Apple on Wednesday unveiled a total of ten winning photos from the Shot on iPhone Macro Challenge which the company first announced in January of this year.
People can submit unedited macro photos shot on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max straight from the camera, but the company said they can also accept photos edited via Apple’s Photos app or third-party software. Those who wish to participate must be at least 18 years old, and the challenge is not open to Apple employees or their immediate families.
Via a newsroom post, Apple announced the ten winners selected by an international panel of expert judges, with finalists from China, Hungary, India, Italy, Spain, Thailand, and the United States.
Shot on iPhone Macro Challenge – Winners
“Sea Glass” by Guido Cassanelli, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Shot on iPhone 13 Pro Max.
From the photographer: “Sea glass is eroded by thousands of miles traveling around the oceans to the shores of the world. I was walking on the beach enjoying a beautiful sunset, and decided to collect some of these small pieces of sea glass to give macro photography on iPhone 13 Pro Max a try. It looks like something strange is happening inside the one placed in the center — it looks like amber. I really love that texture.”
“The Cave” (hibiscus) by Marco Colletta, Taranto, Italy. Shot on iPhone 13 Pro.
From the photographer: “The enveloping shape of the petals, accentuated by intense shadows, made me think of a deep cave, ready to be explored; by keeping the point of view inside the flower, I wanted the hibiscus’s natural framing to make us feel fully part of its beauty. When I first learned about macro mode, I thought it was one more cool new feature I was excited to get with my new iPhone 13 Pro. But when I started exploring its possibilities, I really started loving it. I discovered it gives me the possibility to turn nearly everything I see into an abstract subject, different from what it is in reality. This feature really did unlock my imagination.”
“Honeycomb” (snowflakes on dog hair) by Tom Reeves, New York City, USA. Shot on iPhone 13 Pro.
From the photographer: “This image was taken along the edge of Riverside Park in Manhattan while on a morning walk with our puppy this winter. As she marveled at her first snow, I was able to capture the ephemeral latticework of this tiny snowflake as it landed among the threads of her many honey-colored curls.”
These are just three of the ten winning photos from the iPhone Macro Challenge. You can check the official Apple page to see the rest.
The winning photos are featured on Apple’s website, Instagram account, and more. Apple has also said that winning photos may appear in the company’s digital campaigns, such as in Apple Stores or on advertising billboards.