Steinmetz captured his winning photograph of a liquefied natural gas tanker on the mudflats north of Chattogram as part of an upcoming book project. Securing access required navigating intense local scrutiny, as yard owners frequently turn away media due to environmental, pollution, and safety concerns. The international contest also celebrated documentary work by Dilek Yurdakul, who photographed hundreds of carpets laid out under the Turkish sun.
Key points
The winning photograph examines the intersection of large-scale material recycling and en…: The winning photograph examines the intersection of large-scale material recycling and environmental impact in the Bay of Bengal.
Aerial perspectives allow photographers to convey massive industrial scale by contrasting…: Aerial perspectives allow photographers to convey massive industrial scale by contrasting stranded vessels against small human figures.
The Siena Drone Photo Awards recognize global imagery that exposes rare cultural practice…: The Siena Drone Photo Awards recognize global imagery that exposes rare cultural practices and industrial landscapes from above.
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It looks like a spacecraft that settled gently onto a golden beach.
Off the coast of Bangladesh, an enormous vessel lies stranded on the mudflats, its steel hull partially dismantled as workers mill around it. This unusual aerial view of a tanker, specially designed to transport liquified natural gas used for cooking, electricity and transport, won photographer George Steinmetz the top prize — overall winner of the 2026 Siena Drone Photo Awards.
Each year, the Siena Drone Photo Awards highlight bird's-eye views of our planet, revealing landscapes, livelihoods and human stories often invisible from the ground. Here, we've selected some of this year's winning and highly commended photographs, focusing on the countries of the Global South.
In an interview with NPR, Steinmetz says he's been long fascinated by Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry, where enormous vessels from around the globe, nearing the end of their working lives, are dismantled and their materials recovered for reuse. The photograph is titled "Shipbreaking on the mudflats, Bay of Bengal." Steinmetz sent up his drone north of Chattogram (Chittagong), along this 13-mile coastal strip, offering a…
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Law enforcement personnel have been deployed across urban areas in the capital to actively reinforce public safety measures. To manage the heightened operations, officers are establishing barricades and closing off roadways. These strategic interventions also include conducting routine checks throughout various city locations.
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