RTF Drone Photo Challenge December 7th to 20th - Black and White

The subject you have chosen for the run-up to the Winter Solstice is

RULES

The usual rules apply, reproduced here as we know you love checking them every round of RTF. Note that the closing time of the Challenge is 2 hours earlier than normal at 21:00

The requirement is to submit a single still image created using a drone to illustrate the subject of the competition. This round will run from 00:01 Sunday 7th December until 21:00 Saturday December 20th; the subject is Black and White

The image must be captured while the competition is open. It is a Reason To Fly Challenge so please show that the image is created by a flying camera!

Editing is confined to colour and exposure adjustments and crop only. There must be no removal or pasting of an object. Stacked images, HDR images and non-spherical panoramas are considered single images for the purposes of this competition.

Images must be posted with the following information as a minimum:

In Capitals as the first line of your post:

THIS IS MY ENTRY

If this is not done at the time of posting the picture will be ignored. Should it be necessary to change your picture then delete the previous picture and add “This is my entry” - as above - as the first line of your new post. If in any doubt contact the Challenges Committee
(@Challenges_Committee)

Further Information is required

  • Location
  • Time and date
  • Aircraft/camera used
  • Feel free to add any further information that you think will be of interest

Voting

The members of GADC will judge images. They may vote for any number of pictures through an anonymous poll open for two days after the closing date for competition entries.

Voting in the poll is open to all GADC members, whether they have entered the competition or not.

The Challenge Committee may request the original media in case of a dispute.

Schedule

The competition subject will be announced every second Saturday around 22:30. The subject will be chosen by a poll of GADC members selecting from three that have been picked at random from the subject list. You may make additions to the list at any time.

The competition will run from Sunday 00.01 to Saturday 21.00 fourteen days later. Voting by poll will be open for a further two days until Monday 22:00

The winner (and second and third-placed competitors if there are sufficient entries) will be announced shortly after the vote is closed

Have Fun! Be Safe!

All flights are the sole responsibility of the individual conducting them. Each competitor must abide by the drone code and adhere to the limitations and restrictions imposed upon them by aviation law, the aircraft being used and the qualifications they hold. . If a flight is undertaken in a restricted zone proof of permission having been granted is required.

E&OE

@group-challenges

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Cod Beck Reservoir, Osmotherley, North Yorkshire
Sunday 14th Dec - 8:13am
DJI Mini 4 Pro

Stupidly windy around here at the minute, very bumpy flight
Not really the image I envisioned in my mind, but gotta get that entry in
:smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

17 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Location: Moreton Shore, Wirral.
DTS: Saturday 13th December 2025, 11:16
Aircraft:


DJI Air 3S, 70mm main camera

Shot in RAW, edited in Lightroom to black & white with the shadows raised a little.

This is a little more abstract, but I hit the button in error and flipped my camera 90degrees looking down and loved what I saw. Shot a good few images flying over the ground at about 40m. This was also my first proper flight of the drone since buying it.

15 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY
Location: Swithland Reservoir, Leicestershire
Taken: 13/12/25 @ 14:02
Aircraft: DJI Air 3S / 70 mm

The GCR Santa Express pauses on the viaduct over Swithland reservoir whilst the Elves go to work with the kids aboard.

13 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

  • High Street, Harrow on the Hill
  • 15:04 11/12/2025
  • DJI Mini 3

I have gone for a black and white subject, rather than converting an image to monochrome. This is of course rather limiting. I also discovered, that where I live, most big pedestrian crossings are Pelican rather than Zebra. The other thing I realised is that most of them look as though painted free hand! Anyhow enjoy.

Peter

11 Likes

I was thinking along those lines for my shot too, but was really limited on time this weekend
Can’t beat a good alternative B&W abstract :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

I’d suggest that is what the challenge is, a black & white subject, not a black & white photo.

1 Like

To be honest John “Black and White” is the title of the Challenge. Interpretation of the title is down to the individual. So far we have photos of coloured subjects rendered in black and white and black and white subjects rendered in colour.

Perhaps the winner will be someone who takes a picture of a black and white subject and recreates it in monochrome in the edit …

2 Likes

If you told me this was of sand dunes in the Sahara, I’d believe it. Nice shot.

1 Like

THIS IS MY ENTRY
Whitby Harbour Piers
Sat 13th December 2025, 16.00
Mavic 4 Pro
Whitby Piers in all their glory, in their present form they were completed in 1854 East Pier, 1831 West Pier and are both Grade II LIsted

12 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Saltcoats South Beach, North Ayrshire

15:37, 16.12.25

DJI Mini 4 Pro

Watching the sun go down over Arran.
Converted to B&W and a wee tweak on the contrast.

I was looking to photo long shadows. Out on to the beach, the sun is low, it’s all looking good. What’s this? Drone won’t take off on 40% battery and demands to be charged! Oh no! Return home for a quick battery top up and just make it back before the sun disappears over the horizon. I was in the last chance saloon - wind and rain forecast for the rest of the week here!

12 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Silsden Canal, Silsden Keighley.
17:35 16/12/2025
DJI Mini 4 Pro

An aerial view strips the landscape back to its essential forms. The canal cuts a deliberate line through the countryside, its still surface holding a quiet procession of moored narrowboats. Fields unfold in layered textures, divided by hedgerows and paths that speak of time and routine rather than urgency. In black and white, colour is replaced by contrast and structure, emphasising the calm geometry of rural life and the gentle coexistence of land, water, and human presence.

11 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Marsh Mill, Thornton, Lancs

DJI Mini 2, 17/12/25 14:36

Palette reduced to two colours ( black & white :wink: ) using Corel Paintshop

12 Likes

:+1:

1 Like

:snowman:

I think this is a stunning image, congrats. Great capture and great shape and form. Really suits the transfer to B&W

1 Like

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Stroud Valley - Some quick appearing/disappearing mist in the valley last Saturday

DJI Mini 5 Pro

6 Likes

Wow!