If you still feel that OPPO isn’t obsessed about imaging and perfecting their phone’s optics (despite their partnership with Hasselblad, the yearly upgrades on their smartphone camera modules, and their pursuit of giving users the best smartphone camera they can on their devices), then this competition should paint you a clearer picture.
The 2nd OPPO imagine IF Photography Awards just finished and this year they picked a handful of truly creative winners. Launched in January and closed for submissions in July, the competition saw over 1 million entries from 81 countries and regions. What’s more, the winning works will be showcased in this year’s Paris Photo, the largest international art fair in November.
“Exceptional photographs have the power to preserve cherished emotions, even in the most seemingly mundane of moments, transforming them into timeless memories,” said Pete Lau, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer of OPPO. Alec Soth, Magnum Photos member and competition judge, added, “Photography is esteemed as an art form that blends a multitude of techniques, not merely capturing stunning sights but also evoking profound emotions and resonating with power.”
Master, Silver, and Bronze Winners: Capturing Cherished Emotions
Master Award: ‘Summer by Hutuo River’ by Liang Xibing (China), shot on OPPO Find X7 Ultra
This year, fifteen photographers have been honored with Master, Silver, and Bronze Awards, while the Master Award went to Liang Xibing for his evocative work. His award-winning entry, ‘Summer by Hutuo River,’ captures the fleeting joy of childhood with masterful use of light and movement. As the OPPO imagine IF Master, Mr. Liang Xibing will receive a grand prize of USD 24,000 and be appointed as an OPPO Photographer, enjoying priority access to various OPPO events.
In ‘Wandou and Her Teddy Bear’, Silver Award winner He Huapei, he captures a touching bond between a child and her toy, a testament to OPPO’s advances in mobile imaging. Through this heartwarming image, the judges expressed their amazement at how tools like the OPPO Find N3 Flip can empower photographers to capture professional-quality images with vivid detail and atmosphere. For Bronze Award-winning entry, ‘The Peaceful Bond’ by Shailendra Singh, the judges compliment the space of imagination it creates. Resonating with Alec Soth’s earlier remark, the judges also found the image reminiscent of both a movie poster and a drawing, with one commenting, “Looking at this photograph makes me want to watch the movie.”
Left: Silver Award :“Wandou and Her Teddy Bear” by Huapei He (China), shot on OPPO Find N3 Flip Right: Bronze Award :“The Peaceful Bond” by Shailendra Singh (India), shot on OPPO Find N3 Flip
Honorable Mentions: Inspiring Diversified Creativities
With 36 Honorable Mentions across nine categories, including Landscape, Portrait, Colours, Unfading Moment, Fashion, Snapshot, Light, Travel, and Collection, the competition celebrated a diverse range of creativity that pushed the boundaries of mobile photography. From vivid landscapes to intimate moments, the works transcend traditional artistic limits. Furthermore, for the first time this year, the competition introduced five Youth Special Awards, specifically designed to acknowledge and celebrate the inspiring talents of the emerging generation.
Photography for Everyone: The Power of a Click
At its finest, mobile photography embodies accessibility, ease, and spontaneity, allowing anyone to turn moments into lasting works of art. With the theme “Beyond the Image, Beyond Imagination,” OPPO reaffirms its commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation and empowering creativity on a global scale.
As the global partner of the largest international art fair, Paris Photo, OPPO will showcase winning works from the OPPO imagine IF Photography Awards 2024 at the upcoming exhibition in November. To explore the winning works and learn more about the OPPO imagine IF Photography Awards, please visit https://imagine-if.oppo.com/en/.