OPPO launches 2025 photo awards with NZD $212,000 prize pool

OPPO has opened entries for its 2025 Global Photography Awards, offering a prize pool exceeding NZD $212,000 for photographs taken using OPPO smartphones.

Since the inception of the competition, more than one million submissions have been received from participants across 81 countries.

The 2025 competition features an expanded prize pool, additional categories and a focus on emotionally-driven, story-led photography that aims to create resonance beyond the screen.

The theme for this year's awards, 'Super Every Moment', encourages participants to highlight the beauty found in ordinary scenes, underscoring how thoughtful photography can make everyday moments appear extraordinary. Applicants are encouraged to capture fleeting expressions, unexpected details and candid interactions using their OPPO devices.

OPPO has stated that the competition affirms the company's focus on supporting creativity and innovation within the field of mobile photography.

Prizes on offer for the 2025 Global Photography Awards include over NZD $42,000 (USD $25,000) and a set of flagship OPPO products for the top Gold Award winner. Silver award recipients will receive NZD $18,500 alongside the latest OPPO flagship phone. For Bronze, the prize is NZD $4,700, with Honourable Mention winners also set to receive cash awards and OPPO devices.

Additional awards include Jury's Choice, Audience's Choice, Regional Awards, and a Youth Award, all offering cash prizes designed to recognise a wider group of participants. All categories, apart from the Gold Award, will have multiple winners, broadening opportunities for entrants.

OPPO New Zealand General Manager Morgan Halim expressed enthusiasm about local participation, saying, "Kiwis have a strong eye for storytelling and a real connection to their surroundings, whether it's people, place or culture. With the power of OPPO's renowned smartphone cameras in their hands, this competition is a great opportunity for everyday creators to show that talent on a global stage."

The competition comprises eight categories: Snapshot, Youth (for ages 18–24), Live Photo, Connection, Portrait, Vibe, Photo Series, and Environment. Entry is open to all users of OPPO phones.

Judging will be handled by a panel of six international photographers. The panel includes Hasselblad Masters Norwegian photographer Tina Tignesdottir Hult, Chinese photographers Tang Hui and Wang Jianjan, prominent Chinese fashion photographer Trunk Xu, American photographer Alec Soth, and OPPO Senior Vice President Pete Lau.

This year's competition puts OPPO's proprietary imaging system, LUMO, at the centre of the photographic process. LUMO is designed to help photographers capture not only the visual details of a moment, but also the emotional atmosphere. Among its features is a bokeh mode, intended to softly blur the background so that subjects stand out in a style reminiscent of professional cinematography.

Describing the capabilities of LUMO, Morgan Halim said, "With LUMO, we're pushing the boundaries of what smartphone photography can do. It's not just about sharper images, it's about giving people the tools to express emotion and atmosphere in a way that feels truly cinematic. We can't wait to see how New Zealanders bring their unique perspectives to life through the lens."

The entry window for submissions is now open and closes at 5:00 AM NZDT on 21 November 2025.