Animals: “Splash” by Douglas Gimesy
The 2025 Close-Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY 7) shortlist has been unveiled, showcasing a mesmerizing world often overlooked.
With over 12,000 entries judged across 11 categories, the final selection reveals stunning microcosms — from jewel-like insects to glowing fungi and surreal underwater scenes. Each image is a testament to the power of patience, precision, and the art of seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. CUPOTY stands out for blending scientific curiosity with artistic vision, offering winners cash prizes, creative software, and well-earned recognition. More than just technical feats, these photographs invite us to pause and appreciate the hidden beauty woven into the smallest corners of nature.
More: Close-Up Photographer of the Year, Instagram
Insects: “Le Projectionniste” by Nicolas Reytet
Insects: “Sharp Bend” by Mark Pal
Insects: “Light Trap” by Imre Potyo
Fungi and Slime Moulds: “Bearded Ghost” by Imre Potyo
Fungi and Slime Moulds: “Weevil’s End” by Rafael Steinlesberger
Butterflies and Dragonflies: “Flight” by Pal Hermansen
Butterflies and Dragonflies: “S” by Mark Pal
Butterflies and Dragonflies: “Xanthocnemis Zealandica” by Glenys Steegh
Arachnids: “Nightmare on Karella Street” by William Menzies
Arachnids: “Magician” by Thirachet Sonakul
Arachnids: “Hungry Mite” by Pavel Krasensky
Arachnids: “Sunrise” by Natalia Shinkevich
Arachnids: “Pumpkin Spice” by Justin Chan
Arachnids: “Nocturnal Huntress” by Darcy Santos
Arachnids: “Caught Between Worlds” by Ben Revell
Arachnids: “Mite Feeding on Slime Mould” by Barry Webb
Arachnids: “Predator” by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas
Animals: “Frog in the Wall” by Willi Roman
Animals: “In the Forest of Mordor” by Vincze Balint
Animals: “The Decisive Moment” by Turgay Uzer
Animals: “Precarious Perch” by Rafael Steislesberger
Animals: “Whiskers” by Luca Lorenz
Animals: “Island Hare” by Jacqueline Kirk
Animals: “Guided by the Whistles” by Guillaume Correa-Pimpao
Animals: “Flowered” by Frensis Kuijer
Animals: “In Mothers Arms” by Dvir Barkay
Insects: “Bee in Flight” by Uwe Zimmerman
Invertebrate Portrait: “Leafcutter Bee” by Andrei Chetronie
Invertebrate Portrait: “Long Hormed Beetle” by Raghuram Annadana
Invertebrate Portrait: “Dew Covered Scathophaga” by Jay Birmingham
Invertebrate Portrait: “Windows to a Diminutive Yellow Soul” by Zhong Rui Marcus Kuan
Invertebrate Portrait: “Arna Cangrejo Amarilla” by Andes Carmona
Invertebrate Portrait: “Mastophora Stowei ” by Ken Bluma
Invertebrate Portrait: “Weevil” by Manfred Auer