On the evening of November 27, the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2024 Ceremony and Annual Exhibition took place at Shenzhen Sea World Culture and Art Centre. The event was well attended by photographers, media, prize winners, different types of artistic creators, and fans keen on witnessing the announcement of the competition’s winning works.
Since 2017, mobile photographers from at least 170 countries and regions have participated in the awards. In the eight years, the competition has also collected almost 5 million entries and has become one of the most influential mobile imaging events in the world. The 2024 contest spanned 131 days, with users from 86 countries and regions participating and submitting more than 650,000 entries.
The countries with the most overseas submissions this year were: China, Malaysia, Turkey, Philippines, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The most popular smartphone models used by XMAGE Awards photographers were HUAWEI Pura 70 Series, P60 Series, P40 Series, and Mate 60 Series.
At the ceremony, 69 winning works, including 3 Grand Prize Winners, 18 Best-in-Category Winners, 38 Runner-up Winners, 3 Honourable Mentions, 2 Best of Pura Series Award, and 2 Best of Mate Series Award were announced. Through diverse perspectives and expressive techniques, these works showcased warmth, tranquillity and brightness from all over the world and conveyed the raw emotions and strength of ordinary people.
“I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the winners tonight and pay tribute to creators of the mobile imaging era. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to HUAWEI XMAGE users– each of you has made HUAWEI XMAGE go beyond being a tool for documenting life, evolving it into a bridge for emotional communication between people,” He Gang, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, said.
Photographer of the Year
Chen Yong, an engineer from China, Justin Mendoza, an account manager from the Philippines, and Kinga Choińska, an office worker from Poland, were awarded the Grand Prize and each received a $10,000 Huawei Creation Fund. Their works portrayed captivating moments in life with unique imagination and creativity, warming judge’s hearts.
Chen Xiaobo, the 9th Vice President of China Photographers Association on Yong’s entry, said: “The girl ascending the ladder is a symbol of strength, movement, beauty, vitality, and uniqueness. She rises like a bird in flight, witnessing the sun piercing the clouds. Each of us holds the power to make the world better.”
National Geographic Photographer and Emmy-Nominated Director Keith Ladzinski, on his part said: “When a photograph asks questions, it’s an immediate success. This photograph embodies both humour and a great sense of scale, allowing us to consider how big the bird is, and whether or not it’s been caught by the fisherman’s pole. Its power lies within the serendipity of the moment, a well-considered composition, and unique low perspective.”
“The warm tones, matching hair accessories, and soft lighting come together nicely in this image to create a calm moment between the sisters. The cosy colour palette gives the scene a friendly and inviting feel, making it easy for viewers to sense the connection they share. It’s a nice reminder of the little moments that bring us together” – Fashion Photographer and Director James Perolls.
Over 300 of the best works will be presented at Shenzhen Sea World Culture and Art Center. The exhibition has carefully organized them in seven sections including “Moments,” “Faces,” “So Far So Close,” Hello Life,” and others, aiming to lead the audience into exploring the infinite charm of Photography. From November 27th to November 30th, this visual feast will provide an opportunity for art lovers to appreciate up close the excellent entries submitted. The emotions and stories behind each frame will be vividly displayed for all to see in person.
“Mobile Imaging is not just about documenting daily life but should be integrated with deeper observations and more personal philosophical thoughts. Each photograph becomes a part of your own intimate dialogue with the world,” said Xiaobo.
Over the years, Huawei has organized multiple global photography tours, regularly released mobile photography trend reports, organised community-based activities, and held educational classes for photographers. The brand has consistently been committed to in-depth interactions with photographers to promote the cultivation of mobile photography culture and to provide a close-knit and welcoming space for all.
Through the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards’ platform, Huawei has built a space for in-depth communication among consumers, bridging the boundaries of region, culture, and language. At the same time, the platform encourages the exchange of human connections and the resonance of heartwarming emotions across the world through photography.
