Skip to main content

FAQ

1

Thirsty at Fox's Glacier in New Zealand

Sze Lai | OnePlus 11

This photo, captured at Fox Glacier, New Zealand, tells a story of elemental thirst. A man leans into the ice, bracing himself with one hand on the ancient ice, his mouth open wide to catch the splashing meltwater. Bathed in the clear antipodean light, his posture is both focused and entirely natural.

2

The Joy of Riding a Bicycle Beautifully Framed by the Wheel

Bachubabu Anichhur Molla | OnePlus 12

This photo reflects a real, perfectly timed moment where everything aligned—the perfect sunset, a rider joyfully cycling beside the sea. The shot was taken through the wheel of a bicycle with scattered droplets. The framing came together naturally. Getting the rider in the perfect position took a lot of patience. While anyone can take a photo, a pinch of creativity can transform the entire scene.

2

Swing with a Good View

Bandder Makki Alrefai | OnePlus 10T

I captured the pure joy of soaring above a breathtaking mountain landscape. Suspended on a rustic, handmade swing, the subject becomes a silhouette of freedom against rolling emerald hills and an endless blue sky. The image balances spontaneity and serenity—the dynamic motion of the swing contrasts with the timeless grandeur of nature.

3

Dancing with Fire

Baaksan | OnePlus 13

In a traditional fire rod performance, the dancer moves in harmony with flames. The frozen moment resembles the legendary Sun Wukong descending to earth, allowing audiences to experience the awe of light and shadow within the fire.

3

A Moment Where Light and Childhood Innocence Meet

Li Zhuohao | OnePlus 12

Light and shadow weave a tapestry of colors, while childhood innocence brews precious moments. Against an orange-red wall, a small figure runs joyfully. Time lingers, freezing this instant of purity and aspiration.

3

Traditional Life on Water

Myat Zaw Hein | OnePlus Nord 4

This photograph captured two Intha fishermen on Myanmar's Inle Lake at sunrise, wearing traditional attire and conical hats. Kneeling on their narrow wooden boats with distinctive conical fishing nets, one pours tea for the other, symbolizing camaraderie amid their work. The golden sunlight filters through mist over the water, casting warm reflections and creating a serene yet vibrant atmosphere.

1

Gateway to Arctic Life

Yang Sutie | OnePlus 13

In November 2024, I traveled around Iceland. After a day of driving through a blizzard, I finally reached the Arctic Henge in northernmost Iceland. At 66 degrees north latitude, crossing this stone circle felt like entering the Arctic. Upon arrival, the clouds gradually dispersed, and looking north, the aurora shone brilliantly. I walked toward the megalith that resembled a gate of life, turning this moment into eternity.

2

God's Own Mountain

Mukul Mahant | OnePlus 13

God's Own Mountain, or Gonbo Rangjon, is a solitary mountain in the Zanskar region of Ladakh, India, and is considered very sacred by the local Buddhist community. I traveled to this majestic place in April 2025, specifically during the new moon's night, with the sole intention of shooting the Milky Way alongside the holy mountain. The image was shot past midnight with temperatures around -10°C.

2

Midnight Celebration

Dan Umareta | OnePlus 13

OnePlus 13's speed let me react in real time to capture the explosive energy of PSG fans celebrating their Champions League win deep into the night on the streets of Paris. Surrounded by darkness, red flares illuminate faces full of fire, joy, and collective identity. The photograph is about more than football; it's about unity in chaos, the human need to belong. Such raw power exists only on the streets.

3

Chasing Lights in Night

Mohan G | OnePlus 12

It's been a dream of mine to photograph lightning with this 16th-century architecture. I had gone to Gingee Hills for full moon photography, but clouds covered the sky, so I couldn't see the moon. Finally, I got this shot after two hours of waiting. This cloud-to-cloud lightning struck approximately 20 km from my location, and I estimate the lightning spans 20–30 km.

3

Stone of the Sky

Devansh Rajput | OnePlus 11R

This photo captures Delhi's Jama Masjid during Ram Navami, a major Hindu festival celebrating Lord Ram's birth. It showcases India's preserved cultural and religious diversity, with the sunset contrail symbolizing how Indian culture endures like stone architecture, greeting each new dawn.

