SUMMARY
Photographer Ziqiang Luo used an iPhone 16 Pro's digital zoom to achieve a 223mm equivalent focal length, capturing a traditional Chinese fire performance. The image, which earned an Honorable Mention at the 2026 iPhone Photography Awards, highlights the art form's fleeting, sculptural sparks against a dark background. Luo utilized a shutter speed of 1/200sec, f/2.8, and ISO 50 to freeze motion and maintain image clarity, effectively balancing the bright sparks with the dark environment.
TAKEAWAYS
An iPhone 16 Pro's telephoto system was used to photograph a traditional Chinese fire performance.
The image achieved an equivalent focal length of 223mm, utilizing digital zoom beyond the optical range.
The photograph earned an Honorable Mention in the Life Style category at the 2026 iPhone Photography Awards.
Settings included 1/200sec at f/2.8 and ISO 50 to capture sharp details of the sparks.