“It’s not a tool, it’s an image,” a statement that is often debated, but in many ways, it still rings true. Especially since camera phones have come a long way than ever before – packing 50MP sensors, compact photography, and even variable apertures – yet they’re still overlooked by many photographers.
This award-winning series, shot on smartphones, proves how capable they are – even though the camera is ten years old…
Kuanglong Zhang has been selected as the overall winner of the 15th Annual Mobile Photo Awards (MPA), impressing the judges with an impressive portfolio captured exclusively on smartphones – in categories from 2016 to 2023.
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15th Annual MPA Winner
The jury praised his work for its “varied palette and compelling, compelling range of content”, noting Zhang’s eye for color, design and detail.
Zhang’s work highlights how much creativity and experience can be captured with old phones, tiny sensors, and the device we carry around every day – although it’s no longer surprising that award-winning images can be created on smartphones…
‘Wonders in the Desert’: Oppo Find X6 Pro at 1/590 sec, f/2.6, ISO 50
Photo credit: Kuanglong Zhang
‘Imperial Garden in the Forbidden City’: iPhone 11 Pro Max
Photo credit: Kuanglong Zhang
Zhang was happy when he heard the news of his international victory and said, “…Winning this award means a lot to me.
“I look forward to growing alongside MPA, and encouraging people around the world to discover mobile photography – and to see that phones have the ability to create warm and heartfelt images, with a sense of well-crafted beauty.”
Camera phones
1. Huawei Mate 60
Largely released in China in 2023, it is the most advanced device in Zhang’s lineup. The Huawei Mate 60 has a 50MP main camera with variable aperture (f/1.4-4), which offers a level of manual control not seen in smartphones.
2. Oppo Find X6 Pro
Announced in 2023, the Oppo Find X6 Pro is an exclusive Chinese brand with a 50MP triple camera system built in for high-end image processing.
3. Vivo X60 Pro+
A high-end camera-focused phone, released in 2021. Vivo X60 Pro + was developed in partnership with Zeiss. It has a quad-camera setup. 48MP ultra-wide lens, and advanced gimbal stabilization.
4. OnePlus 9RT 5G
First announced in China in 2021, followed by a wider global announcement in 2022, the OnePlus 9RT 5G carries a large 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor and is known as the “flagship killer”.
‘By the Ganges’: iPhone 7at 1/4800 sec, f/1.8, ISO 20
Photo credit: Kuanglong Zhang
‘The Dance of Black & White Architecture’: OnePlus 9RT 5G at 1/300 sec, f/1.8, ISO 100
Photo credit: Kuanglong Zhang
5. iPhone 11 Pro Max
The iPhone 11 Pro Max launched back in 2019, and its specs only tell half the story. As highlighted in our review, “it’s the real-world results from this line of three cameras that matter”. It has a triple interchangeable lens system with 12MP sensors.
6. iPhone 7
The iPhone 7 is the oldest smartphone in the list and it was launched in 2016! Its top camera has a 12MP sensor with a fast f/1.8 aperture – still capable of producing award-winning images in the right hands.
To find all the party winners and for more information, visit the Photo Awards website.
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