From Self-Taught Photographer to Contest Winner: An Interview with Mathias De Coensel

Mathias De Coensel’s fairy tale-like landscapes propelled him to victory in Amazing Aerial’s upload contest.© Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

By Rebecca Duras

Mathias De Coensel makes even ordinary landscapes look like fairy tales. That is just one of the qualities that stunned Amazing Aerial’s judges when they were picking winners for the agency’s upload competition in August 2025.

Amazing Aerial Magazine wanted to learn more about the photographer, who only joined Amazing Aerial recently but is already showing that he takes his work seriously. We spoke with him about his career trajectory, how he taught himself photography, and the push that led him to upload a whopping 195 sets to win the Amazing Aerial upload contest.

Mountains tower over the harbor in Klaksvik, Faroe Islands. Mathias joined Amazing Aerial recently but has already impressed with his prolific output and beautiful landscapes. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

Hi Mathias, and congratulations on your contest win! Let’s start by talking about your beginnings as a creative. How long have you been a photographer? 

"I have been interested in photography since 2017, but only got serious about it around 2021 when I started traveling more to other countries."

Although your portfolio shows remarkable diversity, you list landscapes and aerial imagery as your specialties. What made you decide to specialize in landscape and drone photography? 

"I’ve always been drawn to beautiful landscapes, so photographing them came naturally I guess. Drones gave me the opportunity to discover different and unique angles of the landscapes that I loved. Bringing places to life from the air is amazing, I feel excited every time that my drone goes up in the air!"

Etretat at sunrise, Normandy, France. The dreamy quality of Mathias’s landscapes show the love he has for the natural world. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

Many people love looking at beautiful landscapes, but few people capture them quite the way that you do. Your landscapes stand out thanks to their fairy tale quality. How did you develop your photography and editing style?

"I developed my style through trial and error. I went through multiple phases where I thought I found my style, but after two months, I would already dislike my way of editing. Most of my problems were from overediting, and I used to make everything extremely soft. I can now say I have found a style that feels more neutral but still has its own style."

You mentioned that traveling is what inspired you to take your photography seriously. What are some trips or projects that stick out in your memory during your career and which you think were formative to your development as a photographer?

"I think my first trip to Iceland will stay with me for a while. I was overwhelmed by the beauty and raw nature. Also, it is drone heaven over there! More recently I had the opportunity to create footage of our Minister-President of Flanders here in Belgium. He visited a wind turbine and went all the way to the top."

Gravensteen Castle in Gent, Flanders, Belgium. Although travel ignited Mathias’s passion for photography, his images also show his home country in a new light. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

You mention that you’re a self-taught photographer. What has the journey of teaching yourself photography been like? What resources helped you the most? What resources do you wish you could have had on your journey?

"Teaching myself photography has been a mix of frustration and excitement. In the beginning, I made a lot of mistakes, but those mistakes really taught me what works and what doesn’t. YouTube has been my biggest teacher. I’ve spent hours watching tutorials about editing, composition, and drone techniques. Instagram also helped, just by studying other photographers’ work and seeing what I liked. What I wish I had earlier was more in-depth feedback from experienced photographers. Trial and error works, but honest critique would have probably sped things up a lot. One course in particular that I want to mention is the Nature filmmaking academy by Benjamin Hardman. That course really helped me understand colorgrading in Davinci Resolve."

An aerial image of Grummeholmen island, Norway. Through trial and error, Mathias has developed an editing technique that gives all of his images a distinct style. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

One of your specialties is FPV drone flights. What drew you to this photography niche? Why do you think FPV is so popular, and why should others in the photography world take notice of this niche?

"FPV drones give such a unique perspective. You’re not just capturing landscapes from above, you’re flying through them, almost like you’re inside the scene. That’s what drew me in: the movement, the adrenaline, and the creativity of it. FPV is popular because it feels so immersive, like you’re in a movie scene.

You recently joined Amazing Aerial. What made you decide to join? What has your experience been like so far?

I joined Amazing Aerial because I wanted to connect with a community that truly appreciates aerial photography. It’s motivating to be surrounded by talented people who share the same passion. My experience so far has been very positive, I’ve discovered new photographers, got inspired by their work, and it also pushes me to keep improving my own portfolio.

Patchwork fields in the Açores, Portugal. Mathias’s enthusiasm for photography and willingness to experiment with new techniques and disciplines such as FPV  helped propel him to the top of Amazing Aerial’s competition. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

You won Amazing Aerial’s recent upload competition with an impressive 195 sets uploaded. What was the experience of participating in the competition like? What did you feel after winning it?

"At first, I just wanted to take part and see how much I could upload in time. But once I got going, I realized I had a lot more sets to share than I thought. It was fun but also pretty intense going through so many files in a short time. Winning felt very rewarding, it showed me that consistency pays off, and it gave me extra motivation to keep producing and sharing my work."

Many photographers struggle with uploading a lot of work, even though Paul Prescott advises that this is one of the best ways to grow your portfolio and attract the notice of potential clients. What inspires you to be such a prolific photographer?

"Honestly, it comes from passion. When I’m out in nature or flying my drone, I just can’t help but capture as much as possible. Every place looks different from the air, and I want to do justice to those landscapes by documenting them. Traveling also fuels my inspiration. New places keep me motivated to shoot and share. It doesn’t feel like work, it feels like something I have to do because I enjoy it so much."

Boats dock at Koh Khai Nok island, Thailand. Mathias’s prolific portfolio and attention to detail in his landscapes have impressed Paul Prescott, founder and CEO of Amazing Aerial. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

In a short time, Mathias De Coensel has made a mark on Amazing Aerial. “Mathias’s work is so consistent in its quality,” Paul said, explaining why he picked him as the contest winner. “This is a sign of focus and clarity when it comes to developing one’s photographic style. There are only a handful of photographers that can be identified by their styles, and Mathias is one of them.” Amazing Aerial is excited to see what Mathias will achieve next!

See More Stunning Photos Below!

Jagged peaks overlook Lago di Braies in South Tyrol, Italy. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

A serene mountain lake in Alpe di Siusi, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

Jagged peaks pierce the sky in the rocky terrain of Litlefjellet, Norway. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel

Tiny figures take in the view on Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, one of Norway’s most famous hikes. © Amazing Aerial Agency / Mathias De Coensel