The 2025 Close Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) competition has unveiled its spectacular shortlist, featuring extraordinary images selected from over 12,500 submissions by professional and amateur photographers worldwide. After 20 hours of deliberation, 22 expert judges curated a remarkable collection of finalists across 11 distinct categories, each offering unique perspectives on the intricate details of our natural world.
Among the standout entries is Clay Bolt's detailed portrait of an orchid bee, a fascinating species that defies typical hive mentality by choosing a solitary lifestyle. Another captivating image comes from Rafael Steinlesberger, whose photograph captures a brave insect taking an unexpected ride on a jumping pit viper. Steinlesberger, who has built a substantial online following, discovered this remarkable scene during an evening photo walk with fellow photographers in Costa Rica.
The competition extends far beyond flashy insect photography, with the Intimate Landscape and Fungi categories demonstrating that nature's quieter moments are equally deserving of recognition. These categories showcase the subtle beauty found in dewdrops on bark, crystalline ice formations, and the intricate patterns of slime molds, proving that extraordinary photography can emerge from the most understated subjects.
The diverse range of finalist images spans multiple categories including Invertebrate Portrait, Animals, Butterflies & Dragonflies, Arachnids, Plants, and Underwater photography. Notable entries include Andrei Chetronie's striking leafcutter bee portrait, Pal Hermansen's dynamic butterfly in flight, Laurent Hesemans' perfectly camouflaged spider blending with flower colors, and Suliman Alatqi's delicate pygmy seahorse captured in its underwater habitat.
The competition's underwater category features particularly impressive submissions, including Mary Gudgeon's detailed porcelain crab image and various marine life portraits that reveal the hidden beauty beneath the waves. Meanwhile, the Plants category showcases everything from Donald Bolak's intricate rose thorn details to Bart Heirweg's elegant marsh helleborine composition.
Competing finalists now await the announcement of the grand prize winner, who will receive £2,500 (approximately $3,254) along with premium camera equipment and post-production software provided by sponsors Sigma UK, Cygnustech Diffusers, and Affinity Photo. The competition continues to celebrate photographers who take the time to examine our world through a macro lens, revealing extraordinary details often invisible to the naked eye.
