Russian photographer Vitaly Golovatyuk won an international aerial photography competition.

Photographer Vitaly Golovatyuk won the International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026 competition. He won the prestigious award for his photograph of a bird against the backdrop of a clear lake in China.

The winning photo and the story behind it

Vitaly Golovatyuk's photo "Bird in the Sky" was named the best in the "Aerial Photograph of the Year" category at the 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition.

"After several days of sunrise and sunset walks around the area, I photographed this bird on a tiny lake surrounded by red grass. The clarity of the sky's reflection creates a striking illusion, as if the bird were floating weightlessly in the air," the photographer wrote. commented my photo taken last November in China's Elk Park in Zhejiang Province, China.

Rules of the competition and work of participants

For competition We accept not only photos taken from airplanes or helicopters, but also shots from the tops of tall buildings or mountains—anything that allows you to see the world from a bird's eye view.

Take a look at the work of other contestants HERE — admire our Earth from above.