RTF Drone Photo Competition June 10th to 21st - Ponds

And here is the eagerly awaited result of the poll to select the subject for this round of RTF - and the winner is:

The Rules are helpfully in the same size and typeface as the rest of the GADC site so you should have no trouble reading them:

RULES

The requirement is to submit a still image created using a drone to illustrate the subject of the competition. This round will run from 00:01 Tuesday 10th June until 23:00 Sunday June 21st (Summer Solstice!); the subject is Ponds

The image must be captured during the time that the competition is open. It is a Reason To Fly competition 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.

Please post only one image, the image you wish to be judged, in this thread.

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 judges 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 23.00 fourteen days later. Voting by poll will be open for a further two days until Monday 22:00

The winner, second and third-placed competitors 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. There is no such thing as normal. If a flight is undertaken in a restricted zone proof of permission having been granted is required.

E&OE

@group-challenges

6 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Cefn Onn Park, Cardiff.
16:40 11/06/2025
Dji Mini 4 Pro

This grade 2 listed historic park, situated on the northern fringes of Cardiff, is also designated as a Country Park providing access to the footpath network of Caerphilly Mountain. It contains a truly magnificent collection of native and exotic trees set within an intimate valley. Visitors enjoy the stunning scenery and the calm, relaxing atmosphere.

The upper park was originally laid out around 100 years ago by former owner Ernest Prosser, Director of the adjacent Rhymney Valley Railway. Its tumbling streams and winding paths take advantage of the gentle valley containing the Nant Fawr stream.

The streams, ponds, woodlands and other planting make this a rich haven for wildlife. Visitors regularly return to enjoy the park in different seasons.

11 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY
Pond @ Arlington Business Park Theale Reading,
11,06,25 @ 20,00 ish
Mavic 3 Classic

10 Likes

I’ve done a couple of corporate headshot jobs there with that as a backdrop.

1 Like

Huh?

Are you Carlos the Jackal?

2 Likes

Exactly like that, but with an SLR. And by SLR I mean..

…not…

4 Likes

Understood.

One of these

not one of these

(or him)

Obviously not one of those. If I want a photocopier I’ll go to a photocopier company. If I want a camera, I’ll go to a camera company.

Canon were a client of mine for many years. My main contact at Canon had a side business taking photos of marathon runners to sell to them - with, at the time, a cutting edge system for recognising their race numbers and tying them to entries, names and email addresses. He used Nikon cameras…

3 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Pennytown Ponds - Sommercotes, Alfreton
16 June 2025 - 20:30
DJI Mini 3 Pro

The Cotes Parkland was sold off in small plots during the nineteenth century when the area was being mined for coal and ironstone. Three of the ponds were constructed during the nineteenth century as a result of mining operations, but it is thought that pond 3 is considerably older.

In 1942 the area was re-landscaped for public use by Italian prisoners of war and subsequently became very popular for walking and picnicking. The creation of Cotes Park Industrial Estate in the 1970s has isolated the ponds beca within an industrial and residential landscape. They fell into disuse and decay and suffered from pollution.

In the late 1980’s the borough council improved the ponds, which encouraged angling, walking and horse riding, there is an active friends group who have raised funds in partnership with Palmer Morewood Angling Club to install new paths and fishing pegs, the Borough Council have also improved the infrastructure and work with the Environment Agency to combat pollution.

10 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

The Mill Pond, Swanage, Dorset
18th June 14:58
Mini 4 Pro

The Mill Pond and Water Mill were constructed in 1754 but the buildings were converted into a private house many years ago. The pond seems to have acquired a tree at one end and an unhealthy growth of weed and algae. It used to look like this:

I was on a drone collection trip* to Swanage (my first visit in 25 years) and I know the pond well, I was brought up in Purbeck and my best mate in my teens and I occasionally would visit his grandparents who lived in the Mill Cottage. In late 1961 much hilarity ensued when Grandad Cooper’s wife Minnie became the butt of many unfunny jokes.

  • The drone:

10 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Location Carton Meres Park
Time 1900ish
DJI Mini 3.

Not much to say about this place other than its a holiday park and this was next to the caravan I’m staying in. Also my first photo with a drone, annoying it’s not straight and a bit missing but it looked ok when I took it lol. No editing done as I still need to go over all the advice that people have sent on another post.

7 Likes

Well is the deadline Saturday 21st June (most likely) or Sunday 22nd June (less likely).

I just like to know so I can work out when I have to find a pond by …

Thanks,

Peter

Tomorrow evening is the deadline. I still need to find a suitable pond.

1 Like

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Model Yachting Pond, Saltcoats, North Ayrshire.

18.6.25, 22:13

DJI Mini 4 Pro

The yachting pond was opened in 1934, an addition to the existing bathing ponds that had previously been created at the site of the former saltpans. The town of Saltcoats was named after the salt making industry. There are plans to revive the tidal pools and make Saltcoats the bustling seaside resort it once was.

I’m still laughing at the headshot / SLR / Canon banter above. You guys are so funny!

6 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Ponds near Preesall, Lancashire

Formed by subsidence following extensive salt mining in the area ( water pumped down dissolved the salt deposits, and pumped back up as brine ), now used as fishing ponds.

20/06/25 18:45 DJI Air 2

6 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Star Pond

  • Location, Boughton, Northamptonshire.
  • Time and date, 20th June @ 20:33
  • Aircraft/camera used, DJI Mini 3 pro

Star Pond is part of the Boughton Estate gardens - thought to have been inspired by those of Louis XIV and the Palace of Versailles

A 17th century historic Northamptonshire pond has be restored resently, bringing it back to its “former glory” and “enhancing the surrounding natural environment”. Star Pond forms part of the illustrious history of the gardens at Boughton House Estate, dating back to Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu (1638-1709).

2 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

  • Eastern Creek, Sydney NSW
  • 5:01pm 16th June 2025
  • DJI Mini 4 Pro

No idea if this pond has a name as it doesn’t appear on the map. Behind the aircraft is a huge area of warehouses etc. I could hear heaps of frogs making popping noises, must come back in the summer, freezing cold at the moment, I’ve had enough, going home to get back in the warm. :cold_face: