Flying over the Emir's Nest - A photographer captures Dubai from a bird's eye view (8 photos)

Lebanese amateur photographer Bachir Moukarzel decided to take a fresh look at Dubai, the largest city in the Emirates, by capturing aerial shots. One of his photographs so impressed the jury of National Geographic's Dronestagram drone photography competition that he won first place.







"I started this project when I wondered what Dubai would look like from a different perspective," the photographer says.

Bahir's main job is completely unrelated to photography—he works as a financial controller. But he successfully combines his work and his passion for photography.



"My signature shots are at a 90-degree angle, in other words, 'a view from above.'"

Bahir uses DJI Phantom drones in his work.

"What I really love is perspective, a cinematic scene that we only see in movies." Now anyone can take a photo like this and share it with family and friends. The world looks different from above, that's the whole point."



"The use of drones is only just developing. Governments are trying to control it, and some countries are banning drones. I hope we'll have some kind of laws for aerial photographers worldwide."



The photographer says his images show not only the city's beauty but also its evolution.

"When I came to Dubai in 2002, this area was nothing but sand. Over time, it became urbanized. The images symbolize the city's progress."



This photo wowed the judges of National Geographic's Dronestagram contest. 8,000 photos were selected for the contest in the categories of "Nature," "People," "City," and "Creativity." Bakhir's photo won in the "City" category.

"I'm thrilled to announce that after three years of participating in the International Drone Photography Contest, my photo has won. This recognition is an honor. The contest featured thousands of photos from talented professional and amateur photographers from all over the world. I'm so grateful for all the support I've received, not only from major, well-known channels, but also from all of you," Bakhir shared the news of his victory on Instagram.