3

Manhattan Nightscape

Zhong Rui | OnePlus 12

As dusk falls over Manhattan, countless lights spread like a galaxy, each beam narrating a tale of hope and progress. In the distance, the Freedom Tower stands as a beacon along the shore, while streams of traffic and streetlights trace the city's pulse.

1

Plateau Ballad

Cai Zehong | OnePlus 13

This is a ballad of the plateau:
the whistle from her lips
is the language of the wind;

the arc of her swinging lash
writes the plateau's ancient cipher.

When the light of modern civilization
at last pierces the snowlands—

this migration path, worn smooth by hooves,
still keeps its final rhythm
in the lash held by a woman's hand.

2

Lost in Thought

Rico | OnePlus 12

The pigeon-selling grandmother sits on a blue plastic stool, her elbow resting on her knee, her palm cradling her wrinkled cheek. Her gaze drifts like a falling leaf, settling softly on the green wire pigeon cage before her. Inside, the pigeons huddle close, jostling for space. What is she thinking about? I can't help but wonder.

2

Neon-Aesthetics

Sara Madani | OnePlus 11R

A portrait blending vibrant neon with soft shadows captures a contemplative moment. This interplay reveals both contrast and hidden narratives, reflecting my spontaneous, emotional style. Neon Aesthetics transcends visual appeal to explore raw emotion through the silent dialogue of light and shadow.

3

Hope

Kyaw Nainglin | OnePlus 11

The poor hope for wealth. The sick hope for recovery. Those at war hope for peace. The hungry hope for food. What is the child in the picture hoping for?

3

A Street Dog

Kanti S. Sonagra | OnePlus Nord 3

I was sitting by the roadside when I noticed this stray dog also resting. We connected without a word. Sensing a mutual trust, I spent some time playing with him and managed to capture his calm and gentle nature.

3

Friends

Senja Turunen | OnePlus 12R

A man gently presses his face against his companion. Much like the ever-sunny disposition of his friend, his heart is wrapped in overwhelming warmth, like being embraced by a soft, fuzzy skein. With both eyes closed, time itself grows still, gazing quietly upon this bond that transcends species.

1

The Arduous Trail of Transhumance

Tao Hong | iPhone 12 mini

In Sarbulak, Fuhai County of Altay, Xinjiang, nomadic herders preserve their ancestral way of life. Each early June, their arduous spring migration begins—a dusty caravan of livestock and resilience stretching across the wilderness.

2

Childhood

Me Me Ko Lay | Xiaomi 12

In the heart of a lush green field, two bare-chested boys lie side by side, radiant with joy. Their bicycle rests nearby, a faithful companion for the day's adventures. This scene embodies childhood's essence - pure, unbound, and at one with nature. Their carefree postures reveal a simple freedom untouched by worldly worries.

3

Water Play

Guo Jiangtao | Xiaomi 13 Ultra

This photograph captures children's exciting moments swimming and diving in the village creek. Two boys leap from a height into the water, their movements brimming with abandon and vitality. The ripples on the water's surface and their outstretched limbs freeze this joyful summer scene, conveying childhood innocence and unbridled joy of aquatic adventures.

1

Arrival

Wu Zhengjie | OPPO Find X7 Ultra

On a day in 2458, astronauts from planet Kepler 452b received a cryptic mission—to locate a forgotten celestial body, the ancestral home humanity abandoned two centuries ago: Earth.

2

Explorers in the Mist

Chen Weikai | OPPO Find X7 Ultra

Taken on the Ulan Buton Grassland of Inner Mongolia, a solitary tree stands quietly in the vast night. I persisted until dawn that day, when thick fog quietly spread, making the stars flicker in and out of view as if a dreamy veil had covered the world. The companion holding a flashlight resembled an explorer stepping into unknown mist, lighting a faint beam toward the unknown in this boundless dark night.

3

Northern Lights

Markus van Hauten | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

I took this picture last year in Iceland in mid-September. It was one of those clear and windless nights, which doesn't happen often in Iceland. I visited Glacier Lagoon and waited for the northern lights to appear. The night was so bright because of the shining moon, and I could finally take this picture with the northern lights above this iceberg.

1

Happiness

Pyae Phyo Htike @ Phoe Char | Redmi Note 13 Pro

This photograph captures a beautiful spontaneous moment I encountered during my travels, showing a group of children laughing and playing joyfully under warm sunlight. I was deeply moved by their genuine, unfiltered happiness. This simple yet pure joy serves as a reminder that true happiness often stems from connecting with others and the world around us.

