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Photography

Sublime smartphone snaps of the 2019 iPhone Photography Awards

By Rich Haridy
July 29, 2019
Sublime smartphone snaps of the 2019 iPhone Photography Awards
From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “View from Artist’s Point in Monument Valley, where the ground falls away steeply and the flat land stretches ahead for many miles, punctuated by the peaks of buttes, mesas and pinnacles in distance.”
From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “View from Artist’s Point in Monument Valley, where the ground falls away steeply and the flat land stretches ahead for many miles, punctuated by the peaks of buttes, mesas and pinnacles in distance.”
View 55 Images
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year. Come Across, Nevada, iPhone X. “I took this photo in the desert in Nevada, USA, at the Burning Man festival. I stood on a bridge and saw two people lost in a sand storm, but after a while, something very special came along, a huge silver ball.”
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3rd Place, Photographer of the Year. Come Across, Nevada, iPhone X. “I took this photo in the desert in Nevada, USA, at the Burning Man festival. I stood on a bridge and saw two people lost in a sand storm, but after a while, something very special came along, a huge silver ball.”
2nd Place, Photographer of the Year. Sorry no movie today, Rome, iPhone 7plus. “It was a hot summer day in Rome, Italy, even the asphalt was melting. We decided to escape from the city center to see the ancient trees of the Borghese Gardens and watch an Italian movie, but when we arrived the pouring rain began. We didn’t see the film, but I took wonderful pictures. It was great travel moment I’ll never want to forget.”
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2nd Place, Photographer of the Year. Sorry no movie today, Rome, iPhone 7plus. “It was a hot summer day in Rome, Italy, even the asphalt was melting. We decided to escape from the city center to see the ancient trees of the Borghese Gardens and watch an Italian movie, but when we arrived the pouring rain began. We didn’t see the film, but I took wonderful pictures. It was great travel moment I’ll never want to forget.”
1st Place, Photographer of the Year. Sea Stripes, Santa Rita Beach, Portugal, iPhone SE. “Sea Stripes was taken in Santa Rita Beach, Portugal where the striped beach tents are very typical and set the tone of the well organized and summery little villages. Playing along with this beachy mood, a bather in the distance embodies the spirit in a striped shirt.”
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1st Place, Photographer of the Year. Sea Stripes, Santa Rita Beach, Portugal, iPhone SE. “Sea Stripes was taken in Santa Rita Beach, Portugal where the striped beach tents are very typical and set the tone of the well organized and summery little villages. Playing along with this beachy mood, a bather in the distance embodies the spirit in a striped shirt.”
Grand Prize Winner, Photographer of the Year. Big Sister, Zanzibar, iPhone X. “Last year I spent a month in Wasa, Tanzania, teaching a class of young, curious and amazing guys. Before heading back to Italy we stopped in Zanzibar, where this photo was taken. I still wonder how could I capture that exact moment in all its beauty. I was just observing, a few meters from them, but they were probably more curious about me than I was about them, and that’s probably why the girl was looking at me.”
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Grand Prize Winner, Photographer of the Year. Big Sister, Zanzibar, iPhone X. “Last year I spent a month in Wasa, Tanzania, teaching a class of young, curious and amazing guys. Before heading back to Italy we stopped in Zanzibar, where this photo was taken. I still wonder how could I capture that exact moment in all its beauty. I was just observing, a few meters from them, but they were probably more curious about me than I was about them, and that’s probably why the girl was looking at me.”
3rd Place, Panorama. Matera Magic, Matera, Italy, iPhone 7 Plus. “Walking the streets of this magical city, it’s so difficult to actually capture the spirit of the town. There are corners of quiet solitude where you find hidden gems such as an abandoned 1000 year old cave abode, and there are bustling streets in the city centre with scooters buzzing by on business, and the fresh smell of Italian coffee.”
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3rd Place, Panorama. Matera Magic, Matera, Italy, iPhone 7 Plus. “Walking the streets of this magical city, it’s so difficult to actually capture the spirit of the town. There are corners of quiet solitude where you find hidden gems such as an abandoned 1000 year old cave abode, and there are bustling streets in the city centre with scooters buzzing by on business, and the fresh smell of Italian coffee.”
From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “View from Artist’s Point in Monument Valley, where the ground falls away steeply and the flat land stretches ahead for many miles, punctuated by the peaks of buttes, mesas and pinnacles in distance.”
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From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “View from Artist’s Point in Monument Valley, where the ground falls away steeply and the flat land stretches ahead for many miles, punctuated by the peaks of buttes, mesas and pinnacles in distance.”
1st Place, Panorama. Segla Mountain at Sunrise, Senja Island, Norway, iPhone X. “Segla Mountain is a very identifiable mountain on the northern part of Senja Island. From Segla’s top I saw the amazing landscape of a narrow mountainous peninsula surrounded by two spectacular fjords. They looked really beautiful at sunrise.”
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1st Place, Panorama. Segla Mountain at Sunrise, Senja Island, Norway, iPhone X. “Segla Mountain is a very identifiable mountain on the northern part of Senja Island. From Segla’s top I saw the amazing landscape of a narrow mountainous peninsula surrounded by two spectacular fjords. They looked really beautiful at sunrise.”
