The OPPO Imagine IF Photography Awards have attracted over a million entries from 81 countries, celebrating the ability of mobile photography to capture life’s most compelling moments. This year’s 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 “Summer by Hutuo River”
Among the award-winning images is “Summer by Hutuo River,” 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.
“With the OPPO Find X7 Ultra, I don’t have to worry about missing a good scene, and I can share it with my friends or on social media directly after shooting,” Liang said. His approach goes beyond documentation; he seeks to convey the warmth of everyday life, demonstrating how OPPO’s imaging technology enables precise and intuitive captures of fleeting expressions. “A good photo isn’t just a visual snapshot. It resonates emotionally and connects with the viewer on a deeper level,” he added, echoing OPPO’s vision of empowering people to preserve life’s most cherished moments with a single click.
Connecting generations and unspoken bonds
Another award-winning series, “Thread” by Japanese photographer Kazuyuki Kawahara, shines a light on the bonds that connect generations. Using OPPO’s Find X7 Ultra, Kawahara photographed his daughters and their grandmother, who is living with Alzheimer’s, 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 “Unspoken Bond,” 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, Gad’s work underscores the capability of OPPO’s imaging technology to capture deep, personal stories with precision and authenticity.
Celebrating cultural heritage in Myanmar’s countryside
In the Travel category, photographer Kyaw Kyaw Winn’s work “Ordinary Life” 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 Myanmar’s cultural heritage. Winn’s 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, “A 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.” Winn praised the OPPO smartphone’s 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 OPPO’s vision of mobile imaging that captures the essence of humanity. From a child’s innocent joy to family connections and rural life, these photographs reveal how OPPO’s technology supports photographers in preserving life’s 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.
