The 2025 iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) has announced its winners, with American photographer Jarod Peraza taking home the prestigious Photographer of the Year title for his captivating image captured in Colombia. The 18th annual competition selected winners from over 140 photographers who submitted thousands of their best iPhone photographs, continuing to demonstrate the remarkable power and artistic potential of mobile photography.
Peraza's winning photograph, titled "Viajero Nocturno" (Night Traveler), was shot on an iPhone 16 Pro Max in the historic streets of Villa de Leyva, Colombia. The cinematic image captures the silhouette of an elderly gentleman illuminated by the warm yellow glow of a single streetlamp, creating a mysterious and poetic scene that leaves viewers wondering about the story behind the moment. The solitary figure appears to be holding what is likely his own mobile phone, adding a contemporary element to the atmospheric street scene.
The competition's runner-up position went to Brazilian photographer Thiago Bernardes de Souza for his delightful photograph "Moto Cães," which presents a completely different mood from the winner. Captured while traveling through Brasília, the spontaneous image shows his canine companions experiencing pure joy during a road trip. The expressive faces of the dogs, combined with a beautiful sky backdrop, exemplifies the perfect spontaneous iPhone photography that the awards celebrate.
Carol Addassi from the United States earned the first runner-up position with her photograph "Passage," while Martha Nance, also from the United States, secured third runner-up with "Foggy morning on the Corrotoman." These top-ranking images demonstrate the diverse range of subjects and artistic approaches that iPhone photography can achieve.
Beyond the overall winners, the 2025 IPPAWARDS recognized excellence across 14 specialized categories, showcasing the wide spectrum of iPhone photography capabilities. The Abstract category was won by Sunny Cheng from the United States with "Liminal," followed by Chih-ya Hsu from Taiwan in second place with "A Slice of Time," and Wei Wei from China taking third place with an untitled work.
In the Animals category, Jayne Parker from New Zealand claimed victory with "Close Encounter," while the Architecture category was dominated by "The Sun Tower" by Bo Shao Xian from China, earning second place in the category. The Children category winner was Julia Zyrina from The Netherlands with her charming image "When the chestnut trees bloom."
The People category showcased compelling human subjects, with Karolina Zielony from the United Kingdom winning for "Vibrant Colours of The Neighbourhood," and Maartje Punt from The Netherlands earning second place with "Waiting for the Water." The Nature category was claimed by Mark Sarmiento from Australia with "Winter Bamboos."
Additional category winners included Leo Huang from Taiwan in Lifestyle for "Who lost the elephant balloon?", Adrian Beasley from the United Kingdom in Cityscape for "The Timeless Tyne Bridge," and Jens Petersen from Germany in Landscape for "Lübeck Amazonas." The Other category was won by André Skagervik from Sweden with "Winter Lines."
In the Portrait category, Valeria Cammareri from Italy took first place with "I Am The King," while Emma Rayner from the United Kingdom earned second place with "Goggle Boy." The Series category was won by Dominic Dähncke from Spain with his work titled "Puzzle."
The competition also recognized 522 honorable mentions alongside the category winners, highlighting the exceptional quality and diversity of submissions. From abstract architectural perspectives to stunning black and white wildlife images, the winning photographs serve as inspiration for mobile photographers worldwide to explore and capture the world around them through their iPhone cameras.
The IPPAWARDS continues to establish itself as the premier platform for celebrating iPhone photography excellence, proving that professional-quality artistic images can be created using mobile devices. The full gallery of finalists and honorable mentions is available on the official IPPAWARDS website, offering viewers a comprehensive look at the current state of mobile photography artistry.