2

Veil of Solitude

Himanshu Roy | iPhone 14 Pro Max

Captured on a windswept beach before a storm, Veil of Solitude explores the quiet tension between fragility and freedom. The gauze-clad figure lingers in the limbo between surrender and resistance. Unrehearsed, the wind conspired as an unseen collaborator. In that fleeting moment, light, motion, and emotion converged in perfect harmony.

3

Happy Moment

Han Kaung Htet | Redmi Note 11

I always bring a camera with me when I travel. This photo was taken over a year ago when I was visiting a village and accidentally saw children playing in the fields. I climbed up to a high place and happily took the photo.

2025 OnePlus Photography Awards

Make the Moment

GRAND WINNER

Moments of Serenity

Min Chit Ko Ko | OnePlus 12

Clad in a radiant crimson robe, the young monk held his faithful dog close. Sunlight caressed their faces, illuminating a profound sense of warmth and serenity. Though from different worlds, they shared a silent bond woven from trust and affection. In that fleeting moment, neither was alone—the boy found solace, and the dog found its sanctuary.

Thirsty at Fox's Glacier in New Zealand

Breathe Each Moment

The Joy of Riding a Bicycle Beautifully Framed by the Wheel

Swing with a Good View

Dancing with Fire

A Moment Where Light and Childhood Innocence Meet

Traditional Life on Water

Light Up Your World

Gateway to Arctic Life

God's Own Mountain

Midnight Celebration

Chasing Lights in Night

Stone of the Sky

Manhattan Nightscape

Plateau Ballad

Portray Each Moment

Lost in Thought

Neon-Aesthetics

Hope

A Street Dog

Friends

GRAND WINNER

Moments of Serenity

Min Chit Ko Ko | OnePlus 12

Clad in a radiant crimson robe, the young monk held his faithful dog close. Sunlight caressed their faces, illuminating a profound sense of warmth and serenity. Though from different worlds, they shared a silent bond woven from trust and affection. In that fleeting moment, neither was alone—the boy found solace, and the dog found its sanctuary.

Breathe Each Moment

Thirsty at Fox's Glacier in New Zealand

The Joy of Riding a Bicycle Beautifully Framed by the Wheel

Swing with a Good View

Dancing with Fire

A Moment Where Light and Childhood Innocence Meet

Traditional Life on Water

Light Up Your World

Gateway to Arctic Life

God's Own Mountain

Midnight Celebration

Chasing Lights in Night

Stone of the Sky

Manhattan Nightscape

Plateau Ballad

Portray Each Moment

Lost in Thought

Neon-Aesthetics

A Street Dog

Hope

Friends

Breathe Each Moment

Thirsty at Fox's Glacier in New Zealand

The Joy of Riding a Bicycle Beautifully Framed by the Wheel

Swing with a Good View

Dancing with Fire

A Moment Where Light and Childhood Innocence Meet

Traditional Life on Water

Light Up Your World

Gateway to Arctic Life

God's Own Mountain

Midnight Celebration

Chasing Lights in Night

Stone of the Sky

Manhattan Nightscape

Portray Each Moment

Plateau Ballad

Lost in Thought

Neon-Aesthetics

A Street Dog

Hope

Friends

Childhood

Breathe Each Moment

The Arduous Trail of Transhumance

Arrival

Northern Lights

Explorers in the Mist

Light Up Your World

Veil of Solitude

Portray Each Moment

Happy Moment

Happiness

Childhood

Breathe Each Moment

The Arduous Trail of Transhumance

Arrival

Northern Lights

Explorers in the Mist

Light Up Your World

Veil of Solitude

Portray Each Moment

Happy Moment

Happiness

Breathe Each Moment

The Arduous Trail of Transhumance

Childhood

Light Up Your World

Arrival

Explorers in the Mist

Northern Lights

Portray Each Moment

Happiness

Veil of Solitude

Happy Moment

Winners Interviews

The Gonbo Rangjon peak in the Zanskar region of Ladakh, India, is sacred to the local Tibetan Buddhist communities and is known as ''God's Own Mountain.'' Mukul Mahant traveled there from his home in Kullu in the neighboring state of Himachal Pradesh in April 2025 with the intention of shooting the mountain against the Milky Way. The resulting image was shot after midnight, on one of the darkest nights of the year, as temperatures dropped to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

MUKUL MAHANT

Myat Zaw Hein's winning image, Traditional Life on Water, shows two Intha fishermen dressed in traditional attire sharing tea at dawn on Myanmar's Inle Lake. It captures a peaceful moment of camaraderie before the day gets underway; behind them, another fisherman demonstrates the Intha people's world-renowned ''leg-rowing'' technique, which involves wrapping a leg around the oar to propel the boat along.

