These are the Winners of the 2021 iPhone Photography Awards

The iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) — the first and longest-running iPhone photography competition — has announced the winners of the 14th annual international competition. The photos show the incredible work that can be captured with just an iPhone and an eye for the extraordinary.

The competition welcomes all photos that have been taken with any iPhone or iPad, and while the use of any iPhone or iPad app is permissible for editing (and the use of add-on lenses is also allowed), photos cannot be altered in Photoshop or any desktop image processing program. This year, the 2021 IPPAWARDS went through thousands of submissions from photographers from all over the world in 18 categories.

Each entrant was competing for the title of iPhone Photographer of the year as well as one of 18 literal gold and 36 platinum bars from “the most recognizable private gold mint in the world.” The 18 gold bars are awarded to the winners of each category, while the second and third place winners in each category are awarded a platinum bar. The work of the top winner and the first, second, third place winners on each category will be publicized on IPPAWARDS online gallery and any published IPPAWARDS materials.

This year, the Grand Prize Winner and Photographer of the Year Award was granted to photojournalist Istvan Kerekes of Hungary for his image,
Transylvanian Shepherds.

“In it, two rugged shepherds traverse an equally rugged industrial landscape, bearing a pair of lambs in their arms,” the IPPAWARDS describes. “The grit of the men and the bleakness of their environment are a moving contrast to the hope and innocence of the lambs in their care.”

Istvan Kerekes, “Transylvanian Shepherds” | Shot on iPhone 7

First Place Photographer of the Year Award goes to Sharan Shetty of India for his image, Bonding.

Sharan Shetty, “Bonding” | Shot on iPhone X

The Second Place prize is for Dan Liu of China and his untitled image of an astronaut traversing a desolate Martian-esque landscape.

Dan Liu, “A Walk on Mars” | Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max

Third Place Photographer of the Year Award goes to Jeff Rayner of the United States for his photo, Side-Walking on Air, a portrait of a young girl aloft and weightless in a pool of light on her Los Angeles sidewalk.

Jeff Rayner, “Side-Walking on Air” | Shot on iPhone X

Below are the other additional winners from the remaining 17 categories:

Abstract

Glenn Homann, “Untitled” | Shot on iPhone 11 Pro

Animals

Laila Bakker, “Strike a Pose” | Shot on iPhone X

Architecture

Yuexiang Wang, “Candy” | Shot on iPhone 8 Plus

Children

Dong Wei, “Untitled” | Shot on iPhone 7 Plus

City Life

Liz Huang, “Untitled” | Shot on iPhone X

Environment

Elinat Shteckler, “Clouds” | Shot on iPhone 11

Landscape

Lizhi Wang, “Flight from Iguazu” | Shot on iPhone XR

Lifestyle

Mahabub Hossain Khan, “The Old Gym” | Shot on iPhone XS

Nature

Christian Horgan, “Pondering the Positives” | Shot on iPhone X

Other

Zerry Song, “New Clothes for the Pole” | Shot on iPhone 7

Panorama

Gabriele Rodriquez, “Over the Clouds” | Shot on iPhone XS

People

Christian Horgan, “Black Summer Blue Montaigne” | Shot on iPhone X

Portrait

Kysten Crabtree, “Untitled” | Shot on iPhone 12 Pro

Series

The three photos below were photographed by Erin Brooks on an iPhone 11 Pro and are titled “Sisterhood,” “Mermaid,” and “After the Jump.”

Still Life

Kunkun Liu, “Sweet” | Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max

Sunset

Claire Droppert, “A Dutch Morning” | Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max

Travel

Tatiana Merzlyakova, “Magic of Aurora Borealis” | Shot on iPhone 12 Pro Max

All of the winners, including the second and third-place finishers as well as the honorable mentions for each of the categories above, are available to view on the IPPAWARDS website.


Image credits: All photos individually credited and provided courtesy of the 2021 International iPhone Photography Awards.

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