That picture of your dog that you snapped with your iPhone is pretty cute. But it probably doesn’t compare to these photos, all of which won prizes in the 2014 iPhone Photography Awards.
The prizes recognize the “best shots among thousands of images submitted by iPhone photographers,” and photographs are judged based on “artistic merit, originality, subject, and style.” This is the seventh year for the prizes: The first iPhone came out in 2007, and the first iPhone Photography Awards were doled out in 2008.
The competition is not affiliated with Apple. Some winners do receive an iPad mini, however.
As the quality of the iPhone’s camera has improved, so too have the photos. The judges award prizes in 17 categories; we’ve included the first-place winners in each category below, as well as the three photos of the year. You can view runners-up and honorable mentions on the iPhone Photography Award website.
Best Animal Photograph
Photographer: Michael O’Neal. More at IPP Awards.
Best Photograph of Architecture
Photographer: Yilang Peng. More at IPP Awards.
Best Photo of Children
Photographer: Danny Van Vuuren. More at IPP Awards.
Best Flower Photograph
Photographer: Jenny Anderson. More at IPP Awards.
Best Food Photography
Photographer: Alexa Seidl. More at IPP Awards.
Best Landscape Photography
Photographer: Elena Grimailo. More at IPP Awards.
Best Lifestyle Photography
Photographer: Brandon Kidwell. More at IPP Awards.
Best Nature Photography
Photographer: Felicia Pandola. More at IPP Awards.
Best News Photography
Photographer: Gerard Collett. More at IPP Awards.
Best ‘Other’ Photography
Photographer: Terry Vital. More at IPP Awards.
Best Panorama
Photographer: Kyle G. Horst. More at IPP Awards.
Best Shot of Multiple People
Photographer: Lauren Smith. More at IPP Awards.
Best Seasons Photography
Photographer: Coco Liu. More at IPP Awards.
Best Still Life
Photographer: Sofija Strindlund. More at IPP Awards.
Best Sunset
Photographer: Little Su. More at IPP Awards.
Best Travel Photograph
Photographer: Adrienne Pitts. More at IPP Awards.
Best Photograph of Trees
Photographer: Aaron Pike. More at IPP Awards.
And now … the three best iPhone photographs of the year, per the IPP Awards
In 3rd place:
Photographer: Jill Misner. More at IPP Awards.
In 2nd Place:
Photographer: Jose Luis Barcia Fernandez. More at IPP Awards.
And the best iPhone photograph of the year …
Photographer: Julio Lucas. More at IPP Awards.
Photos must be taken with an iOS device, and photography attachments are allowed; editing on iOS apps is acceptable, but not on professional software like Photoshop. If you think you can beat the competition, bookmark this page, and head back early next year for your chance at an iPad mini and eternal iPhonography fame.