Polar frame, by Dmitry Kokh, Russia. When Kokh’s boat approached the small island of Kolyuchin in the Russian High Arctic, which had been abandoned by humans since 1992, he was surprised to spot movement in one of the houses. Binoculars revealed polar bears – more than 20 in total – exploring the ghost town. Dmitry used a low-noise drone to document them. (Photo by Dmitry Kokh/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022)

“Microscope images forge an extraordinary bond between science and art, said Hidenao Tsuchiya, Olympus America's Vice President and General Manager for the Scientific Equipment Group. We founded this competition to focus on the fascinating stories coming out of today's life science research laboratories. The thousands of images that people have shared with the competition over the years reflect some of the most exciting work going on in research today – work that can help shed light on the living universe and ultimately save lives. We look at BioScapes and these beautiful images as sources of education and inspiration to us and the world”. – OlympusBioScapes

Photo: Pretarsus of the third leg of a female drone fly (Eristalis tenax), ventral view, by Dr. Jan Michels, Institute of Zoology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany. (Photo by Olympus BioScapes)

A picture taken with a drone shows the giant landart painting entitled “Message From Future” by French artist Saype in the park “La Perle du Lac” in Geneva, Switzerland, 16 September 2018 (issued 17 September). The artwork covering 5,000 square meters was produced with biodegradable paints made from natural pigments. The artist called the little girl “Future” as a symbol of the generations from the future and the small origami boats that she drops into Lake Geneva aims to represent a message of hope sent to the world. (Photo by Valentin Flauraud/EPA/EFE)

A picture taken with a drones shows Kayakers make use of the current that flows over a dike in the flood plains of the Waal river, with the Waal bridge of Nijmegen in the background in Lent, the Netherlands, 04 February 2021. The heavy rainfall and snow melt in southern Germany has caused a significant rise in the water level in various places in the Netherlands. (Photo by Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/EPA/EFE)

Polish photographer David Kaszlikowski took a series of stunning photographs of a glacier in the Karakoram region of Pakistan while on a film expedition. At the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers near K2, the second highest mountain in the world, he sent his drone on flights to scout the surrounding landscape. Here: at the heart of Karakoram, a glacier formation found at Concordia at the very beginning of one of the longest glaciers on the planet, Baltoro. (Photo by David Kaszlikowski/Rex Features)

This photo taken on December 10, 2023 shows female members of the Mandalay People's Defense Forces (MDY-PDF) heading to the frontline amid clashes with the Myanmar military in northern Shan State. In the hills of northern Myanmar young women fly combat drones, treat wounded comrades and patrol the frontlines, new roles in the battle to overthrow the military junta. (Photo by AFP Photo/Stringer)

These images are enough to make viewers do a double-take. Although they look like vibrant works of abstract art, they are actually drone photographs taken by brothers J.P. and Mike Andrews, from near Wolverhampton, England. Here: Kickflip. (Photo by J.P. Andrews/Mike Andrews/Caters News Agency)

Miss Universe contestant Carolina Duran of Costa Rica, center, reacts to a TV network's drone as others prepare to pose from the deck of the yacht Happy Life prior to cruising to a beach resort in Batangas province Thursday, January 19, 2017 at the Philippine Navy headquarters in Manila, Philippines. Eighty-six candidates from around the world are vying for the title to succeed Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines. The competition takes place on Jan. 30. They are, from left, Cherell Williamson of Bahamas, Rebecca Rath of Belize, Hildur Maria of Iceland, and Chanelle de Lau of Curacao. (Photo by Bullit Marquez/AP Photo)