3rd Place, Trees. The Last Secret of Jiagnan, Songyang, China, iPhone 7 Plus. “It was a forest around an old village. In the morning magical plants crept out of the earth, the sky got brighter and brighter, the green leaves were a little transparent and a new ray of sunlight was pouring into all the gaps.”
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3rd Place, Trees. The Last Secret of Jiagnan, Songyang, China, iPhone 7 Plus. “It was a forest around an old village. In the morning magical plants crept out of the earth, the sky got brighter and brighter, the green leaves were a little transparent and a new ray of sunlight was pouring into all the gaps.”
2nd Place, Trees. Morning Mist, Puglia, Italy, iPhone X. “An early morning walk as the late summer fog weaves it way through old olive trees in Puglia, Italy. As the sun rose I went for a walk through the olive grove, hunting for an early morning coffee in the photographer’s golden hour.”
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2nd Place, Trees. Morning Mist, Puglia, Italy, iPhone X. “An early morning walk as the late summer fog weaves it way through old olive trees in Puglia, Italy. As the sun rose I went for a walk through the olive grove, hunting for an early morning coffee in the photographer’s golden hour.”
1st Place, Trees. Snowshadow, Rugen, Baltic Sea, iPhone 6S. “This was taken on the island of Rügen, which is a german island in the Baltic Sea. The spot where I took the picture is on the northernmost coast of the island, close to the little village Schwarbe. There was a strong wind from the sea behind me with some snow, and the wind and the flakes produced this kind of “shadow” on the “lee” of the trees. Everything was very black and white, except the smaller bushlike trees in the back that were a little brown.”
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1st Place, Trees. Snowshadow, Rugen, Baltic Sea, iPhone 6S. “This was taken on the island of Rügen, which is a german island in the Baltic Sea. The spot where I took the picture is on the northernmost coast of the island, close to the little village Schwarbe. There was a strong wind from the sea behind me with some snow, and the wind and the flakes produced this kind of “shadow” on the “lee” of the trees. Everything was very black and white, except the smaller bushlike trees in the back that were a little brown.”
3rd Place, Architecture. Here I Come, Xiamen City, Fujian, iPhone X. “This image was taken in the Xiamen, international shipping center. I was trying to create a futuristic battle scene of Star Wars (I’m a huge starwars fan). When a friend told me about this location, I thought it would be very good to shoot something like this with a lightsaber and two characters fighting. The lighting that afternoon was great, and we waited for the best natural light of the sun to light up the place.”
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3rd Place, Architecture. Here I Come, Xiamen City, Fujian, iPhone X. “This image was taken in the Xiamen, international shipping center. I was trying to create a futuristic battle scene of Star Wars (I’m a huge starwars fan). When a friend told me about this location, I thought it would be very good to shoot something like this with a lightsaber and two characters fighting. The lighting that afternoon was great, and we waited for the best natural light of the sun to light up the place.”
2nd Place, Architecture. Palm Springs Palm, Palm Springs, iPhone X. “I can’t get enough of the mid century modern architecture in Palm Springs, CA. This building is one of my favorites and I happened to be driving by mid day when the intense light, color and shadow caught my eye. The building does not have a bad angle, but for me it was the palm tree that made the composition complete.”
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2nd Place, Architecture. Palm Springs Palm, Palm Springs, iPhone X. “I can’t get enough of the mid century modern architecture in Palm Springs, CA. This building is one of my favorites and I happened to be driving by mid day when the intense light, color and shadow caught my eye. The building does not have a bad angle, but for me it was the palm tree that made the composition complete.”
From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “Janta Manta Observatory is very sci-fi looking. I captured the flying pigeon with the building to give the photo a dynamic feeling.”
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From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “Janta Manta Observatory is very sci-fi looking. I captured the flying pigeon with the building to give the photo a dynamic feeling.”
3rd Place, Abstract. Salve, Minneapolis, Minnesota, iPhone 8 Plus. “From the wrong angle, it looked chaotic, like someone had hung string frivolously. But from straight on, it was perfect. Serene and calming.”
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3rd Place, Abstract. Salve, Minneapolis, Minnesota, iPhone 8 Plus. “From the wrong angle, it looked chaotic, like someone had hung string frivolously. But from straight on, it was perfect. Serene and calming.”
2nd Place, Abstract. Looking Up, San Francisco, iPhone 7 Plus. “Looking up, at the corner of Laguna and Hayes Streets, San Francisco. The midday sun casts an engaging abstract pattern of geometric shadows onto the quirky facade.”
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2nd Place, Abstract. Looking Up, San Francisco, iPhone 7 Plus. “Looking up, at the corner of Laguna and Hayes Streets, San Francisco. The midday sun casts an engaging abstract pattern of geometric shadows onto the quirky facade.”
1st Place, Abstract. Blue Light, Mexico City, iPhone 7 Plus. “A beam of sunlight shined on a swimming pool at 9:32am, when I was visiting the house designed by Luis Barragán.”
