The OPPO Imagine IF Photography Awards have attracted over a million entries from 81 countries, celebrating the ability of mobile photography to capture lifeโs most compelling moments. This yearโs awards recognised 56 outstanding works displayed at Paris Photo 2024, demonstrating how mobile imaging can move beyond technology to share stories of love, memory, and the beauty in everyday life, fostering connections across cultures.
Capturing pure joy in โSummer by Hutuo Riverโ
Among the award-winning images is โSummer by Hutuo River,โ captured by Chinese photographer Liang Xibing. Taken with an OPPO smartphone, the photograph shows a child playing in bubbles along the Hutuo River, with a joyful expression that captures the magic of childhood. This heartfelt image earned Liang the Master Award at the 2024 Imagine IF Photography Awards. As a father, Liang values the accessibility of mobile photography, allowing him to capture spontaneous moments with ease.
โWith the OPPO Find X7 Ultra, I donโt have to worry about missing a good scene, and I can share it with my friends or on social media directly after shooting,โ Liang said. His approach goes beyond documentation; he seeks to convey the warmth of everyday life, demonstrating how OPPOโs imaging technology enables precise and intuitive captures of fleeting expressions. โA good photo isnโt just a visual snapshot. It resonates emotionally and connects with the viewer on a deeper level,โ he added, echoing OPPOโs vision of empowering people to preserve lifeโs most cherished moments with a single click.
Connecting generations and unspoken bonds
Another award-winning series, โThreadโ by Japanese photographer Kazuyuki Kawahara, shines a light on the bonds that connect generations. Using OPPOโs Find X7 Ultra, Kawahara photographed his daughters and their grandmother, who is living with Alzheimerโs, as they spent a day in their ancestral home. The series, which won a Bronze Award, captures intimate family moments, showing the beauty of generational love as they engage in simple activities like playing games, picking vegetables, and putting on makeup.
These touching scenes allow Kawahara to preserve memories that words might fail to convey, showing how photography can capture enduring connections. Similarly, in the piece โUnspoken Bond,โ Egyptian photographer Hana Galal Gad captures a poignant connection between a man and a horse, a reflection of his childhood experiences with horseback riding. Recognised in the Portrait category, Gadโs work underscores the capability of OPPOโs imaging technology to capture deep, personal stories with precision and authenticity.
Celebrating cultural heritage in Myanmarโs countryside
In the Travel category, photographer Kyaw Kyaw Winnโs work โOrdinary Lifeโ depicts a cowboy guiding his cattle through the rural landscapes of Myanmar, with a loyal dog trailing behind. The image captures the simplicity and beauty of daily life while highlighting Myanmarโs cultural heritage. Winnโs photograph shows how the ordinary can be transformed into something extraordinary, creating a connection with viewers by showcasing lives that are often unseen.
Reflecting on the impact of photography, Winn stated, โA photo can tell a story without using words and helps us understand the lives of others. It brings people closer by showing common experiences and emotions, no matter where they are from.โ Winn praised the OPPO smartphoneโs features like clarity, autofocus, and wide-angle capabilities, which allowed him to capture scenes exactly as he envisioned.
Bringing humanity into focus
Each of these award-winning images exemplifies OPPOโs vision of mobile imaging that captures the essence of humanity. From a childโs innocent joy to family connections and rural life, these photographs reveal how OPPOโs technology supports photographers in preserving lifeโs beauty and emotional depth. OPPO continues to encourage people to capture and share stories that resonate universally, demonstrating the power of a single image to tell a world of stories.
