The stunning drone image of San Francisco’s famously twisty Lombard Street that snared a Briton a winner’s medal at the prestigious British Photography Awards 2023

It’s one of America’s most famous streets – and this drone image of it by Brit Charlie Moss reinforces his status as a high-flying photographer.

The stunning image shows San Francisco’s enchantingly windy Lombard Street, captured by Charlie at 4:30 one morning, “when I felt like I had the place to myself.”

The 27-year-old from East Sussex continued in an email to MailOnline Travel: ‘I really like how the image gives you an invisible perspective of the road from above, bringing out the vibrant colors of San Francisco at sunrise .

‘It was beautifully peaceful and calm compared to the usual hustle and bustle of the city. The final image consists of five different shots stitched together to give this unusual perspective of the famous road.’

The image won Best Drone Photographer (People’s Choice) at the 2023 British Photography Awards, with Charlie describing the win as an ‘absolute honour’.

Does Charlie find San Francisco as a whole particularly photogenic?

He said, “There are endless photography spots in San Francisco, all with completely different perspectives and views.

‘There are eleven neighborhoods in the city, all of which have their own unique atmosphere and culture. From Golden Gate Bridge to Lombard Street, to Little Italy and Chinatown.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of photographing San Fran.”

Are there strict drone laws there?

He said: ‘San Francisco’s drone laws are pretty much the same as many other cities – you can fly both recreationally and commercially as long as you have the proper licenses and permissions and follow the laws/regulations.’

A photo of Charlie from the Golden Gate Bridge. Charlie said he would never get bored of photographing the city

And does Charlie have any advice for aspiring drone photographers? Are there common mistakes amateurs make?

He said: ‘Honestly, my first piece of advice would be to just get out and take some photos wherever you can – at least after you’ve practiced flying beforehand.

‘I think a lot of mistakes I make now, also by myself, are caused by rushing things.

‘It’s difficult to shoot at sunrise or sunset because you only have a limited window of opportunity, but take the time to learn and understand the controls and settings of your drone or camera and practice, practice, practice.

‘My photography is representative of how beautiful the world can be. In the midst of times of uncertainty and madness, getting lost in photography is an escape and I would encourage anyone lucky enough to pick up a camera and capture those memories.”

To see more of Charlie’s work, visit his Instagram page: www.instagram.com/charliemossphoto.