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1st Place, Abstract. Blue Light, Mexico City, iPhone 7 Plus. “A beam of sunlight shined on a swimming pool at 9:32am, when I was visiting the house designed by Luis Barragán.”
3rd Place, Animals. Who’s Watching. Bahamas, iPhone X. “I was captivated by the giant fish tanks at a resort in the Bahamas where the fish seemed to be observing people, mirroring the people observing the fish.”
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3rd Place, Animals. Who’s Watching. Bahamas, iPhone X. “I was captivated by the giant fish tanks at a resort in the Bahamas where the fish seemed to be observing people, mirroring the people observing the fish.”
2nd Place, Animals. Owl. Kisarazu, Japan, iPhone X.
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2nd Place, Animals. Owl. Kisarazu, Japan, iPhone X. 
1st Place, Animals. The Proud Peacock. Porto, Portugal, iPhone SE. “What made me take this photo was the unexpected balance of the composition that reinforces the sense of pride, place and charisma of this peacock. In this public garden, seeing these wild peacocks is one of the most exquisite experiences people can have, they are truly the lords of the garden.”
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1st Place, Animals. The Proud Peacock. Porto, Portugal, iPhone SE. “What made me take this photo was the unexpected balance of the composition that reinforces the sense of pride, place and charisma of this peacock. In this public garden, seeing these wild peacocks is one of the most exquisite experiences people can have, they are truly the lords of the garden.”
3rd Place, Floral. Flowers in the Dark. Shenzhen, China, iPhone X. “During a trip to Shenzhen, China I was captivated by these volcanic rock steps hidden in a secluded corner, embraced by strikingly red flowers on both sides.”
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3rd Place, Floral. Flowers in the Dark. Shenzhen, China, iPhone X. “During a trip to Shenzhen, China I was captivated by these volcanic rock steps hidden in a secluded corner, embraced by strikingly red flowers on both sides.”
2nd Place, Floral. Agave. Santa Cruz, iPhone 7. “I’ve taken quite a few photos of this agave plant, which is tucked away in the corner of a courtyard in downtown Santa Cruz, and every time I walk by it, I take another. The close-up view, especially in black & white, seems to draw out a part of the agave’s beauty that’s easy to miss in real life when it’s surrounded by flowers and sidewalks and benches.”
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2nd Place, Floral. Agave. Santa Cruz, iPhone 7. “I’ve taken quite a few photos of this agave plant, which is tucked away in the corner of a courtyard in downtown Santa Cruz, and every time I walk by it, I take another. The close-up view, especially in black & white, seems to draw out a part of the agave’s beauty that’s easy to miss in real life when it’s surrounded by flowers and sidewalks and benches.”
1st Place, Floral. Cactus under the Scorching Sun. Joshua Tree, California, iPhone XS Max. “In Joshua Tree National Park in the United States, there is a valley called the Cholla Cactus Garden which is covered by a large number of Teddy-Bear Chollas. This species of Cholla grows freely under the scorching sun, unafraid of the heat and dryness.”
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1st Place, Floral. Cactus under the Scorching Sun. Joshua Tree, California, iPhone XS Max. “In Joshua Tree National Park in the United States, there is a valley called the Cholla Cactus Garden which is covered by a large number of Teddy-Bear Chollas. This species of Cholla grows freely under the scorching sun, unafraid of the heat and dryness.”
3rd Place, Landscape. Frozen Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal, Russia, iPhone 8 Plus. Lake Baikal is frozen for thousands of miles in winter. Because of the ice, people can walk on the lake. On a snowy morning, I took a picture of Lake Baikal, using the lead wire on the ice as the foreground.”
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3rd Place, Landscape. Frozen Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal, Russia, iPhone 8 Plus. Lake Baikal is frozen for thousands of miles in winter. Because of the ice, people can walk on the lake. On a snowy morning, I took a picture of Lake Baikal, using the lead wire on the ice as the foreground.”
2nd Place, Landscape. Palo Duro Canyon. Canyon, Texas, iPhone XR. “The photo was taken on one of my many hikes in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.”
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2nd Place, Landscape. Palo Duro Canyon. Canyon, Texas, iPhone XR. “The photo was taken on one of my many hikes in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.”
1st Place, Landscape. Petra Wadi. Umm Sayhoun, Jordan, iPhone SE. “An unexpected scene on the road to Petra.”
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1st Place, Landscape. Petra Wadi. Umm Sayhoun, Jordan, iPhone SE. “An unexpected scene on the road to Petra.”
3rd Place, Nature. Waves. China Sea, iPhone 6S.
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3rd Place, Nature. Waves. China Sea, iPhone 6S. 
2nd Place, Nature. Annapurna. Kaski, Nepal, iPhone X. “The picture is of Annapurna mountain in the Himalayans where I was walking the ABC trail. The view was so amazing, I will never forget it.”
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2nd Place, Nature. Annapurna. Kaski, Nepal, iPhone X. “The picture is of Annapurna mountain in the Himalayans where I was walking the ABC trail. The view was so amazing, I will never forget it.”
1st Place, Nature. The Womb. Iceland, iPhone 6. “It was dark, humid and quiet inside the ice cave. I was climbing up step by step toward the light. The moment brought me to the scene as a newborn inside the womb of nature, ready to embrace the outside world.”
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1st Place, Nature. The Womb. Iceland, iPhone 6. “It was dark, humid and quiet inside the ice cave. I was climbing up step by step toward the light. The moment brought me to the scene as a newborn inside the womb of nature, ready to embrace the outside world.”