MYAT ZAW HEIN

MUKUL MAHANT — GOD'S OWN MOUNTAIN

OnePlus Group, Silver Award, Night and Low Light Category
Using OnePlus 13

EH: How did you feel when you found out you were a winner?

I was not expecting it, to be honest. It's my first major honor. Before I got the email, I never called myself a photographer—I was just someone who liked taking pictures. Now, maybe that will change.

EH: How did you get started in photography?

My father gave me a DSLR as a graduation gift in 2014. I worked with that for four or five years, so I knew the basics of how to expose pictures, shutter speed, aperture. Around 2019, I got my first phone with a nice camera [the OnePlus 6T]. Eventually I stopped using my DSLR, because my smartphone was a lot easier to carry, and it let me take more pictures and share them. Nowadays phones are up there with DSLRs, in terms of image quality. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a camera and different lenses; you can do pretty much everything with a nice phone.

EH: What are some of the challenges of shooting in the dark?

As a photographer—or someone who just likes to take pictures— you need to first visualize the kind of frame you are looking for, especially for night photography. It's a different process compared to shooting during the day as you need to expose the image for longer. For the stars to appear, there needs to be minimal light from the surroundings and minimal air pollution. That's one of the challenges with astral photography: You end up in the middle of nowhere. Another factor is weather—if there is even a single cloud in the sky, the image won't be as clear.

EH: What was the process of taking your winning shot?

I had been to this place in 2021, and had an idea that it would be good for the Night and Low Light category because there is no light pollution there. There are roads, and small tribal villages in the area, but they are far apart. And when I took this, there was no moon, so the maximum number of stars were visible. I brought a friend with me, because I did not want to be alone outside at night in the dark—it's a perfect habitat for snow leopards. We scouted a few possible locations and just after midnight, we went out. It was very cold, but I was prepared.

EH: What did you like about this image?

I submitted 15 different pictures in the category, but this one is framed particularly nicely: The road leads the eye to the mountain, which is in the middle of the frame and acts like a bridge between the upper half (the Milky Way) and the lower half (the road).

MYAT ZAW HEIN—TRADITIONAL LIFE ON WATER

OnePlus Group, Silver Award, Night and Low Light Category
Using OnePlus 13

EH: When did you start taking photos?

I started my photography journey in 2015. Since then, I’ve participated in many local and international photography competitions, and have been fortunate enough to win some awards. I currently use both a professional camera and a mobile phone in my practice.

EH: What is the story behind this photograph?

This photo was taken during a trip I took to Inle Lake, one of the most famous places in Myanmar, together with my friend and fellow photographer, Min Min Zaw, in January 2025. It took us a day to get there, and then we spent three days taking photographs. This photo was taken on the day we were due to return home. It had rained the night before, and in the early morning the sky was cloudy. I was worried about the weather, but we stuck to our plan and took a motorboat to the spot we had chosen on the lake to prepare. Fortunately, around 7 a.m. the clouds began to clear and the sun rose beautifully over the eastern mountains.

EH: What were the challenges of shooting on water?

We collaborated with the local Inle fishermen to bring my vision to life, creating two or three different compositions—it’s particularly easy to do this with a phone, as it’s more convenient to use. That’s why I value mobile photography; there’s no longer a need to invest in expensive cameras and lenses to achieve high-quality shots.

EH: What did you like about this composition in particular?

While shooting, I was focused on making the image reflect the beauty of Inle Lake and the traditions of the local people, and the culture of sharing in particular: One fisherman is sharing his tea with another, while a third approaches from afar, all under the glowing sun. I took a lot of photos on the trip, but this one is my favorite.

“I stopped using my DSLR, because my smartphone was a lot easier to carry.”