Before phones became as smart as they are today, and after all the excitement of speaking to your loved ones as amble down the street, people were fascinated by "cameraphones," simply, being able to take a photograph on this tiny device, right there in your hands. And, your cell plan allowed, you were able to send it to a friend. No waiting for Fotomat! It's an empowering social experience, nonetheless.

Today, smartphones seriously expand our personal capability, with each model carrying even more processing power than the previous. In particular, Apple's iPhone holds the mantle for popularizing this genre of technology. Of all the great features packed into each device, its camera is still most widely used. 

Maintaining its focus on each year's greatest photos taken on an iPhone, judges of the 12th Annual IPPAWARDS recently announced winners from each of the eighteen categories, which include Abstract, Animals, Architecture, Children, Floral, Landscape, Lifestyle, Nature, News and Events, Panorama, People, Portrait, Series, Still Life, Sunset, Travel, Trees, and Other.

Let's Check out the Winning Photographs.

Grand Prize Photographer of the Year: Gabriella Cigliano, Italy
00 GRAND
Big Sister. Zanzibar, Africa. Shot on iPhone X. Courtesy of artist and IPPAWARDS

"Last year, I spent a month in Wasa, Tanzania, teaching a class of young, curious and amazing guys. Before heading back to Italy we stopped in Zanzibar, where this photo was taken. I still wonder how could I capture that exact moment in all its beauty. I was just observing, a few meters from them, but they were probably more curious about me than I was about them, and that’s probably why the girl was looking at me. We couldn’t talk much, except for a few words in Swahili I had learned in the previous weeks, but those kids could definitely talk with their eyes. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my life, and I’ll keep it in my memories forever. The best part was showing them and their mums the photos, for some it was the first time they were seeing their faces, and their excitement was unexplainable, unfortunately, my iPhone was in their hands and I couldn’t capture that!"

1st Place Photographer of the Year: Diogo Lage, Portugal
01 POTY 1st Diogo Lage
Sea Stripes. Santa Rita Beach, Portugal. Shot on iPhone SE. Courtesy of artist and IPPAWARDS

"Sea Stripes was taken in Santa Rita Beach, Portugal where the striped beach tents are very typical and set the tone of the well organized and summery little villages. Playing along with this beachy mood, a bather in the distance embodies the spirit in a striped shirt."

Second Place Photographer of the Year: Yuliya Ibraeva, Russia
02 POTY Yuliya Ibraeva
Sorry, no movie today. Rome, Italy. Shot on iPhone 7 Plus. Courtesy of artist and IPPAWARDS

"It was a hot summer day in Rome, Italy, even the asphalt was melting. We decided to escape from the city center to see the ancient trees of the Borghese Gardens and watch an Italian movie, but when we arrived the pouring rain began. We didn’t see the film, but I took wonderful pictures. It was a great travel moment I’ll never want to forget."

3rd Place Photographer of the Year: Peng Hao, China
03 POTY 3rd Peng Hao 1100x1467
Come Across. Nevada, USA. Shot on iPhone X. Courtesy of artist and IPPAWARDS

"I took this photo in the desert in Nevada, USA, at the Burning Man festival. I stood on a bridge and saw two people lost in a sand storm, but after a while, something very special came along, a huge silver ball."

Take a look through the gallery above to see the winners of each category and, if you think your camera skills are up to par, take a chance to be included in next year's competition! Submit here.