Bahraini wins 2019 iPhone Photography Awards

Mona Jumaan, a passionate Bahraini traveller has won first place in the portrait category of the 12th Annual iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS). Winners were selected from thousands of entries submitted from over 140 countries around the world in 18 categories.

Mona shot her award-winning picture in Mongolia’s western province of Bayan Olgii, known as the home to the Kazakhs eagle hunters. She recalls: “After watching the movie Eagle huntress it became my mission to visit Mongolia and photograph the eagle hunters. I couldn’t believe it when my shot was posted on the IPPAWARDS Instagram 3 days after.”

On shooting with iPhone, Mona describes: “Smartphones are now sophisticated and capable of shooting raw files as well as JPEGs, which means you can fully control the editing.” She furthers adds: “I used my iPhone not only because it’s easier and lighter but also because it got some very cool options such as faster lenses that allow for a greater intake of light or aperture value that helps produce softer backgrounds and gives users greater control over focus”. 

This is Mona third attempt for the IPPAWARDS. She comments: “IPPA is one of the most popular competitions and it’s also very easy and straightforward to submit your photos. This is the first award for me, so it will always be very special”. The Grand Prize winner and photographer of the Year Award went to Gabrielle Cigliano of Italy for her entry “Big Sister”.

First, Second and Third Place Photographers of the Year Awards went to Diego Lage of Portugal for his image ”Sea Stripes”, Yuliya Ibraeva of Russia for her entry of “Sorry, no movie today” and Pend Hao of China for his image “Come Across”.