3rd Place, Children. Untitled. Peak Rail, Derbyshire, iPhone XS Max. “My two year old son, Gabriel, totally captivated by his first experience of traveling by steam train.”
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3rd Place, Children. Untitled. Peak Rail, Derbyshire, iPhone XS Max. “My two year old son, Gabriel, totally captivated by his first experience of traveling by steam train.”
2nd Place, Children. Look dad! St. Petersburg, Russia, iPhone 6. “This is my daughter Olivia.”
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2nd Place, Children. Look dad! St. Petersburg, Russia, iPhone 6. “This is my daughter Olivia.”
1st Place, Children. Jasper the Raptor, Los Angeles, iPhone XS. “This photo was taken outside a supermarket in Los Angeles. My son Jasper wore a raptor mask and a Dodgers hat and we made up a story about Jasper the Raptor, a dinosaur boy who was hungry and went to the grocery store.”
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1st Place, Children. Jasper the Raptor, Los Angeles, iPhone XS. “This photo was taken outside a supermarket in Los Angeles. My son Jasper wore a raptor mask and a Dodgers hat and we made up a story about Jasper the Raptor, a dinosaur boy who was hungry and went to the grocery store.”
3rd Place, Lifestyle. In His Memory, Bobruysk, Belarus, iPhone X. “This is the former room of my grandfather in my grandparents’ house in Bobruysk, Belarus. Now he is dead and my grandmother has decorated it in his memory in a typical old soviet rural style which used to be chic and gorgeous when she was a child in the poor countryside after WWII. Nowadays we don’t have such interiors in our houses, and it is a kind of museum of those times: all those covered pillows, the abundance of carpets (on the walls as well), austere, neat and tidy.”
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3rd Place, Lifestyle. In His Memory, Bobruysk, Belarus, iPhone X. “This is the former room of my grandfather in my grandparents’ house in Bobruysk, Belarus. Now he is dead and my grandmother has decorated it in his memory in a typical old soviet rural style which used to be chic and gorgeous when she was a child in the poor countryside after WWII. Nowadays we don’t have such interiors in our houses, and it is a kind of museum of those times: all those covered pillows, the abundance of carpets (on the walls as well), austere, neat and tidy.”
2nd Place, Lifestyle. Hanging to Dry, Hongkou Shanghai, iPhone 7.
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2nd Place, Lifestyle. Hanging to Dry, Hongkou Shanghai, iPhone 7. 
1st Place, Lifestyle. Fishing, Wuhan, Hubei, China, iPhone 6S. “A man fishing by the lake, it feels like it came out of the movie called The Grand Budapest Hotel."
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1st Place, Lifestyle. Fishing, Wuhan, Hubei, China, iPhone 6S. “A man fishing by the lake, it feels like it came out of the movie called The Grand Budapest Hotel."
3rd Place, News/Events. Wedding Prayer, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, iPhone 8. “I photographed this wedding with my father in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul. During the religious ceremony, each person kneels to hold a prayer with all present for the purpose of blessing the wedding.”
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3rd Place, News/Events. Wedding Prayer, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, iPhone 8. “I photographed this wedding with my father in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul. During the religious ceremony, each person kneels to hold a prayer with all present for the purpose of blessing the wedding.”
2nd Place, News/Events. When the Curtain Falls, Aleppo, Syria, iPhone X. “This photo was taken in an abandoned house in Aleppo, Syria. In the Syrian civil war, almost the entire city of Aleppo became a ruin of war and there was hardly a building left intact. In January 2018, I walked into many rooms in the ruins. I found that lives were abruptly stopped by the war, and many rooms still retained the pre-war look.”
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2nd Place, News/Events. When the Curtain Falls, Aleppo, Syria, iPhone X. “This photo was taken in an abandoned house in Aleppo, Syria. In the Syrian civil war, almost the entire city of Aleppo became a ruin of war and there was hardly a building left intact. In January 2018, I walked into many rooms in the ruins. I found that lives were abruptly stopped by the war, and many rooms still retained the pre-war look.”
1st Place, News/Events. Fire Dragon, Meizhou, China, iPhone 6S. “This photo was taken at the Lantern Festival in Buzhai Town. It is the tradition of this small southern town to hold a dragon dance performance for Lantern Festival that dates back to the Qing Dynasty. It is a spectacular scene with the fire dragon being lifted by more than 30 adults while it dances and fireworks are set off from its body. Thousands of people came to watch the event and to pray for their family to be safe and healthy for the New Year.”
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1st Place, News/Events. Fire Dragon, Meizhou, China, iPhone 6S. “This photo was taken at the Lantern Festival in Buzhai Town. It is the tradition of this small southern town to hold a dragon dance performance for Lantern Festival that dates back to the Qing Dynasty. It is a spectacular scene with the fire dragon being lifted by more than 30 adults while it dances and fireworks are set off from its body.  Thousands of people came to watch the event and to pray for their family to be safe and healthy for the New Year.”
3rd Place, Other. The Wait, Rancho Cucamonga, California, iPhone 6 Plus. “I shot this photo in a local restaurant, I was captivated by the beautiful woman seated at the table across from us. She was preparing to leave, and her table was cluttered with dirty dishes, but I focused on the bright, shimmering fabric and the shiny gold sandals she was wearing.”
