And the best pictures shot on iPhone are...

Models from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone XS were used to showcase the smartphones' camera capabilities.

Last month, Apple invited iPhone users to 'take a shot' at its challenge. And, as promised, 10 of the best snaps have been honoured.
The company on Tuesday unveiled the winners of its Shot on iPhone Challenge, which came from across the globe. The winning entries - which feature various scenes from colourful city scenery, curious animals, creative reflections, the beauty of the ordinary and more - will be splashed across billboards in select cities, in Apple Stores and online. Models from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone XS were used to showcase the smartphones' camera capabilities.
The international panel of judges - Pete Souza, Austin Mann, Annet de Graaf, Luísa Dörr, Chen Man, Phil Schiller, Kaiann Drance, Brooks Kraft, Sebastien Marineau-Mes, Jon McCormack and Arem Duplessis - gave their insights on why they chose these shots.

Alex Jiang (iPhone XS Max)

Man: "This is a photo filled with lovely colour and sense of story in the composition. Zooming in, you can see details of each family and their unique touch. The basketball hoop is placed right in the middle of the photo, adding more stories behind the image." 

De Graaf says: "The narrative in architecture. There is actually life behind the surface of an average apartment building in an unknown city. Vivid colours and a perfect composition with the basketball board right in the middle. Great eye."

Blake Marvin (iPhone XS Max)

Mann: "This image took a lot of patience and great timing. with the iPhone's zero shutter lag and Smart HDR, we're able to see both the raccoon's eyes and the deep shadows inside the log. something that would have previously been nearly impossible with natural light."

Schiller: "The stolen glance between this raccoon/thief and photographer is priceless, we can imagine that it is saying 'if you back away slowly no one has to get hurt.' A nice use of black and white, the focus on the raccoon and the inside of the hollow log provides an organic movement frozen in time."

Darren Soh (iPhone XS Max)

Schiller: "A reflection that looks like a painting, two worlds have collided. You are compelled to think about where and how this photo was taken, the bird flying in the corner provides the single sign of life in an otherwise surreal composition." 

Man: "Distortion and reflection at a strange angle - this photo creates a fantastic feeling."

Nikita Yarosh (iPhone 7)

Mann: "I love how accessible this image is: You don't have to travel to Iceland to capture something beautiful, it's right under your nose. The way the lines intersect, the vibrant colour, the sense of old and new. this is just a great image."

Dörr says: "I like the simplicity of this image, the composition, light, details, everything looks good. Then you see one small line that looks wrong and makes me think what happened, where is this place, who was there. For me a good image is not only one that is strong or beautiful, but makes you think about it - and keep thinking."

Dina Alfasi (iPhone X)
Marineau-Mes: "Love how the heart shaped water puddle frames the subject, capturing a glimpse of the world as the subject hurriedly walks past." 

Kraft: "A unique perspective and a new take on the popular subject of shooting reflections. I like that the subject is evident, but you are not really sure how the photo was taken. The puddle is the shape of a heart, with nice symmetry of the subject. The depth of field that iPhone has in regular mode made this image possible, a DSLR would have had a difficult time keeping everything in focus."

Elizabeth Scarrott (iPhone 8 Plus)
Kraft: "A portrait that captures the wonderment of childhood in a beautiful setting. Great composition that shows both the personality of the child and the experience in the surroundings." 

Souza: "Nice portrait and use of background to provide context. The placement of the child's face is in an optimal place - lining her up so the background directly behind her is clean and not distracting. The setting is a familiar - I've probably stood in this exact spot. But the picture is not like any I've seen from this location."

Andrew Griswold (iPhone XS)
McCormack: "This image is very well thought through and executed. The background pattern holds the image together and the repeated smaller versions of that pattern in the water droplets create a lot of visual interest. The creative use of depth of field here is excellent."  

Marineau-Mes: "Very unique composition and colour palette, playing to the strengths of iPhone XS. What I find most interesting is the background pattern, uniquely magnified and distorted in every one of the water droplets. I'm drawn to studying and trying to elucidate what that pattern is."

Bernard Antolin (iPhone XS Max)
Drance: "Looks like a simple scene but a good choice of using black and white to elevate it with a different mood. Helps to bring out the dramatic contrast in the clouds and the surrounding landscape."

LieAdi Darmawan (iPhone XS)

Dörr: "I feel like this landscape was treated like an old portrait. The texture of the mountains evokes an old wrinkled face. Portraits and landscapes are the oldest way of creative representation by humans. There's something about it that belongs to the realms of the subconscious mind, and this is mainly what appeals me of this picture; the part that I'm not able to explain."

Robert Glaser (iPhone 7)
Drances: "Gorgeous dynamic range. There's detail throughout the photo in the meadow, trees, and clouds. Beautiful deep sky and pleasing colour overall."
Until the next Shot on iPhone challenge, keep snapping - you could be the next winner.
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com
 

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