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Celebrating Moments: HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2024

On November 27, 2024, the vibrant city of Shenzhen, China, played host to the prestigious HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2024, an event that transcended mere recognition of talent, focusing instead on the emotional narratives encapsulated within stunning photographs. Convened at the Sea World Culture and Art Centre, the ceremony brought together artists, media representatives, and photography enthusiasts eager to witness the unveiling of this year’s award-winning pieces.

Themed “A Heartwarming World,” this year's awards emphasized the profound connection that photography fosters among individuals. He Gang, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, expressed heartfelt congratulations to the winners and extolled the power of mobile image creation in inspiring meaningful emotional exchanges between people. He stated, “Each of you has demonstrated that HUAWEI XMAGE is not just a tool for documenting life; it is a bridge for emotional communication.”

First launched in 2017, the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards has grown significantly, with participants from over 170 countries submitting an incredible total of more than 5 million entries since its inception. This year, spanning 131 days, the 2024 awards attracted 650,000 submissions from photographers in 86 nations, including Malaysia, Turkey, the Philippines, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The event showcases how mobile photography has become an influential global phenomenon.

During the ceremony, 66 winners were celebrated, encompassing three grand prize winners, 18 category winners, 38 second-place winners, and several honorable mentions. The prominent smartphones among entrants included the HUAWEI Pura 70 series, P60 series, P40 series, and Mate 60 series. The winning photographs highlighted diversity in perspective and technique, eliciting feelings of warmth, serenity, and clarity, while powerfully portraying the raw emotions of daily life.

Among the esteemed grand prize winners were Chen Yong from China, Justin Mendoza from the Philippines, and Kinga Choińska from Poland. Each recipient was awarded $10,000 from the Huawei Creation Fund for their exceptional and heartfelt imagery. The three pieces reflected captivating moments through unique creativity and imagination, earning praise from the international jury.

“The girl climbing the ladder symbolizes strength, motion, beauty, vitality, and uniqueness. She rises like a bird in the sky, observing the sun shine through the clouds. Each of us has the potential to make the world a better place. Young lady, this is your story,” noted Chen Xiaobo, the 9th Vice President of the China Photographers Association.

The jury continued their selections, remarking on a delightful photo featuring a bird with unexpected humor and scale, and embraced an enchanting image of sisters radiant with warmth and familial bond. This thoughtful critique underscored the intrinsic value in capturing personal and emotional stories through photography.

Over 300 exquisite works from this year’s contest were displayed at the Shenzhen venue, segmented into seven themed categories, including “Moments,” “Faces,” and “Hello Life.” This exhibition, running from November 27 to November 30, offered art lovers a unique chance to intimately experience the submitted works and their emotional narratives.

Chen Xiaobo eloquently stated, “Mobile image creation does not only document daily life; rather, it invites deeper observations and personal philosophical reflections. Each photograph becomes a part of an intimate dialogue with the world.”

Through the years, Huawei has cultivated a rich culture of mobile photography, consistently hosting global photographic tours, publishing trend reports, facilitating community events, and providing educational workshops for passionate photographers. The HUAWEI XMAGE platform fosters deep connections, bridging geographical, cultural, and linguistic divides while sharing resounding human emotions through photography.

The complete list of award-winning works can be explored on the official HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2024 website, enabling fans and supporters to delve deeper into the heartfelt stories behind each photograph.