They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but with today's cutting-edge cameras, that thousand could easily turn into a million. The right lens, the perfect exposure, and a touch of digital magic can transform a snapshot into a masterpiece. But recently, an Indian photographer shot an award-winning image using the cheapest Apple iPhone that sells in India.
The image titled "The Gaddi Boy and His Goat" was shot in Burwa, Himachal Pradesh, by Manush Kalwari, and it has secured the Best of the iPhone Photography Award in 2024.
The interesting part about the image is that it was shot using an iPhone SE, which is the cheapest iPhone Apple sells in India. The iPhone SE, which hasn't been updated since 2022, lacks the advanced camera features found in newer models. Despite this, Kalwari managed to secure third place in the portrait category. The competition featured 15 total categories.
For the last 17 years now, the annual iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) have recognised some of the best images shot by people across the world from the iPhones. This year an Indian photographer has bagged third place in the Portrait category.
“The iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) is thrilled to announce the winners of its 17th annual competition. This year’s winning images are a powerful testament to the art of storytelling through photography,” said the organisers.
Which image won the award?
The image titled “The Gaddi Boy and his Goat” was shot in Burwa, Himachal Pradesh by Manush Kalwari. Interestingly, Kalwari shot the image using an iPhone SE, which is the cheapest iPhone Apple sells in India. Moreover, the iPhone SE hasn’t seen an upgrade since 2022 and doesn’t really boast smart chops in its camera. Kalwari secured third prize in the Portrait category. There were a total of 15 categories in which photographers were awarded.
What did the photographer win?
Entries were open worldwide to photographers using an iPhone or iPad. One of the criteria was that photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) were eligible. Also, the photos should not have be altered in any desktop image processing program such as Photoshop but using iOS apps for editing was allowed.
The image shot on iPhone SE won third place in Portrait category
Since Kalwari won the third prize in the category, he was awarded a win Platinum Bar from “the most recognisable private gold mint in the world.”
“These images are not just snapshots; they are profound expressions of life, captured through the lens of those who see the world with both heart and mind,” said the organisers.
Do keep in mind that IPPAWARDS are not organised by Apple but are one of the longest-running iPhone photography awards.
The iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) have celebrated the art of storytelling for the past 17 years. And in announcing their 2024 winners, they once again prove how mobile photography has changed how we capture everyday moments. In a sea of stunning imagery, American photographer Erin Brooks rose to the top and was named the Grand Prize Winner.
Brooks' black-and-white photo of a boy's awe at marine life captures the magic of childhood. His wonder at seeing these sharks and fish is palpable, and Brooks does a fantastic job of rendering the details of what must have been a difficult environment to photograph. Glen Wilbert was named First Place Photographer of the Year for his fascinating look at lifeguards in Huntington Beach. His photo Lifeguard Camp, shot on an iPhone 11 Pro Max, captures the organized chaos and energy of lifeguards in training.
In addition to Photographer of the Year, IPPAWARDS also handed out prizes to 14 category winners. These winners show the diverse creative possibilities that iPhones can provide. From colorful architecture to artistic portraits, the winning photos demonstrate that you don't need fancy equipment to take incredible photographs.
Scroll down to see more winners, and head over to the IPPAWARDS website to see the full winner's gallery.
“Lifeguard Camp” by Glen Wilbert (USA). First Place, Photographer of the Year. Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max.
“Pupils” by Anthony Maureal. Second Place, Photographer of the Year. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro.
Untitled by Wenlong Jiang (China). Third Place, Photographer of the Year. Shot on iPhone 14.
“Entrance to the Fancy Land” by Leping Cheng (China). First Place, Architecture. Shot on iPhone 12 Pro Max.
“Sweet Summer” by Dai Fushun. First Place, Still Life. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max.
“On the Swing of Childhood” by Daniel de Cerqueira (Brazil). First Place, Children. Shot on iPhone 11.
“Grace” by Artem-Koleganov (Germany). First Place, Portrait. Shot on iPhone X.
“Oompa Loompa” by Brooke Wilen (USA). First Place, People. Shot on iPhone 6S.
“Huntsman, Horse & Hounds” by Colin Hoskins (UK). First Place, Animals. Shot on iPhone 7 Plus.
“Stream” by Shinya Itahana (Japan). First Place, Nature. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro.
“Sahara Surfing” by Khalid Mahmood (Sweden). First Place, Travel. Shot on iPhone 13 Pro.
“Night Sky in Lake Tekapo” by Paddy Chao (Taiwan). First Place, Landscape. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max.
“Jumping Into Dreams” by Xingping Zhou (China). First Place, Series. Shot on iPhone 13.
“Paradise” by Yanzhou Chen (China). First Place, Cityscape. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max.
“Pita Pinta” by Jose Manuel Garcia Gonzalez (Spain). First Place, Abstract. Shot on iPhone 14 Pro Max.
“Lifeguard Camp, SoCal” by Glen Wilbert (USA). First Place, Lifestyle. Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max.
“What’s on your mind?” Jun Hu (China). First Place, Other. Shot on iPhone 7.
IPPAWARDS: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.
The competition, now in its 17th year, runs independently of Apple but has become a staple in the smartphone-snapping calendar. It claims to be the world's longest-running iPhone photography competition – and as you'd expect, some fine photos are spread across its 15 categories.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is understandably the most well-represented camera in the awards – it was used for 10 out of the 46 award-winning shots. However, the awards are by no means dominated by new Apple models. The second most popular phones were the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone X, which were used in four winning shots each.
Most of the winning shots were taken on older iPhones
A couple of photos were even shot on iPhones that won't even support iOS 18 when it lands next month. First place in the 'Animals' category (shot by Colin Hoskins) was taken on an iPhone 7 Plus, which launched back in 2016. Meanwhile, the top spot in the 'People' category (an eerie shot of some renovators at an LA motel by Brooke Wilen) was taken on an iPhone 6S. 'The best camera is the one you have with you' may be a cliché, but it's also true.
What's clear from the winners below is that composition and a little editing both trump hardware these days. Very few shots appear to be 'straight out of camera', with many displaying the tell-tale signs of color tweaks from the best photo editing apps like Snapseed and Lightroom, or a tasteful black-and-white conversion.
While the competition's rules stated that “photos should not be altered in Photoshop or any desktop image processing program”, that does leave the room open for mobile editors – and there's nothing wrong with that in our book.
Looking for some World Photography Day inspiration? Here's a gallery of all of this year's award winners, and the iPhone that was used for each shot...
