![](https://ovidpop.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/weather-snake.jpg)
Incredible images from Drone Awards
A French photographer has won the title of “Photographer of the Year” at the World Drone Awards.
Florian Ledoux captured a polar bear swimming through the freezing waters off northern Canada.
More than 4000 submissions were made across a range of categories: abstract, nature, urban, wildlife, people and sport.
![Abstract Winner: "Weather Snake".](https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/q/z/j/m/r/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.710x400.1qzjhm.png/1532644610630.jpg)
Ledouz wrote that: “Polar Bears are facing a range of threats that are impacting their future population status. They are among the first refugees of climate change. The most striking observation during my reportage was the obvious lack of pack ice.
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“I aspire to, bring a new perspective of capturing wildlife. I believe these images allow us to observe and document their behaviours from a new angle and approach, revealing the animals in their entirety as well as in a wider habitat and landscape. I want my photo to help conservation to create more Marine Conservation Area.”
![Sport Winner: "Skating Shadows".](https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/q/z/j/m/k/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.710x400.1qzjhm.png/1532644610630.jpg)
The competition is open to both professionals and amateurs.
Ledoux and the category winners will be honoured in an awards ceremony in Siena, Italy in October.
More images from the competition in the video at the top of the page.
![Photo of the Year: "Above The Polar Bear".](https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/q/z/j/m/s/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.710x400.1qzjhm.png/1532644610630.jpg)
![Urban Winner: "Assisi Over The Clouds".](https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/q/z/j/m/m/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.710x400.1qzjhm.png/1532644610630.jpg)