The results of the sixth Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) awards are in! This competition showcases stunning close-up, macro, and micro photography from around the world. Founded in 2018 by Tracy and Dan Calder, it invites photography enthusiasts to reveal the hidden beauty of our planet.
Tracy Calder shared her excitement about the entries: “Every year, I am amazed by the talent and creativity. The top 100 photos celebrate curiosity and artistry, encouraging us to appreciate the world around us.”
Let’s dive into the stories behind some of the standout winning photographs.
Overall Winner
‘Clash of the Titans’ by Svetlana Ivanenko
Svetlana Ivanenko captured a remarkable moment between two stag beetles fighting for dominance, earning her the title of overall winner. She named the photograph ‘Clash of the Titans’ and expressed her wish to share the beauty of such events with everyone.
Young Close-up Photographer of the Year
‘Spring’ by Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco
In the young category, 14-year-old Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco from Spain wowed judges with his photo of a European Bee-eater mid-flight, titled ‘Spring’. He spent several weekends observing the birds from a hide in southern Spain to get this shot.
Animals Category Winner
‘God in the Shadows’ by Santiago J. Monroy García
Santiago J. Monroy García won in the Animals category with ‘God in the Shadows’, featuring the Andean Bear. He aimed to capture the bear in its natural habitat at the Ecopalacio nature reserve in Colombia and convey the essence of its unique ecosystem.
Butterflies and Dragonflies Winner
‘Damselfly by the Waterfall’ by Yong Miao
Yong Miao’s ‘Damselfly by the Waterfall’ won the Butterflies & Dragonflies category. Shot in the Tianmushan nature reserve, Miao described the location as having a “hot and romantic atmosphere,” where he felt time stood still while photographing the damselfly.
Arachnids Category Winner
‘Queen of Hearts’ by Pierluigi Rizzo
Pierluigi Rizzo’s photograph ‘Queen of Hearts’, which depicts a female Mediterranean black widow spider, won in the Arachnids category. The shot was taken in Pollino national park, showcasing the spider as it fed on its prey.
Invertebrate Portrait Winner
‘Bark is Worse than its Bite’ by Aran Gibbs
Aran Gibbs captured an impressive bark spider during a jungle trek in Malaysia, earning him first place in the Invertebrate Portrait category. His photo is titled ‘Bark is Worse than its Bite’ and highlights the spider’s intricate details.
Underwater Winner
‘Everything’s A-OK’ by Gabriel Jensen
Gabriel Jensen’s underwater shot features a doctorfish escaping from a lizardfish’s grip, earning him the top prize in the Underwater category. “The peaceful look on the doctorfish’s face made it memorable,” Jensen said, noting that the fish did eventually swim away.
Plants Winner
‘Mosses’ by Piet Haaksma
Piet Haaksma captured his Dutch garden moss adorned with dew drops, earning first place in the Plants category with the simply titled ‘Mosses’.
Fungi and Slime Moulds Winner
‘Ear-Pick Fungus’ by Barry Webb
Barry Webb won the Fungi & Slime Moulds category with his photo ‘Ear-Pick Fungus’. It captures a 15mm tall fungus growing on a pine cone in New Forest, UK. Webb was excited to find and photograph it.
Intimate Landscape Winner
‘A Network of Life and Death’ by Jean-Philippe Delobelle
Jean-Philippe Delobelle, a retired biology teacher, took home the prize in the Intimate Landscape category with ‘A Network of Life and Death’. His image shows intricate tunnels created by bark beetle larvae in a spruce tree, reflecting the cycle of life and death.
Studio Art Winner
‘Artificial Landscape’ by Rob Blanken
Rob Blanken won the Studio Art category with his stunning image ‘Artificial Landscape’. Using a microscope, he captured crystallized amino acids, turning them into a fantastical scene. Blanken finds inspiration in the unique shapes and colors these images reveal.
Check out this related article: Revolutionary Strategies to Tackle the Global Plastic Waste Crisis
Source link