2021 iPhone Photography Awards celebrate the year's finest iPhone images

The winners of the 2021 iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) have been announced.

The 14th Annual awards recognise photographs captured on Apple iPhone, and were taken over a 'remarkable year of grief and loneliness,' say event organisers. 

Out of submissions from thousands of photographers from all over the world, the Grand Prize Winner and Photographer of the Year Award goes to photojournalist Istvan Kerekes of Hungary for his image, Transylvanian Shepherds.

In it, two rugged shepherds traverse an equally rugged industrial landscape, bearing a pair of lambs in their arms. The grit of the men and the bleakness of their environment are a moving contrast to the hope and innocence of the lambs in their care.

First Place Photographer of the Year Award goes to Sharan Shetty of India for his image, Bonding, where a man and his horse commune in an empty landscape, offering each other comfort and soft words.

The Second Place prize is for Dan Liu of China and his untitled image of an astronaut traversing a desolate Martian-esque landscape, sparking questions about our relationship to worlds beyond our own.

And the Third Place Photographer of the Year Award goes to Jeff Rayner of the United States for his photo, Side-Walking on Air, a portrait of a young girl aloft and weightless in a pool of light on her Los Angeles sidewalk.

Top-three winners in an additional 17 categories were awarded to photographers from almost every corner of the world, with Australia also well represented. Glenn Homann from Ipswich, QLD took first place in the abstract category for his colourful architectural image, and also won second place in the environment category for a striking photo of plastic cups, along with honourable mentions in the People, Portrait and Sunset categories. Glenn’s photos were captured on iPhone 11 Pro.

Christian Horgan from Fremantle, WA won first place in the Nature category for his image of a Waterlily, Pondering The Positives, and also took first place in the People category for his image Black Summer Blue Montaigne. Christian’s photos are shot on iPhone X. Finally, Theresa Lee from Sydney, won third place in the Animals category for her image of a dog, titled Hair Raising. She also received a honourable mention in the same category. Theresa’s photos were shot on iPhone XR. 

Below you can see all the category winners in the competition.