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3rd Place, Other. The Wait, Rancho Cucamonga, California, iPhone 6 Plus. “I shot this photo in a local restaurant, I was captivated by the beautiful woman seated at the table across from us. She was preparing to leave, and her table was cluttered with dirty dishes, but I focused on the bright, shimmering fabric and the shiny gold sandals she was wearing.”
2nd Place, Other. Hang On, Maryland, iPhone 7. “We received a large package with an absurd amount of this brown packing paper and my younger brother and I decided to get creative with it.”
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2nd Place, Other. Hang On, Maryland, iPhone 7. “We received a large package with an absurd amount of this brown packing paper and my younger brother and I decided to get creative with it.”
1st Place, Other. Sky Scaffolding, Busan, South Korea, iPhone X. “I loved the playful surrealist symbolism of this modest painted building, visually merging architecture and nature, physical object and void, in an unpretentious yet conceptually very clever way.”
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1st Place, Other. Sky Scaffolding, Busan, South Korea, iPhone X. “I loved the playful surrealist symbolism of this modest painted building, visually merging architecture and nature, physical object and void, in an unpretentious yet conceptually very clever way.”
3rd Place, People. At The Lake, Lake Maggiore, Italy, iPhone X. “I live in Milan and during the weekend I often go back to the lake to spend time with my parents. One of my favorite things to do is to take the ferry boat across the lake with no definite destination. I spend hours going back and forth with the sole purpose of observing passengers. People look captivated by the beauty of the landscape. In one of these solitary journeys of mine I focused on this man, as he reminded me of my father’s fragility.”
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3rd Place, People. At The Lake, Lake Maggiore, Italy, iPhone X. “I live in Milan and during the weekend I often go back to the lake to spend time with my parents. One of my favorite things to do is to take the ferry boat across the lake with no definite destination. I spend hours going back and forth with the sole purpose of observing passengers. People look captivated by the beauty of the landscape. In one of these solitary journeys of mine I focused on this man, as he reminded me of my father’s fragility.”
2nd Place, People. Dominoes in Havana, Cuba, iPhone SE. “Dominoes in Havana was captured at the Solar de Aguilar in Havana, Cuba. The building is a mere memory of what it once was, from the wrought iron curving around the grand stair case at the entrance of the building to the non-functioning fountain in the courtyard. Six families occupy the Solar de Aguilar and every afternoon the residents gather in front of the grand staircase to play dominoes. On this particular afternoon, I captured these four neighbors engaged in a friendly game.”
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2nd Place, People. Dominoes in Havana, Cuba, iPhone SE. “Dominoes in Havana was captured at the  Solar de Aguilar in Havana, Cuba. The building is a mere memory of what it once was, from the wrought iron curving around the grand stair case at the entrance of the building to the non-functioning fountain in the courtyard. Six families occupy the Solar de Aguilar and every afternoon the residents gather in front of the grand staircase to play dominoes. On this particular afternoon, I captured these four neighbors engaged in a friendly game.”
1st Place, People. Untitled, China, iPhone X.
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1st Place, People. Untitled, China, iPhone X.
From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “One of my favorite moments, perched on the tummy of my master. I have to confess, the view is awesome!! This cushion makes me feel secure. I can also warn other dogs and protect my master. Yeeaah! Who’s the boss?! I belong to him and he belongs to me.”
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From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “One of my favorite moments, perched on the tummy of my master. I have to confess, the view is awesome!! This cushion makes me feel secure. I can also warn other dogs and protect my master. Yeeaah! Who’s the boss?! I belong to him and he belongs to me.”
2nd Place, Portrait. Little Beekeeper, Margaret River, Western Australia, iPhone X. “I take my nephew Eden on ‘Photo Safaris’, where we only shoot with our iPhones. Our trophies are the images we capture. My mum has a couple of bee hives in Margaret River, Western Australia, and I thought they’d make for an exciting safari. As we dressed for this adventure I decided to take a portrait of Eden in his ‘photo safari suit’.”
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2nd Place, Portrait. Little Beekeeper, Margaret River, Western Australia, iPhone X. “I take my nephew Eden on ‘Photo Safaris’, where we only shoot with our iPhones. Our trophies are the images we capture. My mum has a couple of bee hives in Margaret River, Western Australia, and I thought they’d make for an exciting safari.  As we dressed for this adventure I decided to take a portrait of Eden in his ‘photo safari suit’.”
1st Place, Portrait. A Future Eagle Hunter, Bayan Ulgi, Mongolia, iPhone 7 Plus. “In Bayan Ulgi province in western Mongolia, eagle hunting is a tradition passed across generations. Boys start their training as early as 11 years old, and little Bakha is no exception as he makes his entrance into the world of eagle hunting with his prized falcon.”
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1st Place, Portrait. A Future Eagle Hunter, Bayan Ulgi, Mongolia, iPhone 7 Plus. “In Bayan Ulgi province in western Mongolia, eagle hunting is a tradition passed across generations. Boys start their training as early as 11 years old, and little Bakha is no exception as he makes his entrance into the world of eagle hunting with his prized falcon.”
