15 stunning shots from the iPhone Photography Awards Mobile Photography Contest

Now almost everyone has a camera in their pocket, and these incredible images show what you can do with a modern smartphone that is always at hand. Atmospheric landscapes, artistic close—ups and impressive architecture - photos of this format can take part in the 12th annual iPhone Photography Awards mobile Photography Competition.

Last year, thousands of stunning images were competing for the main prize of the photo contest, which were provided by photographers using Apple technology from 140 countries around the world. The only rule of the competition is invariably that all frames must be made on an iPhone or iPad, and any editing must be done in an application for Apple products, and not in a desktop program, such as Photoshop.

Photographers from all over the world, using their mobile devices, have been delighting the jury of the competition and netizens with their amazing pictures since 2007: from icy peaks and endless desert landscapes to oceans and cities.

Next, you can view several versions of photos that were taken with the iPhone.

An old boat that found shelter on a shoal. Photographer: Naian Feng

The little girl is surprised. Photographer: Junyi Yan

When evaluating photos taken on an iPhone or iPad, criteria such as artistic value, originality, content, and style are taken into account. The contestants compete in 18 different categories, including the categories "animals", "architecture", "children", "panorama", "lifestyle", "nature", "people", "travel". At the same time, each participant "fights" for the main prize — for the title of Grand Prize Winner Photographer of the Year.

Endless desert. Photographer: Yuexiang Wang

Happy dogs on a walk in the mountains. Photographer: Frank Bardessono

Helmets. Photographer: Luca Cazzaniga

The sea meets the boundless sky. Photographer: Oliver Young

A lone climber makes his way through the ice. Photographer: Naian Feng

The urban scene and the blur in motion — it turned out quite creatively. Photographer: Xiaohui Duan

Stunning panorama of icy lakes and valleys. Photographer: Vincent Chen

Abstract composition with religious architecture. Photographer: David Toranzo

View of the harbor through the hole. Photographer: Gerardo Onate

Workers in the fog. Photographer: Jiahao Zhang

The moon on the temple. Photographer: Myat Thor

A girl on the beach. Photographer: Victor Quintana

City roofs. Photographer: Jessica Macagnano