Scenes from the sky: these aerial images are winners in the 2021 Drone Photo Awards

Drones may get a bad rap sometimes – they can be invasive, their noise can be irritating, their hovering a little creepy.

But these high-tech gizmos are also capable of snapping breathtaking pictures from unusual vantage points, capturing scenes that can be surreal and serene, thought-provoking and achingly beautiful.

The Drone Photo Awards 2021 drew tens of thousands of entries from 102 countries, with photographers competing for top honours in eight categories.