Yajun Hu took grand prize in the 13th annual Mobile Photography Awards for a portfolio of street ... [+]
You don’t need a fancy, high-end camera to snap masterful photos. The winners of the 13th annual Mobile Photography Awards highlight the boundless potential of phones and tablets as sophisticated imaging tools that have democratized fine-art photography.
“If it’s true what legendary street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson says, that our first 10,000 photos will be our worst, then it’s safe to say that mobile phone photography has given people an historic opportunity to get past 10,001,” the competition says on its website. “The MPA is a showcase for photographers and artists who have embraced this decisive moment.”
The juried awards, started in 2011, are the longest-running international competition open exclusively to photographs entirely shot and edited on mobile phones and tablets. The contest is open to phone photographers worldwide, with 7,000 images from more than 80 countries submitted for the latest round, and winners announced Wednesday.
Yajun Hu, a systems engineer from Shanghai, China, won MPA grand prize for his captivating portfolio of street shots that harness the interplay of light, shadows, colors and silhouettes to capture the spontaneity of urban life.
“What attracts me to street photography is the uncertainty of what I will find,” Hu said in an artist’s statement. The photographer, who shot the winning images with a Xiaomi Ultra 13, first started snapping street scenes in 2015.
“Now, street photography has become a major part of my life and a deeper way for me to observe my city,” said Hu, who was also named MPA photographer of the year and won a $3,000 cash prize for the honor.
This year's grand prize winner Yajun Hu appreciates the way street photography captures the ... [+]
Images shot and edited on any mobile phone or tablet are eligible for entry to the contest. The 12 categories include portraits and self-portraits; landscape and wildlife; architecture and still life; and one digital art that allows for the use of AI.
“We see AI not just as a ‘trick,’ but a part of the creative artist’s toolbox,” MPA founder Daniel Berman said over email. “For our other categories we use both forensic and publicly available information to validate photos. We also ask entrants to submit untouched originals with metadata if we have a concern.”
Berman says the contest aims to amplify the power and potential of mobile photography. "The evolution of mobile photography,” Berman said, “has been nothing short of remarkable.”
You can see the winner of that and other categories below, and view all winners and honorable mentions here. The Mobile Photography Awards are accepting entries for its 2024 contest now through December 17.
Architecture/Still Life
"The Void" by Wei Wei won in the architecture/still life category.
Black And White
Grand prize winner Yajun Hu also took first place in the black-and-white category for "Broken ... [+]
Landscapes and Wildlife
"Golden Mountains" by Di Lu looks like something Ansel Adams could have shot.
Macro And Details
Hollyn Johnson's "Beyond the Green" gets super up close with an insect.
People Photos
"Cadet Obstacle Course," shot on an iPhone XR, captures a dramatic moment.
Portraits And Self Portraits
Queenie Cheen shot "The Violinist Returning Home at Night" with a Vivo X90 ProPlus smartphone.
Silhouettes
It's easy to see why Roy Pan calls this winner of the silhouettes category "Tetris."
Street Photography
Chang Nianzu shot this vibrant shot, called "Playground," with a Xiaomi 13 Pro.
The Darkness/Noir
Wai Ying Kwok captured the moody "Light Up" with a Samsung Galaxy S23.
Travel/Transportation
Yuepeng Bao's "Wonder Kelingking Beach" shows why the Indonesian site is a popular destination.
Visual FX/Digital Art
One category in this year's contest encouraged the use of AI. Melissa Johnston shot the winner, ... [+]
Water/Snow/Ice
"The Falls," by Ryan Cardone, shows the immense potential of phones in nature photography.
