You Won't Believe What This Award-Winning Milky Way Shot Reveals About Your Smartphone's Power!

Bulgarian photographer Mihail Minkov has secured top honors at the Smartphone Astrophotographer of the Year 2026, a prestigious global competition dedicated solely to images captured with camera phones. His award-winning photograph was taken near Antofagasta, Chile, showcasing the breathtaking Milky Way core rising over the Pacific coast, complemented by the towering sculpture known as Mano del Desierto or "Hand of the Desert."

The image is a single exposure captured with a Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphone, regarded as one of the leading camera phones in the Western market for photography enthusiasts. Minkov's winning shot was taken with a 20-second exposure at f/16 and ISO 2000, seamlessly blending natural beauty and technical prowess.

Minkov is no newcomer to accolades; he previously earned the titles of Milky Way Photographer of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, and took first place in the Sony Alpha Winter 2024 photography competition, utilizing equipment such as the Sony A7 III mirrorless camera. However, his recent achievement emphasizes that skill and creativity remain paramount, regardless of the equipment used.

'The Hand of God'

Minkov described his winning image, stating, "The winning image was captured in 2025 near the city of Antofagasta, Chile, using a Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphone. In the foreground, you can see the iconic sculpture by Mario Irarrázabal, Mano del Desierto, rising over 10 meters high. Despite the presence of the Moon, the smartphone was able to capture enough detail in the night sky to clearly reveal both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. The image is a single exposure taken with the main 23 mm camera."

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a versatile 12-120mm equivalent quad-camera system, with its main camera characterized by a variable aperture ranging from f/1.63 to f/4. This advanced hardware blurs the lines between traditional smartphones and dedicated cameras, delivering results that have earned Minkov this prestigious award.

Celebrating Smartphone Photography

The Smartphone Astrophotographer of the Year competition, organized by Sky & Scopes, shines a light on night sky photography captured exclusively with camera phones. As Anthony Robinson from Sky & Scopes notes, "The most commonly used cameras for astrophotography usually cost thousands of dollars, not to mention all the other gear needed. This is a real barrier to entry for normal people to be able to go out and capture the wonders of the night sky. Capturing nightscapes, planets, and deep sky objects, these photos demonstrate the stunning photographic capabilities of modern smartphones. The technology has developed so that we all have a high-performing camera on us all the time."

Minkov's success in this competition not only showcases his talent but also highlights the evolving landscape of photography, where advanced technology allows more individuals to explore and share the beauty of the universe without the need for expensive equipment. For more information and to view all winning images, interested readers can visit the Sky & Scopes website, opening a window to the stunning world of smartphone astrophotography.