The Close-up Photographer of the Year 7 (2025) competition has announced its impressive shortlist after an extensive judging process involving 22 judges who evaluated 12,557 photographs across 11 specialized categories during 20 hours of virtual deliberations via Zoom calls. The competition continues to showcase the finest examples of macro and close-up photography from around the world.
The competition features 11 distinct categories designed to capture the intricate beauty of the natural world: Animals, Insects, Butterflies and Dragonflies, Arachnids, Invertebrate Portrait, Underwater, Intimate Landscape, Plants, Fungi, Studio Art, and Young (U18s). Each category represents a unique aspect of close-up photography, allowing photographers to demonstrate their technical skills and artistic vision in capturing the often-overlooked details of nature.
The overall winner will receive a substantial prize package including £2,500 (approximately $3,277), a trophy, and a copy of Topaz Labs AI 4 software. Category winners will each take home £250 in cash and a Universal License for all three Affinity applications (Photo, Designer, and Publisher) compatible with macOS, Windows, and iPad OS platforms.
Among the standout entries in the shortlist are several remarkable photographs that demonstrate the competition's high caliber. In the Animals category, notable entries include "In the Forest of Mordor" by Vincze Balint, "Splash" by Douglas Gimesy, "Frog in the Wall" by Willi Roman, and "The Decisive Moment" by Turgay Uzer. Other impressive animal photographs include "Precarious Perch" by Rafael Steislesberger, "Whiskers" by Luca Lorenz, "Island Hare" by Jacqueline Kirk, "Guided by the Whistles" by Guillaume Correa-Pimpao, "Flowered" by Frensis Kuijer, and "In Mother's Arms" by Dvir Barkay.
The Insects category showcases exceptional technical achievement with entries such as "Le Projectionniste" by Nicolas Reytet, "Sharp Bend" by Mark Pal, "Light Trap" by Imre Potyo, and "Bee in Flight" by Uwe Zimmerman. These photographs demonstrate the photographers' ability to capture the intricate details and behaviors of small creatures that are often invisible to the naked eye.
The Butterflies and Dragonflies category features stunning aerial captures including "Flight" by Pal Hermansen, "S" by Mark Pal, and "Xanthocnemis Zealandica" by Glenys Steegh. These images highlight the delicate beauty and complex wing structures of these flying insects.
Particularly impressive is the Arachnids category, which includes a diverse array of spider and related arthropod photography. Notable entries include "Nightmare on Karella Street" by William Menzies, "Magician" by Thirachet Sonakul, "Hungry Mite" by Pavel Krasensky, "Sunrise" by Natalia Shinkevich, "Pumpkin Spice" by Justin Chan, "Nocturnal Huntress" by Darcy Santos, "Caught Between Worlds" by Ben Revell, "Mite Feeding on Slime Mould" by Barry Webb, and "Predator" by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas.
The Fungi and Slime Moulds category presents fascinating entries that explore the often-overlooked world of decomposers and their intricate structures. Featured photographs include "Bearded Ghost" by Imre Potyo and "Weevil's End" by Rafael Steinlesberger, which reveal the complex and alien-like beauty of these organisms.
The Invertebrate Portrait category is represented by "Leafcutter Bee" by Andrei Chetronie, demonstrating the artistic potential of focusing on individual invertebrate subjects with portrait-like composition and lighting.
The final selection of the Top 100 pictures and category winners is scheduled to be announced in January 2026, giving the judges additional time to carefully evaluate the exceptional quality of entries. The Close-up Photographer of the Year competition was originally founded in 2018 by Tracy and Dan Calder, and has since grown to become one of the most prestigious competitions in the specialized field of macro and close-up photography, continuing to attract photographers from around the globe who are passionate about revealing the hidden details of the natural world.
