Unmanned drones have gotten a bad reputation in recent years. And with good reason, especially when the U.S. government is using them to kill people in distant countries with arguably little accountability.
But more recently, they've also let us gain a new perspective on the world -- literally. By attaching cameras to unmanned flyers, filmmakers are unlocking new aerial views of natural and manmade phenomena that can be equal parts beautiful, enlightening and enraging all at the same time.
We've pulled together the most stunning drone footage we could find and then naturally GIFed it for your viewing pleasure. You can click on the GIFs themselves to see the full videos, or scroll to the bottom of this post.
Political protests in Bangkok.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Skirmishes between police and protesters in Istanbul.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Fourth of July fireworks above Nashville, Tennessee.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Dream-like surf on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
"Drones allow for camera movements and shots that were never possible before," Ben Kreimer, a drone expert with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Drone Journalism Lab, wrote in an email to The Huffington Post.
Gorgeous island named Koh Yao Noi in Thailand.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Monuments and skyscrapers of New York City.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Steep and twisting streets of San Francisco.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Swimming pool in Palm Springs, California.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
"They can record immersive footage that takes viewers for a ride through environments, traveling just above the ground from a cat's perspective to then moments later soaring like a bird hundreds of feet in the air," Kreimer wrote.
Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Estates of the mega-rich in Connecticut.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Eruption of Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, Vanuatu.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Costa Concordia shipwreck off Italy's western coast.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
"They are a great tool with an unimaginable number of applications," Kreimer wrote. "Drones give filmmakers, journalists and citizens the ability to inexpensively and easily capture truly unique video footage and perspectives from the air."
Rushing waters of Niagara Falls.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![niagra]()
"Christ the Redeemer" in Rio de Janeiro.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![christ]()
Soccer tournament in Gujarat, India.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![soccer]()
Music-making drones from KMel Robotics in Philadelphia.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![music]()
Recreational drones are still very much a niche hobby. A video-equipped drone can set you back as much as $10,000. And a patchwork of state-level laws have left many drone owners in legal limbo. Each U.S. state takes a different approach on drone legislation.
Human-drone dance performance in Tokyo.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![dance]()
Drone-powered graffiti from a New York street artist.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![graffiti]()
'Dolphin stampede' off the coast of Dana Point, California.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![dolphins]()
Lake Bogoria in western Kenya.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![safari]()
A group of academics has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to loosen rules about drone use. They say the agency is stifling research and innovation by raising too many legal hurdles to flying a drone.
Giraffes in Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![giraffes]()
Test launch for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![spacex]()
Wedding couple learning the hard way to watch out for drones.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![wedding]()
And, finally, drone selfies (aka "dronies") taken in New Zealand.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![dronies]()
Will people ever grow accustomed to small motorized devices whizzing through the air? Kreimer thinks they will, just like they have with other technology.
"Society has obviously grown used to the concept of portable cameras," he wrote. "A handful of people will use drones with cameras for nefarious purposes, but this also happens with handheld cameras." You can watch all the drone videos below.
But more recently, they've also let us gain a new perspective on the world -- literally. By attaching cameras to unmanned flyers, filmmakers are unlocking new aerial views of natural and manmade phenomena that can be equal parts beautiful, enlightening and enraging all at the same time.
We've pulled together the most stunning drone footage we could find and then naturally GIFed it for your viewing pleasure. You can click on the GIFs themselves to see the full videos, or scroll to the bottom of this post.
Political protests in Bangkok.
Clik here to view.
Skirmishes between police and protesters in Istanbul.
Clik here to view.
Fourth of July fireworks above Nashville, Tennessee.
Clik here to view.
Dream-like surf on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
Clik here to view.
"Drones allow for camera movements and shots that were never possible before," Ben Kreimer, a drone expert with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Drone Journalism Lab, wrote in an email to The Huffington Post.
Gorgeous island named Koh Yao Noi in Thailand.
Clik here to view.
Monuments and skyscrapers of New York City.
Clik here to view.
Steep and twisting streets of San Francisco.
Clik here to view.
Swimming pool in Palm Springs, California.
Clik here to view.
"They can record immersive footage that takes viewers for a ride through environments, traveling just above the ground from a cat's perspective to then moments later soaring like a bird hundreds of feet in the air," Kreimer wrote.
Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
Clik here to view.
Estates of the mega-rich in Connecticut.
Clik here to view.
Eruption of Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, Vanuatu.
Clik here to view.
Costa Concordia shipwreck off Italy's western coast.
Clik here to view.
"They are a great tool with an unimaginable number of applications," Kreimer wrote. "Drones give filmmakers, journalists and citizens the ability to inexpensively and easily capture truly unique video footage and perspectives from the air."
Rushing waters of Niagara Falls.
Clik here to view.
"Christ the Redeemer" in Rio de Janeiro.
Clik here to view.
Soccer tournament in Gujarat, India.
Clik here to view.
Music-making drones from KMel Robotics in Philadelphia.
Clik here to view.
Recreational drones are still very much a niche hobby. A video-equipped drone can set you back as much as $10,000. And a patchwork of state-level laws have left many drone owners in legal limbo. Each U.S. state takes a different approach on drone legislation.
Human-drone dance performance in Tokyo.
Clik here to view.
Drone-powered graffiti from a New York street artist.
Clik here to view.
'Dolphin stampede' off the coast of Dana Point, California.
Clik here to view.
Lake Bogoria in western Kenya.
Clik here to view.
A group of academics has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to loosen rules about drone use. They say the agency is stifling research and innovation by raising too many legal hurdles to flying a drone.
Giraffes in Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Clik here to view.
Test launch for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
Clik here to view.
Wedding couple learning the hard way to watch out for drones.
Clik here to view.
And, finally, drone selfies (aka "dronies") taken in New Zealand.
Clik here to view.
Will people ever grow accustomed to small motorized devices whizzing through the air? Kreimer thinks they will, just like they have with other technology.
"Society has obviously grown used to the concept of portable cameras," he wrote. "A handful of people will use drones with cameras for nefarious purposes, but this also happens with handheld cameras." You can watch all the drone videos below.