2nd Place, Still Life. Green Breeze, Manhattan, New York, iPhone X.
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2nd Place, Still Life. Green Breeze, Manhattan, New York, iPhone X. 
3rd Place, Still Life. The Absolute, Russia, iPhone SE. “This is part of the “Theater of Disappearance” exhibition by Adrián Villar Rojas in NYC MoMA. The surreal nature of the exhibit was very inspiring. I spent a long time walking around the exhibit carefully observing details of each sculpture, trying to imagine what it would be like living in their characters. The sun was projecting hard shadows on the sculpture of banquet tables making various items that were placed on tables to appear simple and complete. I wanted to keep this moment in my memory for a long time.”
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3rd Place, Still Life. The Absolute, Russia, iPhone SE. “This is part of the “Theater of Disappearance” exhibition by Adrián Villar Rojas in NYC MoMA. The surreal nature of the exhibit was very inspiring. I spent a long time walking around the exhibit carefully observing details of each sculpture, trying to imagine what it would be like living in their characters. The sun was projecting hard shadows on the sculpture of banquet tables making various items that were placed on tables to appear simple and complete. I wanted to keep this moment in my memory for a long time.”
1st Place, Still Life. In The Wind, Germany, iPhone SE. “This photo is one of a series where I wanted to document moments where I felt particular emotions and I took a picture whether I felt like it or not.”
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1st Place, Still Life. In The Wind, Germany, iPhone SE. “This photo is one of a series where I wanted to document moments where I felt particular emotions and I took a picture whether I felt like it or not.”
3rd Place, Sunset. Penetrated Sunset, Shantou, Guangdong, iPhone 6. “This was taken by the river in my hometown of Shantou, China. The sunset passed through the leaves and reflected on the river, like a painting.”
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3rd Place, Sunset. Penetrated Sunset, Shantou, Guangdong, iPhone 6. “This was taken by the river in my hometown of Shantou, China. The sunset passed through the leaves and reflected on the river, like a painting.”
2nd Place, Sunset. Sunset on Baltic Sea, Baltic Sea, iPhone 6S. “While floating on the ice breaker I saw this marvelous sunset on the Baltic Sea.”
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2nd Place, Sunset. Sunset on Baltic Sea, Baltic Sea, iPhone 6S. “While floating on the ice breaker I saw this marvelous sunset on the Baltic Sea.”
1st Place, Sunset. Piercing the Sky, Bangalore, India, iPhone 6S. “The evening sky marred by some solitary clouds provided a perfect backdrop to this shot. This is the statue of Lord Ram, Hindu God, shot in the outskirts of Bangalore just before sunset.”
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1st Place, Sunset. Piercing the Sky, Bangalore, India, iPhone 6S. “The evening sky marred by some solitary clouds provided a perfect backdrop to this shot. This is the statue of Lord Ram, Hindu God, shot in the outskirts of Bangalore just before sunset.”
3rd Place, Travel. Palanquera, Cartagena, Colombia, iPhone 7 Plus. “In this photo that I took in Cartagena – Colombia, I was exploring the contrast between the colonial architecture of the city, next to a “Palanquera” : a Colombian touristic symbol that represents the group of runaway African slaves, now known for selling fruits on the streets with colorful dresses – A “costume” that disguises the episodes of slavery caused by the Spanish colonization.”
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3rd Place, Travel. Palanquera, Cartagena, Colombia, iPhone 7 Plus. “In this photo that I took in Cartagena – Colombia, I was exploring the contrast between the colonial architecture of the city, next to a “Palanquera” : a Colombian touristic symbol that represents the group of runaway African slaves, now known for selling fruits on the streets with colorful dresses – A “costume” that disguises the episodes of slavery caused by the Spanish colonization.”
2nd Place, Travel. Tourists at the Dunes-Death Valley, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, iPhone XS Max. “The photograph was taken at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park. A bus load of tourist had just arrived and people were walking out into the dunes. The bright light of midday accented the dunes and the colorful clothes of the tourists.”
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2nd Place, Travel. Tourists at the Dunes-Death Valley, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, iPhone XS Max. “The photograph was taken at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park. A bus load of tourist had just arrived and people were walking out into the dunes. The bright light of midday accented the dunes and the colorful clothes of the tourists.”
1st Place, Travel. Lonely Boat, Da Nang, Vietnam, iPhone 8 Plus. “It was a cloudy day. I noticed a man with a small boat floating up and down in the sea when I was walking on the beach. Something occurred to me in that moment, I thought, I want to get closer so I walked in until salty seawater flooded my chest. The man, the boat, and me. I felt a connection in that moment, people are so small between heaven and earth.”
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1st Place, Travel. Lonely Boat, Da Nang, Vietnam, iPhone 8 Plus. “It was a cloudy day. I noticed a man with a small boat floating up and down in the sea when I was walking on the beach. Something occurred to me in that moment, I thought, I want to get closer so I walked in until salty seawater flooded my chest. The man, the boat, and me. I felt a connection in that moment, people are so small between heaven and earth.”
View gallery - 55 images

