9th Annual iPhone Photography Awards: Is It Open?
No: the 9th annual iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) is a past edition, not a contest that is open for entries now. It was the 2016 competition; anyone looking to submit should check the current IPPAWARDS entry page for the active year, deadlines, eligibility rules and fees rather than rely on old announcements.
What the ninth annual awards were
The iPhone Photography Awards began in 2007, making the 2016 edition its ninth annual contest. It is commonly abbreviated IPPAWARDS. The competition recognizes photographs made with an iPhone or iPad, with awards organized into categories and separate distinctions for standout images and photographers. Its historical results are useful for understanding the event, but they do not mean the 2016 submission window remains open.
The word “annual” can cause confusion when an old article or archived page appears in search results. A page advertising the ninth awards refers to that particular year, not to the ninth edition being announced again or to a permanent entry period. Contest dates, category lists, fees and terms can change between editions, so a past year’s details should not be treated as current instructions.
Can you enter it now?
You cannot submit a new photograph to the 2016 edition. Whether a later edition is accepting entries on a particular date is a separate question: the organizer’s current official entry information is the reliable place to confirm that. Look for a clearly stated edition year and a submission deadline before preparing an application.
Before paying or uploading images, confirm these details on the current contest website:
- The edition year and whether submissions are open, closed or not yet announced.
- The final deadline, including the time zone and any distinction between early and regular entry periods.
- Eligible devices and any rules about editing, image files or photography dates.
- Available categories, entry limits, fees and accepted payment methods.
- Required captions, image information, permissions and the contest’s rights terms.
If a third-party page lists an old deadline or a fee without identifying the edition, treat it as historical until verified. A search result snippet can also preserve outdated wording even after a page changes.
How entry typically works
Entry procedures belong to the specific edition, so the current rules take precedence. In general, a mobile photography contest asks participants to select eligible images, assign them to categories, provide the requested information and submit through the organizer’s stated process. Do not assume that every year uses identical categories, image limits or technical requirements.
For a careful submission, work through this sequence:
- Read the rules for the exact edition you intend to enter, including the eligibility and image-manipulation provisions.
- Choose photographs that meet the stated device and capture requirements. Check the original image and retain it, along with any requested file or capture information.
- Match each photograph to a category based on its subject and the official definitions, not merely on a category name that sounds appropriate.
- Prepare accurate titles, captions and other requested details. Avoid claiming a device or editing history you cannot substantiate.
- Review the total cost and submission summary before finalizing. Save the confirmation and a copy of the terms that applied when you entered.
These are practical checks, not a substitute for the rules. For example, an image that looks like a phone photograph may not qualify if the contest requires capture with a particular device and the source file cannot establish that requirement.
Choosing photographs and categories
A strong entry is not necessarily the most heavily edited or technically complicated image. Consider whether the photograph has a clear focal point, purposeful framing, effective light and a subject that remains legible at the size used for judging. A quiet, carefully observed scene can be more compelling than an image with many competing details.
Category selection should follow the contest’s published descriptions. A portrait might fit a people-focused category, while a landscape could belong in a nature or travel grouping, if those categories are offered in that year. Some contests use categories that overlap; when that happens, compare the official definitions and choose the one that best describes the photograph’s main purpose. Never assume that a category from the 2016 edition is available in a current edition.
Also review any rules on post-processing. Ordinary adjustments such as cropping, exposure correction or color work may be treated differently from compositing, adding objects or using images captured by another device. The only safe answer is the current edition’s exact policy; broad claims about what “all phone photography contests” permit are unreliable.
Fees, rights and common pitfalls
Entry fees, if charged, are set by the organizer and can vary by edition, submission period or number of entries. No 2016 price should be used to estimate what a current entry will cost. Check the live entry page for the amount, currency, refund policy and any additional charges before submitting.
Read the image-rights section as carefully as the technical rules. A contest may request permission to display or promote submitted images, but the scope and duration of a license depend on its terms. Submission does not automatically mean that every contest takes ownership of a photograph; equally, it is not wise to assume that a license is narrow without reading it. If you are submitting someone else’s portrait, artwork or other protected material, check the rules and obtain any permissions they require.
- Wrong edition: A page about the ninth awards concerns 2016, not the current entry cycle.
- Missed deadline: Confirm the closing date on the official page; do not infer it from an older social post.
- Unclear eligibility: Check device, capture-date and editing requirements before choosing an image.
- Unplanned cost: Review the fee and entry limit before uploading or paying.
- Rights surprise: Read how submitted images may be displayed, licensed or promoted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 9th annual iPhone Photography Awards open for entries?
No. The ninth annual edition was the 2016 competition. Check the official IPPAWARDS entry information to see whether a current edition is accepting submissions.
When was the ninth iPhone Photography Awards held?
It was the 2016 edition. “Ninth annual” identifies that historical contest year; it does not refer to a present-day entry period.
Can I submit a photo taken in 2016 to a current edition?
That depends on the current edition’s capture-date and eligibility rules. Check those requirements before entering; the fact that a photograph was taken with an eligible device does not by itself establish eligibility.
Does an iPhone Photography Awards entry have a fee?
Fees can depend on the edition and submission terms. Use the current official entry page for the applicable amount and payment conditions rather than relying on a fee quoted for 2016.
Where can I see the ninth edition’s winning photographs?
Look for the organizer’s archived 2016 results or winner gallery. Confirm that the page is an archive, since results pages and current entry pages serve different purposes.
What to do next
If you meant “Is it time to enter the ninth annual awards?”, the answer is no: that edition is over. If you meant the current iPhone Photography Awards, verify the latest edition and its deadline directly with the organizer, then follow that year’s rules. This avoids the most common mistake—treating a historical 2016 announcement as a live invitation—and gives you the information needed to decide whether and how to enter.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.