Sometimes a tour group gets lucky. These folks were visiting Mexico and taking a boat ride when a gray whale swam right up to them to say hi. It’s not every day you go out on your boat and bump into a friendly whale. Speaking for ourselves, we’d be too scared to pet it.
All it takes is one swish of a whale tail to topple this boat over. The awe-inspiring majesty of a giant whale is without a doubt one of the most unforgettable sights a person might experience in their lifetime. But to see one so up close is a whole other level.
The Mystical Ruins of Talin Cathedral
What’s better than a picture of an ancient cathedral? A picture of that cathedral from the skies. This drone image views churches in a new light and perspective. The Talin Cathedral in the Aragatsotn province of Armenia was built in the 7th century.
Today, the cathedral is mostly in ruins due to devastating earthquakes in 1840 and 1931. But even its ruins are magical still, especially when viewed from above. Other cathedrals might have spires or steeples. The top of this one looks like a giant chimney or a dome Tom Cruise might rappel into during one of his famously impossible missions.
Hurricane Maria
Few natural disasters can rival a hurricane for sheer destructive power. Just look at what happened to Puerto Rico and Dominica when Hurricane Maria arrived. This photo is but a sample of the devastation the residents suffered. The pavement was literally torn up. Entire trees were uprooted.
How fortunate that we are able to send drones in to make a first assessment of disaster areas even before it’s safe for people to be there. Not just a camera for landscape photographers or adventurers, drones help with relief planning and resource allocation. Cameras that go where nobody can or should go.
Of Beauty and Terror
Here we have the aftermath of a terrible boat accident at sea in the coastal state of Goa, India. This drone image captures the intensity of the moment but somehow manages to make it serene and beautiful. The waves crash gently, even as people and lifeguards scramble to get the damaged boat on shore.
The boat is mangled beyond repair. But life goes on regardless – almost as if nothing happened. It is the ocean’s prerogative to remind us of beauty and death, of our fleeting existence. Here one day, gone the next. And the world will continue to spin madly on.
Fearless Rock Climber
A famous singer once sang about “The Climb” – how it’s not about how fast one climbs or what’s on the other side, it’s about the journey. Looking up at this rock, we’d say those lyrics are ambitious at best, because we're feeling queasy just from looking at this photo.
Look at this climber. Now there is a real daredevil! We're almost glad that we don’t even know the height of this insane climb. We don’t know if this person is a man or a woman, but they’re braver than we are! Can you believe people do this voluntarily? Are near-death experiences and nausea fun for you?