Even an Old iPhone Can Create Masterpieces: The IPPAWARDS 2026 Winners
The IPPAWARDS 2026 winners have been announced. Robyn Jensen from the Cayman Islands takes the Grand Prize with a spectacular shot of an erupting volcano, proving that creativity matters more than equipment — even an older iPhone can create masterpieces.
This article was originally published in Italian by Corriere della Sera – Viaggi (by Elmar Burchia). Republished here with credit to the original publication.
Announced the winners of the iPhone Photography Awards 2026: the award-winning photographs demonstrate that creativity and talent can matter more than equipment — even with a phone from nine years ago.
The iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) 2026 have announced the winners of the nineteenth edition of the international competition dedicated exclusively to photography taken with an iPhone.
Thousands of Photographers from Over 140 Countries
This year too, thousands of photographers (from over 140 countries) took part in the competition, demonstrating how, in the right hands, an Apple smartphone can become a tool capable of producing images of the highest level, without the need for professional photographic equipment.
The Winning Photo: The Erupting Volcano
Taking the Grand Prize was Robyn Jensen, from the Cayman Islands, thanks to a spectacular shot of an eruption of the Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala, taken with an iPhone 15 Pro using the main camera, equivalent to a 24mm lens.
The image brings together the starry sky and the incandescent lava flows, creating a scene of great visual impact. In addition to the overall winner, the IPPAWARDS also awarded the three Photographers of the Year, with the traditional gold, silver, and bronze medals.
You Don't Need the Latest iPhone to Win
The gold medal went to Hungary's Gellert Gombai, the silver to American Arnold Plotnick, and the bronze to American Catherine Wang. Three very different photographs, but united by high technical and narrative quality.
The 2026 edition also demonstrates another interesting aspect: to create extraordinary photographs it is not essential to own the latest model. Several awarded images were taken with older iPhones, confirming that the true difference is made by the photographer's eye — their ability to see, wait, and capture the right moment.
The awarded photographs range across numerous categories: Abstract, Animals, Architecture, Children, City Life, Landscape, Nature, Portrait, and Series. The images range from sunlit street corners to remote natural landscapes, from spontaneous portraits to urban geometries — a moving reminder of photography's ability to reveal beauty, resilience, and meaning in our ever-changing world.
This year also commemorates a milestone: nearly two decades since the first iPhone put a powerful camera within reach of millions of people and changed the perception of who can be called a photographer.
Readers can enjoy the award-winning and mentioned photos across the various categories on the IPPAWARDS showcase page.
Originally published by Corriere della Sera – Viaggi — written by Elmar Burchia.