Canadian photographer Peter McKinnon was included on the curated panel of international judges who reviewed tens of thousands of images. The winning images are now featured on apple.com, the @apple Instagram and on billboards in select cities around the world.

^{Via Apple.com press release}

Over the course of several weeks earlier this year, iPhone photographers from around the world shared their best macro photos for the Shot on iPhone Macro Challenge, making even the smallest details seem epic in images taken with their iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Today, Apple is announcing the 10 winners who highlight the global and diverse community of iPhone photographers, with finalists from China, Hungary, India, Italy, Spain, Thailand, and the US.

Their stunning images will be featured on apple.com, on Apple’s Instagram (@apple), and on billboards in select cities. The iPhone 13 Pro lineup features the most advanced camera system ever in an iPhone, and for the first time, users can capture sharp, stunning macro images on the device they carry with them wherever they go — opening up a photographic technique previously reserved for those with specialized camera equipment, to even more people.

The winning images demonstrate that the beauty of macro photography is its ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary and capture the little things in a big way. Photos include incredible nature shots that might be overlooked by the naked eye, like dewdrops on a spiderweb, snowflakes on a dog’s hair, a cavernous hibiscus flower, and a strawberry engulfed in tiny soda water bubbles. An international panel of expert judges — Anand Varma, Apeksha Maker, Peter McKinnon, Paddy Chao, Yik Keat Lee, Arem Duplessis, Billy Sorrentino, Della Huff, Kaiann Drance, and Pamela Chen — selected the winning images and shared some insight on why they love these shots.

From the photographer: “This tiny, shimmering liquid jewel is delicately nestled at the base of a leaf after a tropical storm, almost imperceptible to the human eye. However, its true brilliance shines through the lens of iPhone — up close, it sparkles with intense clarity, capturing light from the emerging sun and magnifying the intricate, organic geometry of the leaf’s veins underneath. This is nature encapsulated: a world of beauty and wonder made minuscule.”

“This is such an inviting image. I love the soft textures and rich greens, and the reflection and magnification in the water droplet really draw the viewer in.” — Della Huff“I love the varied light in this image that illuminates the surface texture of the leaf, while simultaneously revealing its inner structure. For me, a successful photograph is one that encourages your eye to linger and explore. This image accomplishes that beautifully.” — Anand Varma

For the full list of winners and judges’ comments, visit the full press release on Apple.com

The advanced camera system on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max features new Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras, all powered by the unmatched performance of the Apple-designed A15 Bionic. The new Ultra-Wide camera features a much wider ƒ/1.8 aperture, bringing a 92 percent improvement for low-light environments, producing images that are brighter and sharper. The new lens design, autofocus capability for the first time in the Ultra-Wide camera on iPhone, and advanced software allow users to capture impressive macro images and videos where subjects appear larger than life. For those inspired to go out and capture their own macro shots, here are tips for iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max users:

• Make sure to get close to your subject — you can get as close as 2 centimetres (about an inch) away.

• Place the primary point of focus near the centre of the frame, as that’s where the sharpest focus is when shooting in macro on iPhone.

• If desired, tap an area in the viewfinder to set a specific focus point.

• Shoot at .5x to capture an Ultra Wide field of view, or try shooting at 1x for tighter framing — the iPhone will automatically switch cameras as you get close while maintaining the 1x framing.

To learn about the camera features on iPhone and for more iPhone photography tips, visit this page. Apple Store locations around the world offer free, educational Today at Apple sessions created to inspire people to take creativity further with the products they love. In celebration of the challenge, Billy Sorrentino, Della Huff, and Pamela Chen will join customers at Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City for a conversation on the art of macro photography, where they will share techniques for creating striking visuals with iPhone. Along with the conversation, attendees will learn tips and get a hands-on experience taking macro photos on iPhone 13 Pro. Customers can visit apple.com/today to join a local session.

Also, once you’ve taken your own beautiful photos, make them into a photo wall with a company like this one from Sweden who can make your images into wallpaper or prints.