Drone photography: on top of the world

Jaw-dropping pictures taken from drones capture extraordinary views that the human eye may otherwise not see.

Image copyrightMAX SEIGAL

Image captionMax Seigal shot this awe-inspiring photograph of a rock climber scaling a cliff in Moab, Utah.

Image copyrightFRANCESCO CATTUTO

Image captionSwathed in fog, the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Umbria, Italy, looks beautiful as the setting sun bathes its towers in light.

Image copyrightSZABOLCS IGNACZ

Image captionClusters of white sheep are seen scattered over the vibrant grass of Romanian fields.

Image copyrightTODD KENNEDY

Image captionLong shadows are cast as a caravan of camels walks along Cable Beach, West Australia, at sunset.

Image copyrightJONATHAN PAYET

Image captionAppearing through the steam and gas is an impressive aerial view of an erupting volcano on Reunion Island.

Image copyrightKAROLIS JANULIS

Image captionRhythmic patterns of umbrellas and beds during summer on the Playa de Amadores in Gran Canaria.

Image copyrightHELENE HAVARD

Image captionSurrounded by moving palm trees, a couple lies together in a clearing on Huahine island, French Polynesia.

Image copyrightCLIECHTI

Image captionThe huge bronze Ushiku Daibutsu statue looks out over the verdant landscape of the Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

Image copyrightACTUA DRONE

Image captionBy chance, a drone catches a bird mid-flight over the paradise of French Polynesian beaches.

Image copyrightCALIN-ANDREI STAN

Image captionSighisoara, Transylvania, is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler - otherwise known as Dracula - and this shot imagines what he might have seen on his nocturnal flights.

Image copyrightULYSSES PADILHA

Image captionShaded by palm trees, pedestrians make their way along the striking graphic pavements of Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro.

Image copyrightDRON EXPERT

Image captionThe low sun creates long shadows and impressive patterns, across the ridges of the sand on this Polish beach.

Image copyrightRYAN JONES

Image captionWater thunders downwards as the drone hover over Niagara Falls.

Image copyrightAUROBIRD

Image captionThis farmer in Guntur, India, is a lone white dot in a sea of bright red chilies.

Image copyrightMAKSIM TARASOV

Image captionA formation of skiers on a frozen hillside of the Adzhigardak mountain, Russia.

Image copyrightJ COURTIAL

Image captionAn idyllic view of the brightly-coloured buildings of the Italian seaside town of Vernazza.