This image was captured by a drone as it flew over Lake Berryessa, a man-made reservoir created by the Monticello Dam in Napa Valley, California. During the abundant spring rains, the lake is in danger of overflowing and flooding, so they open up this magical-looking spillway that safely releases the extra water to the valley below.
The giant vortex looks as though it will kill us all by releasing the mythical Kraken any second, but it’s really all just science and engineering. So no need to panic. It’s like the perfect marriage of art and engineering. And nothing better than a drone to give you the clearest possible perspective. Makes me be happy to be human!
Swimming with the Whale Sharks
This high overhead shot shows people out for a swim alongside several gigantic whale sharks. These swimmers are pretty adventurous, getting in the water together with gigantic mammals. Good for them. For what it’s worth, even though whale sharks are sharks, and indeed the biggest fish in the world, they are gentle plankton eaters.
So, it’s not like swimming with great whites. More like swimming with gentle giants. But they’re massive and intimidating nonetheless. The story of Jonah and the whale comes to mind, and although the chances of that happening are slim, who’s to say what can happen? Best to keep a safe distance.
Snowy Pileup
This frightening drone photo documents a mind-blowing 100 vehicle pileup caused by slippery snowy road conditions in Illinois. The tragedy began with the semi-trailers, but it for sure didn’t end with them. Just look at them all. Imagine the horror as one car barrels into another at breakneck speed.
You see it coming only seconds before, and by then, it’s too late. What a horrifying way to go. We owe a debt of gratitude to all the first responders who must’ve worked through the night in freezing and dangerous conditions to get hundreds of people to safety. We salute your selfless dedication and bravery.
A Farmyard Dance
Cattle corralling is an art form. Yes, we said it. This is no mundane activity. Precision is the name of the game, where every step can be the difference between going home and barreling into another bovine. Not everyone’s cut out for life on the farm; herding and handling livestock especially!
The way cattle come together is a living, breathing masterpiece. You’ve got to have intuition, rhythm, and a strong intuition - almost a farmyard version of moving geometry and symmetry. The aerial drone shot captures a dance of brown shapes and shadows. The dance is functional, so the cows can go home. It’s also theater, for anyone who likes visual spectacles in unexpected places.
Soaring Above the Amazon Rainforest
What can one say about the incredible Amazon rainforest that hasn’t been mentioned yet? So, when words fail me the way they sometimes do, turn to photography instead. We’re all accustomed to seeing videos and images from inside the Amazon Forest, of life unfolding in the heart of the green. But the view from above is just as magnificent, don’t you think?
Densely packed trees give way for nothing, except sunlight to stream in and aerial residents. What lies underneath is magic as all of us know. As one of the world’s largest carbon sinks, the Amazon rainforest is indispensable to existence. To think we were almost at the brink of losing this natural treasure to wildfires.