Apple is showcasing the incredible capabilities of the iPhone with "Chasing the Light," a three-city photography exhibition featuring photos captured on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The exhibition highlights the work of renowned photographers Ryan McGinley, Prince Gyasi, and Chen Man, curated by Kathy Ryan, the former longtime photo director of The New York Times Magazine. The show focuses on color, shadow, and light—elements that are captured impressively well by the iPhone.
The featured artists were given early access to the iPhone 16, which was officially released today, for the one-day exhibition held in New York, Shanghai, and London. Chen’s work was inspired by the poet Rumi, while Gyasi’s pieces reflect how his synesthesia shapes his perception of color. His photos were shot on a vibrant hot pink helipad in Los Angeles.
McGinley’s images were taken at Glynwood, a 225-acre farm in Cold Spring, New York, and feature several of his artist friends, including Ash Rucker, the founder of the art therapy nonprofit TherapArt, and musician Bobby Brown, who performs under the name Rentboy. “I brought a lot of my staples that I work with in my art into these photos. I love to work with the elements: fire, air, landscape, smoke, sunsets. We hit everything. For me, it’s really about bringing a lot of energy into the work and capturing someone in the moment,” McGinley explains.
Using the iPhone felt completely natural to McGinley. “I think of it more like using a Nikon or a Fuji. I don’t really think about shooting on a phone, I just consider it a camera,” he says. He’s found the perfect way to integrate the iPhone into his work. “As a photographer, the most important thing for me is to be in the moment and using the phone—but off of my phone.”