An i for beauty: Five award-winning images that were shot using an iPhone

A child with her hand over her face; blue stripes blurring into a clear sky; the face of a grey-bearded man half hidden in the shadow falling from an open window; shrimp-pink flamingoes reflected in a dark pool; a young man on his boat under a yellow sky — these are some of the poetic images that stood out for the judges of the hundreds of images entered into the 13th annual iPhone Photography Awards.

The overall winner of the title — Photographer of the Year, Grand Prize — was Dimpy Bhalotia, an Indian photographer based in Britain.

Bhalotia says the image, titled Flying Boys (pictured below), is characteristic of the day-to-day activities of youths in Varanasi, India. "These boys were jumping off a man-made cliff into the Ganges river to beat the heat during the Indian summer. They are the symbol of fearlessness and freedom."

Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on Twitter when the results were released last week: "Your extraordinary photos beautifully preserve the moments that make life so magical."

HOW TO GET THE PERFECT #PIC USING YOUR PHONE

Photographer Mariska van den Brink shares 10 tips to get the perfect Instagram shot.

1. Use portrait mode to make your subject really stand out. It will blur the background, making your subject the focal point.

2. Go close up for a pretty still life like your cup of coffee or glass of wine. In this instance, make sure that your background works with the close-up image.

3. Try new perspectives: lie on the floor to shoot your pet. Shoot your room while standing in the corner. Climb under a table to get an interesting shot.

4. Make use of reflections: shoot through a window or at a scene reflected in water.

5. For a professional look, use a filter to enhance contrast, highlights and certain colours.

6. Composition is key. Try moving your subject to the right or the left of your frame instead of keeping it in the centre.

7. Don't take too many selfies! They usually make you pout.