The image is taken from so high up that people are reduced to colourful specks against the yellow ochre of the sand. Along the length of the photograph, at the bottom, can be seen a road, with a few moving cars and a row of parked two-wheelers.
Rithwik Virunnukandi Jagannathan took this picture of Chennai’s Marina Beach in the summer of 2015 from the top of the adjacent Madras Light House. After being shut for over two decades, the lighthouse had been opened to the public in 2013.
“As I climbed each step, the beach and the world around it slowly unfolded in front of me,” Jagannathan said. “I realised how the people gathering on the beach were getting smaller and smaller and at some point the people below just appeared as a random gathering, giving a bird’s-eye view.”
Jagannathan’s photograph of the Chennai landmark was adjudged the third prize winner in the lifestyle category of the 2016 iPhone Photography Awards. The ninth edition of the awards, which isn’t affiliated to iPhone maker Apple, received thousands of entries from 139 countries.
IPPA founder Kenan Aktülün curated the winners, with Siyuan Niu of Xinjiang, China, coming on top. Patryk Kuleta of Warsaw, Poland, won the first prize, followed by Californian Robin Robertis and Floridan Carolyn Mara Borlenghi. The results were declared on July 7.
Jagannathan, a 34-year-old native of Kozhikode in Kerala, moved to Chennai 10 years ago. The Solution Architect with a software company says he took up photography seriously after joining the 150-year-old Photographic Society of Madras.
“I had never used mobiles to take photos before,” he said, explaining that he depended on his digital single-lens reflex camera. “Last year, my sister gifted me an iPhone 5s and I realised how good iPhones were at capturing images.”
This was the first year he submitted eight entries to the competition. The award-winning nature and landscape photographer usually clicks images that tell ephemeral stories. “Photography is an excellent means to express one’s creativity,” he said. “With the mobile cameras offering high quality output, anyone can easily try their hand at it.”
Here are some of the other award-winning images.
Man and the Eagle
“The brave and wise Khalkhas live along the mountains in the south of Xinjiang and are companions with the eagles. They regard eagles as their children and train them for many years to hunt. This 70 year old man is rigid and solemn in front of family and friends, but when he is with his beloved eagle, the corner of his mouth would curve up. When the eagles reach mating age, although he is very reluctant, the man releases the eagles back into nature so that they can thrive. A mild heart and exquisite love are covered by his weather-beaten face. He is a tough man with a tender heart.”
“Most of my shots come from Warsaw and one from Strasbourg. The idea was to make it more impressionistic, to show architecture in a completely different way that combines my background in graphic design and painting.”
“I was on an iPhone workshop and reunion with a friend and teacher in Cape Cod. We all went out to photograph the perfect sunset. I tend to bring a few things when I travel, one being this wonderful red umbrella. When others shoot the sunsets and beautiful scenery, I like to photograph some human aspects in these scenes.”
“This image was taken as part of a series I did for instagram’s #WHPwonderland. Each weekend when the hashtag project comes out I try to come up with an idea and this particular weekend, the weekend before Christmas, was wonderland. For this one I went on a little adventure with my son to the beach and we wore the reindeer masks.”
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!