The Oppo Imagine If Photography Awards, with over one million entries from 81 countries and regions, have celebrated the potential of mobile photography in capturing the fascinating moments of life. This year’s competition highlighted how mobile imaging technology can transcend boundaries to tell stories of humanity, creativity, and cultural diversity. Fifty-six exceptional works, showcased at Paris Photo 2024, demonstrate the power of mobile photography in capturing the universal experiences of life.
Each of the winning photographs offers a glimpse into the shared experiences of life. These images depict moments that reflect various cultures and human relationships. The stories convey how mobile photography, with its unique power and advanced imaging technology, helps individuals frame their own worlds and establish connections.
More than Capturing a Moment: Snapshots of Pure Joy
On the banks of the Hutuo River in Hebei, China, a child plays joyfully with bubbles on a bright summer day, their laughter filling the air. In “Summer by Hutuo River,” amateur photographer Liang Jibing captures this vibrant joy, expressing the magic of childhood. This heartwarming photograph earned the prestigious Master Award at the 2024 Oppo Imagine If Photography Awards.
A devoted father, Liang emphasizes the accessibility and power of mobile photography to preserve memories in an instant. “With the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, I don’t have to worry about missing a good shot. I can directly share photos with my friends or on social media after shooting,” he says. Liang’s perspective goes beyond merely capturing a moment; it seeks to bring the warmth and simplicity of youth to life. Everything stays in the frame through Oppo’s advanced imaging technology, which captures fleeting expressions with precision. “A good photograph is not just a visual snapshot; it stirs emotions and connects deeply with the viewer,” says Liang, reflecting Oppo’s goal of inspiring everyone to preserve life’s transient feelings with a single click.
Memory and Unspoken Bonds: A Connection Across Generations
Kazuki Kawahara’s bronze award-winning “Thread” takes us through the world of familial bonds, from a city in China to the rural landscapes of Japan. Using the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, Kawahara captures touching images of his daughter and her grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. These three generations spend a day in the family home, reminiscing over the grandmother’s fading memories.
In this photo series, we see them playing games with string, picking vegetables in the fields, applying lipstick, cutting hair, and playing with handmade dolls. The slow passage of time is accompanied by an atmosphere of joy. Photography allows us to preserve memories that words cannot express. Moments of family bonding, captured through Oppo’s smartphone, will remain cherished forever.
In Photography, Love Speaks Without Words
In the same way that love is not explicitly spoken in photography, it is clearly captured. Similarly, in Hana Galal Gader’s “Unspoken Bond” from Egypt, a simple yet profound relationship between a person and a horse comes to life. Recognized in the Portrait category, this photograph captures the memory of a youth spent riding horses. A student, once skipping school to ride, now returns to the open fields with her child, passing on the joy of horseback riding to the next generation. Gader believes that Oppo’s imaging technology brings stories to life within each photo, with a combination of detail and natural light that creates a pure emotional connection.
The moments captured in photography transcend language. From Japan’s “Thread” to Egypt’s “Unspoken Bond,” all these images demonstrate the power of photography to create a visual portrait of love that transcends time and space.
The Beauty of Everyday Life: Highlighting Cultural Narratives
In the remote villages of Myanmar, a shepherd leads his cattle through lush pastures, accompanied closely by his loyal dog. Kyao Kyao Win’s simple yet powerful image, “Ordinary Life,” captures the beauty of everyday life and cultural heritage. In the Travel category, Win’s photograph showcases the harmony of rural life in Myanmar, which, though now less visible, remains universal.
Judges noted that many of the images struck a chord with viewers. Photography draws our attention to moments that usually remain hidden from sight. Win transforms an ordinary scene into something extraordinary, using photography as a powerful tool to connect people. “A photo can easily tell a story without using words and help others understand lives different from our own. It brings people closer through the expression of ordinary experiences and emotions,” Win explains.
Win also marvels at the exceptional features of Oppo smartphones, such as their clarity, autofocus, and wide-angle capabilities, which allow him to capture the scene exactly as he imagined it. He adds, “With Oppo’s technology, I can capture the scene exactly as I envisioned it.”
Each of these stories reflects Oppo’s humanistic approach to mobile imaging. Through each photograph, we can feel the beauty and depth of life from different perspectives. From childhood laughter to intergenerational bonds, and the everyday life of rural Myanmar—Oppo’s imaging technology helps photographers immortalize these moments by adding emotion and meaning.
Through innovative mobile photography methods, Oppo invites everyone to enjoy and share the precious stories of life, believing that a single photo can indeed speak a thousand words.
