Apple’s Shot on iPhone Photography Challenge produced some remarkable results. Created to coincide with the release of the iPhone 13 Pro, which features the most advanced Pro camera system seen on an iPhone, the project explored how the iPhone has pioneered photography and has made it accessible to more and more people as an art form. From capturing special moments in our lives to gracing the covers of magazines, the iPhone has become a tool for amateurs and professionals alike to express and experiment with their identity.
Across several weeks, iPhone photographers from across the globe submitted their best images shot on the Pro Macro camera. An international panel of judges came together to select 10 winning images to be featured on Apple’s Instagram and on billboards around the world, and the results really are impressive. Photos include incredible nature shots that you might miss with the naked eye, like dewdrops on a spider web, snowflakes on a dog’s hair, a cavernous hibiscus flower and a strawberry encased in tiny lemonade bubbles.
"The Cave" by Marco Colletta, shot on iPhone 13 Pro.
Marco, a 22-year-old mechanical engineering student from Italy, says of the macro photography feature in iPhone 13 Pro that he thought “it was just another cool new feature, but when I started exploring its possibilities, I really started to love it. I discovered that it gives me the ability to turn almost anything I see into an abstract subject that’s different from what it is in real life.” The hibiscus flower reminds him of “a deep cave that wants to be explored through the intense shadows and the enveloping shape of the petals.”
"Hidden Gem" by Jirasak Panpiansin, shot on iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Renowned Thai photographer Jirasak finds that the “true brilliance shines through the iPhone’s lens – up close it sparkles with intense clarity, capturing the light of the rising sun and magnifying the intricate, organic geometry of the leaf veins below.” Judge Della Huff says, “This is such an appealing photo. I love the soft textures and rich greens, and the reflection and magnification in the water drop really draw the viewer in.”
"Strawberry in Soda" by Ashley Lee, shot on iPhone 13 Pro.
Ashley is a security engineer and an award-winning freelance photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She took this photo in her kitchen and loves using photography to transform everyday things. Using macro photography, she was able to see the unique structures and dimensions of a strawberry that are invisible to the naked eye.
More results can be found on Apple’s website, as well as under the hashtags #ShotoniPhone and #iPhonemacrochallenge.