sports and Adventure category. Moab rock climbing in Utah.
Ignacz/Dronestagram
2nd Prize Winner in Nature and Wildlife category. Swarm of sheep in Marpod, Romania.
dragoneye/Dronestagram
2nd Prize Winner in Travel Category. Cable Beach in Broome, Australia.
losmanesdeldrone/Dronestagram
2nd Prize Winner in Sports and Adventure category. Complejo Acuatico Norte de Santander in Cacuta, Colombia.
High Angle Shot/Dronestagram
3rd Prize Winner in Sports and Adventure cateogry. Chugach Mountain Range, Alaska.
dronecopters/Dronestagram
3rd Prize Winner in Nature and Wildlife category. Piton de la fournaise volcano in Le Tampon, Reunion, France.
Karolis Janulis/Dronestagram
3rd Prize Winner in Travel Category. Summer camp, Amadores, Gran Canaria, Spain.

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