Behind the lens: iPhone photographer and his shot

Eagle trainer Makanau Tumanbek and his eagle "Red Eye" in Aheqi, southern Xinjiang's Kizilsu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture.[Photo by Niu Siyuan/chinadaily.com.cn]

IPPAwards allows photographers to adjust the pictures with photo applications for iPhone. Niu used Snapseed and Vsco for the final touches. He hoped iPhone can have a longer battery life in the future as the photography hardware and applications improve.

Niu will soon visit Makanau and tell him the good news in person. Unfortunately, "red eye" won't be there to hear it because Makanau had already set him free to have his own family. Maybe the son of "red eye" will team up with Makanau's youngest son who has been learning to become a Kirgiz eagle trainer in the future, Niu said.