The aerial image of the year looks almost unreal – "I prioritize capturing the 'money shot' in-camera," says award-winning photographer

Aerial view of a bird sitting in the middle of a reflective pond surrounded by red foliage. The sky and clouds are mirrored in the water.

Shanghai-based photographer and cinematographer Vitaly Golovatyuk has won over 100 awards throughout his career. Now his latest international recognition comes from an aerial image so surreal that many viewers might question whether it is real – but the artist's approach is refreshingly traditional.

The image that earned Golovatyuk the International Aerial Photograph of the Year award was captured above Elk Park, outside Dongtai City in Zhejiang Province in China. Surrounded by red vegetation with the sky and clouds perfectly reflected in the water, a bird sits in the middle of the lake.