In its 12th year the iPhone Photography Awards presents a collection of winning images that highlight the incredible quality of modern smartphone photography. Anchored by a beautiful grand-prize-winning shot of two children in Tanzania, the unique competition cements the omnipresence of iPhones and their ability to quickly capture fleeting moments larger cameras could easily miss.

Spanning a massive 18 categories and thousands of entries from over 140 countries, the IPPAWARDS not only features photographs of a quality matching any other serious competition around the globe, but also showcases images with a sense of spontaneity that only a small on-hand smartphone could capture.

Grand Prize Winner, Photographer of the Year. Big Sister, Zanzibar, iPhone X. “Last year I spent a month in Wasa, Tanzania, teaching a class of young, curious and amazing guys. Before heading back to Italy we stopped in Zanzibar, where this photo was taken. I still wonder how could I capture that exact moment in all its beauty. I was just observing, a few meters from them, but they were probably more curious about me than I was about them, and that’s probably why the girl was looking at me.”
Grand Prize Winner, Photographer of the Year. Big Sister, Zanzibar, iPhone X. “Last year I spent a month in Wasa, Tanzania, teaching a class of young, curious and amazing guys. Before heading back to Italy we stopped in Zanzibar, where this photo was taken. I still wonder how could I capture that exact moment in all its beauty. I was just observing, a few meters from them, but they were probably more curious about me than I was about them, and that’s probably why the girl was looking at me.”

