DJI and SkyPixel announces the 11th annual SkyPixel Photo & Video Contest. The competition showcases the evolution of photography, calling on creators to “Frame the World” in their submissions using aerial and handheld photography. Starting today, with submissions closing March 10, 2026, photographers and videographers can enter their visual creations for a chance to win one of 53 different awards, with prizes totalling almost $200,000 USD.
Since its inception in 2015, the SkyPixel Annual Photo and Video Contest has showcased inspiring works and also serves as a platform for the exchange of brilliant and groundbreaking ideas. The competition brings together creators from around the globe, sparking mutual admiration and furthering artistic progress.
Frame the World, Find Your Flow
The 11th annual contest encourages creators to showcase their unique perspective of the world’s beauty, immersing themselves in the world around them to discover their own inner flow through the images and video they capture.
Last year’s contest introduced handheld photography as a new category, and this year, the handheld category expands to include panoramic perspectives using 360-degree cameras to cater to creators enriching their work with dynamic viewpoints. Finally, for the first time, participants can also win a weekly award for their submissions.
Contest Details
The contest recognises talent in two main categories: Photography and Videography. Photography submissions must be made with a DJI camera drone, and Videography submissions can fall into two subcategories: Aerial Videography (made with a DJI camera drone) or Handheld Videography (made with a DJI handheld camera or accessory, such as a gimbal).
Aerial Photography
Embrace the world, capture the moment. Whether creatures of nature, the world within architecture, elegance on the sports field, or the stories in portraits, all can showcase the wonder of aerial photography.
- Entries must be taken with an eligible DJI drone (Inspire / Mavic / Air / Mini / Phantom series / DJI Neo / DJI Flip)
- Each image must be at least 3MB with a resolution of no less than 300dpi
Aerial Videography
Take off into the sky and redefine how you see the world from an aerial vantage point. From sweeping landscapes and bustling cities to journeys and arenas, every grandeur and subtle detail moves in tune with your creativity. Make every frame your statement from above.
- Entries should not exceed 5 minutes in length
- At least 30 seconds of footage should be shot using eligible DJI products (Inspire / Mavic / Air / Mini / Avata / Phantom series, and DJI FPV / DJI Neo)
- Entries must include over 50% aerial footage
Handheld Videography
Starting from the palm of your hand, a handheld perspective gently touches the world before you. The aroma of coffee from a street corner, a child’s beaming smile, every serendipitous encounter on a journey — all that is dynamic and tender moves in sync with your inspiration. Let every frame be a record of your embrace of life.
- Entries should not exceed 5 minutes in length
- At least 30 seconds of footage should be shot using eligible DJI products (Ronin gimbals / Ronin cinema cameras / Osmo Action / Osmo Pocket / Osmo Mobile / Osmo 360 / Osmo Nano series).
- Entries must include over 50% handheld footage
Industry-Leading Judges
This year’s SkyPixel submissions will be judged by some of the leading photographers and videographers from around the world.
For the photography category, submissions will be evaluated by celebrated photographers, including:
- Jake Guzman, renowned outdoor photographer and filmmaker
- Daniel Kordan, renowned landscape photographer
- Jiang Ping, landscape photographer and member of the China Photographers Association, formerly chief photographer for National Geographic China
- Zhu Jiong, renowned curator and Professor at the School of Photography, Beijing Film Academy, with accolades including the 2016 “Feima Cup” Outstanding Curator Award from the China Photographers Association
Video submissions will be judged by a star-studded list of filmmakers including:
- Wally Pfister, renowned cinematographer known for films including The Dark Knight; a 2011 Oscar Winner for his work on Inception
- Ryan Hosking, Director of Photography, specialising in aerial cinematography, with recent work on TV series Yellowstone
- Zeng Jian, cinematographer and film editor, whose cinematographic masterpiece Blind Massage earned him the Silver Bear for Best Cinematography at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival and the Best Cinematography Award at the 51st Golden Horse Awards
- Benjamin Hardman, a photographer and natural history cinematographer with experience producing content for global brands including Netflix, BBC, National Geographic, and Disney
Prizes and Recognition
This year, SkyPixel and DJI will award three Grand Prizes and give away more than 53 prizes over the course of the competition with a total value of over $200,000 USD.
All grand prize winners will receive a SkyPixel trophy and a SkyPixel Creator Contract, and the grand prizes for each category winner are as follows:
- The winning photo participant will receive an all-new Hasselblad X2D II 100C Combo (worth over $15,000)
- The winning aerial video participant will receive a DJI Inspire 3 combo and a Mavic 4 Pro combo (worth over $22,000)
- The winning handheld video participant will be awarded a DJI Ronin 4D-8K cinema camera combo (worth over $18,000)
The full list of awards can be seen on the official SkyPixel website and includes prizes such as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, DJI Avata 2, DJI RS 4 Pro, DJI Air 3S, and the Osmo Pocket 3, as well as cash prizes. All entrants will also receive DJI credits which can be used at store.dji.com. However, participants must reside in a country or region where an official DJI online store is available.
Submission Details
- Submission Start Date: November 27, 2025, 12:00 (UTC+8)
- Submission End Date: March 10, 2026, 23:59 (UTC+8)
- Winners Announced: April 27, 2026, 12:00 (UTC+8)
For the second year in a row, the contest features a dual submissions process. Submissions will be accepted via the official SkyPixel website as well as all DJI social media channels (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and X).
Interested participants can visit the SkyPixel 11th Annual Photo & Video Contest website for more information on contest rules and guidelines: skypixel.com/contests/2025