Results of the iPhone Photography Awards 2026

Organizers of the iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAwards) have announced the winners of the 19th annual international competition for photographs taken on the iPhone. The winners were selected from tens of thousands of entries received from 140 countries, including from Russia and the CIS.

“This year marks an important milestone in history: nearly two decades have passed since the first iPhone appeared in millions of pockets and changed the idea of who can call themselves a photographer.” — Organizers.

Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2026

This year, the grand prize in the “Photographer of the Year” category was awarded to Robyn Jensen from the Cayman Islands for a striking image demonstrating the power of nature, taken on an iPhone 15 Pro in Yepocapa, Guatemala.

© Robyn Jensen (Cayman Islands) — “Yepocapa, Chimaltenango.” Grand Prize, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2026. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro, 6.765mm (24mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1s, ISO 12500.

Gellert Gombai from Hungary took first place in the “Photographer of the Year” category for an intimate, peaceful moment.

© Gellert Gombai (Hungary). Gold, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2026. Shot on iPhone X, 4mm (28mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1/1500s, ISO 20.

Second place went to American Arnold Plotnick for a superbly graphic photograph of a cat, taken in Amsterdam.

© Arnold Plotnick (USA). Silver, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2026. Shot on iPhone 16 Pro, 6.765mm (29mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1/60s, ISO 320.

Third place went to Catherine Wang, also from the USA, who presented a brilliant still life that could easily compete with a studio shot.

© Catherine Wang (USA). Bronze, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2026. Shot on iPhone 16 Pro Max, 6.765mm, f/1.8, 1/40s, ISO 250.

Category Winners

Abstract

• 1st place — Barry Mayes (United Kingdom). Shot on iPhone 8 Plus, 3.99mm (28mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1/120s, ISO 50.
• 2nd place — Leland Smith (USA). Shot on iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm (64mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1/160s, ISO 64.
• 3rd place — Jo Borzsony (United Kingdom), Lüderitz, Karas region. Shot on iPhone 16 Pro Max, 6.765mm (38mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1/270s, ISO 100.

City Life / Urban Landscape

• 1st place — Adrian Beasley (United Kingdom). Shot on iPhone 17 Pro, 16.89mm (200mm equivalent), f/2.8, 1/750s, ISO 20.
• 2nd place — Yue Yu (China), shot in Hangzhou, China. Shot on iPhone 15, 5.96mm (48mm equivalent), f/1.6, 1/12000s, ISO 50.
• 3rd place — Ha Yun Song (South Korea) — “Midnight Game.” Shot on iPhone 16 Pro Max, 6.765mm (24mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1/50s, ISO 200.

Animals

• 1st place — Peter Crome (United Kingdom). Shot on iPhone 14 Pro, 9mm (77mm equivalent), f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 32.
• 2nd place — Barry Mayes (United Kingdom) — “Icelandic Horse.” Shot on iPhone 13 Plus, 9mm (77mm equivalent), f/2.8, 1/960s, ISO 32.
• 3rd place — 博宇 温 (China), shot in Yangpu, Shanghai. Shot on iPhone 17 Pro, 16.8906mm (200mm equivalent), f/2.8, 1/320s, ISO 50.

Architecture

• 1st place — Ziwen Chen (China). Shot on iPhone 17 Pro, 6.765mm (48mm equivalent), f/1.8, 1/18s, ISO 1000.

Source: photowebexpo.ru