Perhaps, more than other photographic competitions, this collection of images feels like a unique chronicle of wonderful transitory moments in time, existing solely due to the fact that so many people now have these amazing smartphone cameras within reach at all times.

From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “Janta Manta Observatory is very sci-fi looking. I captured the flying pigeon with the building to give the photo a dynamic feeling.”
From the 2019 iPhone Photo Awards. “Janta Manta Observatory is very sci-fi looking. I captured the flying pigeon with the building to give the photo a dynamic feeling.”

Unlike the broader Mobile Photography Awards, the IPPAWARDS only accepts entries taken on iPhone or iPad devices. While, unsurprisingly, many winning entries this year were taken with the more current iPhone X or XS models, a large number of impressive, and awarded, entries were taken with older models going back as far as the iPhone 6.

3rd Place, Children. Untitled. Peak Rail, Derbyshire, iPhone XS Max. “My two year old son, Gabriel, totally captivated by his first experience of traveling by steam train.”
3rd Place, Children. Untitled. Peak Rail, Derbyshire, iPhone XS Max. “My two year old son, Gabriel, totally captivated by his first experience of traveling by steam train.”

Memorable highlights from the wide variety of winners include a perfectly timed shot of a pigeon flying across the facade of the Janta Manta Observatory in Jaipur, a gorgeously composed shot of a child's face looking out the window of a steam train, and a lovely snap of a bather in a striped shirt on a Portugal beach.

Take a look through our gallery at all of the fantastic winners in the 2019 competition.

Source: IPPAWARDS

View gallery - 55 images

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PhotographySmartphonesAwardsiPhonePhotographyiPadCamera
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Rich Haridy
Rich Haridy
Rich has written for a number of online and print publications over the last decade while also acting as film critic for several radio broadcasters and podcasts. His interests focus on psychedelic science, new media, and science oddities. Rich completed a Masters degree in the Arts back in 2013 before joining New Atlas in 2016.

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