Apple gave the iPhone 18 Pro to three acclaimed photographers to showcase its redesigned camera system. Announced at September's "Surprise and Shine" event, the phone features a variable aperture and improved low-light photography. The latest Shot on iPhone project, "What Holds Us," features work shot entirely on the iPhone 18 Pro by Alex Prager, Jack Davison, and Jimmy Chin. Kathy Ryan, former New York Times Magazine photography director, curated the exhibition, which centers on human connection.

"What Holds Us" opens in New York City on September 18 and runs through September 20, later traveling to London and Shanghai. Jimmy Chin photographed climbers in British Columbia's Bugaboo Mountains, using the iPhone for close-ups, action shots, and panoramas. "I've always been interested in human passion and meaning, and where that intersects with the raw beauty of wild landscapes," Chin said. Winds reached up to 70 miles per hour, but the iPhone's portability aided practicality and safety.

Jack Davison focused on people interacting with clay and chalk. "I genuinely was blown away by the camera on iPhone 18 Pro," Davison noted. "There was something about the quality of the imagery that felt like a huge leap." Alex Prager combined overhead crowd scenes with tighter portraits on a Los Angeles soundstage. "Photography has changed a lot, and this particular camera is more like a video stream," Prager explained. Ryan praised Prager's ability to maintain high production values while leveraging the iPhone's ease of use.