of entries, and the theme was “Everyday Life.” Her photograph showed an exhausted bus driver sitting alone at the end of his shift, his forehead resting against the steering wheel. The evening light fell across his face, and his uniform was still damp from the rain. The judges gave it the highest score. But when they learned she'd taken it with her phone, they disqualified her and awarded the prize to the runner-up. She appealed, pointing out that the published rules required original photographs but said nothing about camera equipment. The organisers replied that the competition was intended for serious photographers. One of the other finalists challenged them publicly. “Are we judging the photograph or the price of the equipment?” The organisers insisted that professional standards mattered. Critics countered that expensive cameras didn't automatically make someone a better photographer. Eventually, the organisers reinstated her entry and awarded her the prize. But the runner-up refused to attend the ceremony, saying the judges had embarrassed him by changing their decision after public pressure.

A woman was disqualified from a photography contest because her winning picture was taken on a phone. The judges said it wasn't professional photography. Then a contestant asked why the rules never mentioned what kind of camera people had to use. The competition had attracted hundreds