Mumbai, September 24, 2024: vivo, an innovative smartphone brand, announced the winners of the second edition of the vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards at an exclusive event held at Taj Santacruz, Mumbai. These awards aim to celebrate the power of imagination, encouraging photographers to push the boundaries of creativity and showcase their unique perspectives through the lens of their smartphones.
Kukkala Suresh, also the jury winner, took home the grand prize of INR 5 lakh for his stunning shot. The image exemplified the perfect blend of technical brilliance and artistic vision, standing out among 17,000+ entries from across the country.
The six category winners were awarded one vivo X100 Pro smartphone each. The winners were Bandish Ravindra Wadayekar in Architecture, Lopamudra Talukdar in Portrait, Soumyasikha Manna in Street & Culture, Rathin Dey in Nature and Landscape, Idrees Abbas Dar in Motion and Kukkala Suresh in Night and Light categories.
The highlight of the evening was the presence of acclaimed writer and filmmaker, Zoya Akhtar, alongside other distinguished photographers like Vineet Vohra, Rakesh Pulapa, and Aamir Wani. Together, they formed a panel of experts who evaluated the entries for their creative prowess, technical skill, and storytelling impact.
Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy, vivo India, expressed his excitement at the ceremony, saying, “The vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards have once again proven that photography is not just about the tools, but the vision behind them. We are thrilled to witness such extraordinary talent from across India and are committed to continuing our mission of enhancing mobile photography experiences with our cutting-edge technology. Congratulations to all the winners for their remarkable work, and for showcasing the true ‘Joy of Imagination.’”
Zoya Akhtar, Writer and Film-maker added, “It has been an incredible experience being a part of this journey. The creativity and dedication displayed by the participants have been awe-inspiring. Photography is a powerful medium of storytelling, and vivo has created a platform that allows budding photographers to elevate their skills and share their unique perspectives with the world.”
This year, vivo received more than 17,000 entries out of which 30 finalists were selected after a rigorous competition. These 30 finalists were given a unique opportunity to attend masterclasses led by the esteemed jury and completing a challenge, further refining their skills and broadening their perspectives. From these 30 finalists, the jury selected 6 top finalists.