This is the photo that won $24,000 from Oppo's Imagine IF photo contest

This year's Imagine IF photography contest by Oppo is history now – which means that someone is enjoying the big prize in the form of $24,000.

The annual Imagine IF Photography Awards are being held for the second time. The global competition celebrating creativity and innovation in mobile photography saw over 1 million entries from 81 countries and regions. Launched in January and closed in July, the top five countries for submissions included China, India, Mexico, Colombia, and Egypt.

Oppo will exhibit the winning entries at Paris Photo, the largest international art fair, in the coming November.




This year, fifteen photographers were recognized with Master, Silver, and Bronze Awards for their outstanding work, with the Master Award going to Liang Xibing.



His winning entry, Summer by Hutuo River, masterfully captures the fleeting joy of childhood through his expert use of light and movement. As the Oppo Imagine IF Master, Liang Xibing will receive a grand prize of $24,000 and be named an Oppo Photographer, giving him exclusive access to Oppo events.

Right: Bronze Award :"The Peaceful Bond" by Shailendra Singh (India), shot on OPPO Find N3 Flip

Silver Award winner He Huapei was celebrated for his image Wandou and Her Teddy Bear, which portrays the tender connection between a child and her toy. Judges praised the photograph as a testament to Oppo's advances in mobile imaging, showcasing how devices like the Oppo Find N3 Flip enable photographers to capture professional-quality images with rich detail and atmosphere.

Shailendra Singh's The Peaceful Bond, winner of the Bronze Award, impressed judges with its imaginative space and visual style. One judge remarked that the image resembled both a movie poster and a drawing, evoking a desire to watch the "movie" behind the photograph.

The competition also granted 36 Honorable Mentions across nine categories, including Landscape, Portrait, Colors, Unfading Moment, Fashion, Snapshot, Light, Travel, and Collection, celebrating a wide array of creativity and pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. For the first time, five Youth Special Awards were introduced to recognize the inspiring talent of the emerging generation.

Personally, I find the winner's photo to be exceptional both in composition and overall feeling. Less than ten years ago, I wouldn't believe such a shot would be possible from a phone's camera.