2025 AERIAL CATEGORY: TOP 20

Photographer of the Year, presented by Ted's, is the largest competition of its kind for amateur photographers in Australia and New Zealand. Congratulations to the following photographers who finished at the top of the Aerial category.

The Aerial category challenges photographers to shoot four images that work together as a cohesive series. Images are judged as a group, rather than individually, and series where there is a thematic or aesthetic relationship between the images tend to perform better in judging.

The Aerial category is open to photos taken from any elevated position. Images may be captured with a drone, from an aircraft, or from a high vantage point such as a building or bridge. 

Congratulations to the Top 10 and Top 20 photographers featured below.

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WINNER, AERIAL CATEGORY
Luke Mackenzie, 'Lençóis Maranhenses'

Photo © Luke Mackenzie. Winner, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

RUNNER-UP, AERIAL CATEGORY
Rachel-Jane Pannekoek, 'Southwest Textures'

Photo © Rachel-Jane Pannekoek. Runner-Up, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

3RD, AERIAL CATEGORY
Abhik Basu, 'Colours of San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds'

Photo © Abhik Basu. Third, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

4TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Kim Talento, 'Industrial Symphony'

Photo © Kim Talento. Fourth, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

5TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
James Fulton, 'Mining Modern Art'

Photo © James Fulton. Fifth, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

6TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Alexandria Hammer, 'Lakeside Farming'

Photo © Alexandria Hammer. Sixth, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

7TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
James Fulton, 'Changing Light'

Photo © James Fulton. Seventh, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

8TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Linda Brown, 'Suspended in Salt'

Photo © Linda Brown. Eighth, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

9TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Jackie Wilson, 'Tailings'

Photo © Jackie Wilson. Ninth, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

10TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Alan Boyd, 'Split Files'

Photo © Alan Boyd. Tenth, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

11TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Jonathan Holliday, 'Coastal Scenes'

Photo © Jonathan Holliday. 11th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

12TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Peter Harlow, 'Opalescent'

Photo © Peter Harlow. 12th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

13TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Margrit Wendt, 'drought stricken lakes Clifton and Preston'

Photo © Margrit Wendt. 13th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

14TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Cameron Sutherland, 'Natures Colour Pallet'

Photo © Cameron Sutherland. 14th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

15TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Joanne Costanzo, 'Transient Nature'

Photo © Joanne Costanzo. 15th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

16TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Ashley Sykes, 'Sharks from Above'

Photo © Ashley Sykes. 16th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

17TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Adrian Smarrelli, 'Snow Bahn'

Photo © Adrian Smarrelli. 17th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

18TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Joanne Costanzo, 'Ephemeral'

Photo © Joanne Costanzo. 18th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

19TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Kim Talento, 'Veins of The Earth'

Photo © Kim Talento. 19th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.

 

20TH, AERIAL CATEGORY
Stuart Templeton, 'Outback Lakes'

Photo © Stuart Templeton. 20th, Aerial category, Photographer of the Year 2025.