Introduction

The iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) is an annual photography competition that celebrates the creative potential of mobile photography, specifically focusing on photographs taken using iPhones. The competition was founded in 2007 by photographer Kenan Aktülün, and it has gained significant recognition and popularity over the years.

IPPAWARDS is the first and the longest running iPhone photography competition since 2007. The aim is to showcase the creative imagery that can be captured using just a smartphone camera. It is worth mentioning that the contest is open to photographers of all levels from around the world. Participants can submit their photos across various categories such as landscapes, portraits, travel, architecture, animals, and more. The iPhone Photography Awards enable people to capture and share their perspectives with the world.

Judges for the IPPAWARDS consist of experienced photographers, industry experts, and artists who evaluate the submitted photographs based on creativity, composition, use of light, colours, and overall visual impact. Winners are selected in multiple categories, and the top images receive recognition through media coverage, online galleries, and exhibitions. The competition shows that smartphones have a strong position in modern photography. New devices are capable of producing high-quality images that were once thought to be achievable only with dedicated digital cameras. With new smartphone models such as iPhone 15 even better outcomes can be achieved.

Kenan Aktülün, The Father of The Phone Photography Awards

A Turkish-American photographer, born in Diyarbakir, Turkey in 1959 and graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from Marmara University in Istanbul. His lifelong dedication to photography and capturing the essence of his surroundings has been a continuous source of passion and pursuit. However, his artistic journey became focused specifically on photography after relocating to New York in 2001. Since that time, Aktülün has maintained his adventures, documenting diverse landscapes across the world, all the while delving deeper into innovative techniques and methods. His photographic creations are now prominently displayed in various private collections spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Aktülün's landscape photography transcends mere visual aesthetics of chosen places and subjects. Each photograph is thoughtfully composed, capturing the emotions he experiences during that specific juncture. Whether it's a lakeside veiled in mist, concealing the horizon, or the vivid intricacies of a solitary plant, Aktülün's images possess an introspective and even spiritual quality. They serve as timeless mirrors to the natural world, channelled through a method he describes as "engaging with every frame," a process that demands patience and reverence to immerse himself fully in the scene, ponder its significance, and then mirror it back in his work.

Kenan's idea for the IPPAWARDS was to inspire and elevate creativity within the community. The competition aimed to emphasise that you don't need expensive camera equipment to create compelling photographs. iPhones, being widely accessible devices, offer a platform for people of all skill levels to participate and contribute to the art of photography. Kenan aims to elevate the status of mobile photography by encouraging individuals from all around the world to share their perspectives. This diversity in entries showcases the distinct ways in which people interpret and capture their surroundings.

How to use your iPhone camera to full potential?

Set your Focus and Exposure

Exposure speaks about the brightness of your photo, whereas Focus makes the image more sharp and less blurred. To set the focus point simply tap on the screen (you will see a small yellow square). You can also adjust the exposure by sliding your finger up or down after tapping to focus. This is particularly useful in tricky lighting conditions. Long exposure photography is a technique used to capture motion and create certain artistic effects by allowing the camera's sensor to collect light over an extended period of time. In iPhones it can be found in the Live Photos feature. When you tap the camera button, you’ll record a 3-second Live Photo with movement and sound. To get the Long Exposure feature swipe across in the Live Photo effects and select Long Exposure.

Use The Camera Grid For Better Compositions

Composition is key to a great photograph. The rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, and symmetry can help you increase the aesthetics of your photo:

• The gridlines are based on the rule of thirds and can assist you in aligning your subjects and elements within the frame. To use this feature: open the Settings app, go to your Camera, and turn on the Grid button.
• The rule of thirds is a classic composition technique. If you position your subject or horizon off-centre, your photo will look more pleasing.

These guidelines can help you create visually appealing and well-balanced images.

Explore the HDR mode

HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode helps capture better details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. It takes multiple shots at different exposures (one for highlights, one for midtones, and one for shadows) and combines them for a more balanced image. This is especially useful in high-contrast situations. The goal is to capture the details from each exposure level and create an image that has well-exposed highlights, midtones, and shadows.

To explore the feature find the HDR mode in your Camera Settings. The best is to keep the Normal Photo switched on, and Smart HDR switched off (if it’s on, you won’t see the HDR icon in the Camera app. The HDR mode can be seen on top of your screen when you turn on your camera.

Try viral TikTok photo editing hack

Another way to upgrade your photos is to edit them. Even if you’re not a pro in photography, TikTokers have you covered with some easy tips on how to take the best pictures, edit them or simply use your iPhone to its full potential. The TikTok iPhone photo editing technique is a clever iPhone hack that entails increasing the brightness and contrast, making your edits, and then reverting them to their original settings. The outcome is a sun-drenched, golden-hour-style photo that gives the impression of being captured with a professional camera. This editing approach is particularly well-suited for travel shots, food imagery, portraits, and other subjects.

Follow this short instruction to check this out! Firstly, open on your iPhone the photos app and select the image you wish to edit. Then, tap on Edit located in the upper right corner. Then, adjust the remaining settings as follows:

• Set Highlights to -35
• Set Shadows to -28
• Set Contrast to -30
• Set Brightness to -15
• Set Black Point to 10
• Set Saturation to 10
• Set Vibrancy to 8
• Set Warmth to 10
• Set to Tint to 39
• Set Sharpness to 14
• Set Vignette to 23

Your final edited image is now ready for unveiling!