“The 2019 entries were off the charts great.
Astounding work that pulls the planet together through photographs.”
Nearly four years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to broaden my creative horizons. One of the ways I hoped to achieve this to submit some of my work to various international photography festivals and awards shows. One of the very first entries I made way back in 2016 was to the international iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAwards) and, much to my surprise, I was awarded 2nd Place in the People category for my photograph of a Burmese farmer I made in the rural fields outside Yangon.
Now in its 12th year, IPPAwards is the world’s longest running and most respected mobile photography contest, and I have submitted selections of my #shotoniphone photography to the competition each of the past four years. In 2017 I received Honourable Mentions in the Landscape and People categories for imagery that I made of the mighty snowcapped Himalayas out the airplane window on my way to Ladakh, India and a street capture of a man preparing food outside the historic Al-Sayeda Zainab Mosque in Cairo. Last year a portrait I made of an elderly Moken sea gypsy wearing his hand carved wooden goggles on the Surin, Thailand beach was awarded 1st Place in the Portrait category of the 2018 awards, which was a tremendous honour.
And, just this week, I learned that a candid photograph I made of four elderly woman playing cards in the courtyard of the iconic Yick Cheong Building in Hong Kong was awarded an Honourable Mention in the People category of the 2019 IPPAwards. This is yet another fantastic reinforcement of the personal work I make as well as recognition of the power of the iPhone as a serious visual storytelling device.
As I say often, and to anyone that will listen, the ubiquity of mobile phones — having a camera that is always within our grasp — has made it more convenient and ever simpler to make photographs and tell meaningful stories anytime, anywhere. And it is clear from the creative quality of imagery showcased by the annual iPhone Photography Awards that I am not alone with this sentiment.
Follow my Instagram account @scottawoodward to see more of my #shotoniphone photography.
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