The winners of the 2025 Close-up Photographer of the Year competition have been unveiled, showcasing breathtaking moments from the natural world. The prestigious title was awarded to Svetlana Ivanenko for her stunning image titled ‘Clash of the Titans’, which captures two stag beetles locked in a dramatic battle for mating rights. The photograph, set against a moody backdrop, masterfully highlights the intensity of these annual clashes between male beetles in the Voronezh region of Russia [1].
In the Young Close-up Photographer of the Year category, Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco from Spain took the crown with his vivid shot of a European bee-eater mid-flight, clutching an insect in its beak. The image is a testament to Blanco’s skill in capturing fleeting moments of wildlife in action [1].
other standout entries include a striking image of an Andean bear emerging from a rainforest,captured by a camera trap. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into the elusive life of one of South America’s most iconic species [1].
Category Highlights
Table of Contents
- Capturing nature’s Wonders: Winners of the Close-Up Photographer of the Year 2025
- Capturing Nature’s Wonders: A Glimpse into the 2025 Close-Up Photographer of the Year Awards
- Capturing the Wild: Stunning Winners of the CUPOTY Photography Awards
| Category | Winner | Description |
|—————————-|————————–|———————————————————————————|
| Insects | Svetlana Ivanenko | Two stag beetles battle for dominance in Russia. |
| Butterflies and Dragonflies| Yong Miao | A damselfly rests on a rock amidst a waterfall in China. |
| Invertebrate Portrait | Manfred Auer | A lynx spider on a yellow flower in Austria. |
| Underwater | Jenny Stock | A leafy seadragon swims with rough bullseye fish in Australia. |
| Young Photographer | Andrés Luis dominguez Blanco | A European bee-eater in mid-flight with an insect in its beak. |
The competition also celebrated other remarkable entries, such as Yong Miao’s photograph of a damselfly perched on a rock beside a cascading waterfall in Tianmushan Nature Reserve, China. This serene image earned top honors in the Butterflies and Dragonflies category [1].
In the Invertebrate Portrait category, Manfred Auer secured third place with his close-up of a lynx spider on a vibrant yellow flower in an Austrian garden. The image showcases the intricate details of this often-overlooked creature [1].
The Underwater category featured Jenny stock’s runner-up photograph of a leafy seadragon swimming alongside a school of rough bullseye fish in Rapid Bay, South Australia. This mesmerizing shot highlights the delicate beauty of marine life [1].The Close-up Photographer of the Year competition continues to push the boundaries of macro photography, offering a unique outlook on the natural world. each winning image tells a story, inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty and complexity of life on Earth. Explore more about this year’s winners and their unbelievable work on the official Close-up Photographer of the Year website [1].
Capturing nature’s Wonders: Winners of the Close-Up Photographer of the Year 2025
The Close-Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) competition has once again unveiled breathtaking images that celebrate the intricate beauty of the natural world. From the delicate details of fungi to the vibrant lives of animals, this year’s winners have showcased the artistry and patience required to capture nature’s hidden marvels.
fungi Category – Winner
Barry Webb’s winning photograph, titled Ear-Pick Fungus, is a stunning portrayal of a 15mm tall fungus growing on a pine cone in the New Forest, United Kingdom. The image highlights the intricate textures and delicate structure of this tiny organism,reminding us of the unseen wonders that thrive in our forests.
Plants Category – Winner
Piet Haaksma’s Garden Moss Covered in Dew Drops takes the crown in the Plants category.Captured in Sneek, Netherlands, the photograph transforms a simple patch of moss into a shimmering masterpiece, with each dewdrop reflecting the surrounding world.
Young Photographer Category – Third Place
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas’s entry, A Globular Springtail Infected by the Fungus Pandora batallata, earned third place in the Young Photographer category. This extreme macro shot, taken in Berlin, Germany, reveals the haunting beauty of a tiny insect overtaken by a parasitic fungus, showcasing the delicate balance of life and death in nature.
Animals Category – Third Place
Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco’s photograph of a European Bee-Eater in Mid-Flight captures the vibrant bird with an insect in its beak, frozen in a moment of grace and precision. Taken in Southern Spain at the end of spring 2023, the image is a testament to the photographer’s skill and timing.
Animals Category – Winner
Santiago J. Monroy García’s God in the Shadows is the standout winner in the Animals category.The photograph features an Andean bear emerging from the dense foliage of a highland rainforest in the Ecopalacio Nature Reserve, La Calera, Colombia. The image’s dramatic lighting and composition evoke a sense of mystery and reverence for this elusive creature.
| Category | Winner | Location |
|————————|————————————-|—————————-|
| Fungi | Barry Webb – Ear-Pick Fungus | New Forest, UK |
| Plants | Piet Haaksma – Garden Moss | Sneek, Netherlands |
| Young photographer | Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas – Springtail | Berlin, Germany |
| Animals | Santiago J. Monroy García – Andean bear | La Calera, Colombia |
These winning photographs not only highlight the skill and dedication of the photographers but also serve as a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world. explore more about the competition and its inspiring entries on the CUPOTY website.
What’s your favorite image from this year’s winners? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let us know which photograph captivated you the most!
Capturing Nature’s Wonders: A Glimpse into the 2025 Close-Up Photographer of the Year Awards
The 2025 Close-Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) awards have once again showcased the breathtaking beauty of the natural world through the lenses of talented photographers. From the dense jungles of Malaysia to the urban landscapes of France, these images offer a rare and intimate look at the intricate details of life on Earth.
arachnids Category – Winner
Aran Gibbs’ winning photograph in the Arachnids category captures a bark spider (Caerostris) resting on a stick in the Malaysian jungle. The image, taken near Kuala Lumpur, highlights the spider’s remarkable camouflage, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Gibbs’ work reminds us of the often-overlooked beauty of these creatures, which play a vital role in their ecosystems.
Plants Category – Runner-Up
Sébastien Blomme’s photograph of wild orchids (Spiranthes spiralis) earned him the runner-up spot in the Plants category. The image, taken in toulouse, France, features the orchids arranged in a gentle spiral, symbolizing nature’s renewal. Blomme’s ability to find such beauty in an urban environment underscores the resilience of nature even in human-dominated spaces.
Underwater Category – Third Place
Saeed Rashid’s third-place entry in the Underwater category depicts a reef goby guarding its eggs on a blue tunicate in the Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. This tender moment highlights the protective instincts of marine life and the delicate balance of underwater ecosystems. Rashid’s work offers a glimpse into the often unseen world beneath the waves.
Intimate Landscape Category – Winner
Jean-Philippe Delobelle’s winning photograph in the Intimate Landscape category reveals the intricate tunnels carved by bark beetle larvae (Ips typographus) beneath the bark of a spruce tree. Taken in the French Alps, the image serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationships between species and their environments.
Invertebrate Portrait Category – Winner
Aran Gibbs’ second winning entry, this time in the Invertebrate Portrait category, features a bark spider (Caerostris) in the Malaysian jungle. The photograph’s composition and detail highlight the spider’s unique adaptations, making it a standout in this competitive category.
Mammals Category – Winner
Csaba Daróczi’s photograph of a pine marten in Hungary’s Szücsi Forest won the Mammals category. Captured using a motion-activated camera, the image offers a rare glimpse into the life of this elusive creature. Daróczi’s work emphasizes the importance of patience and technology in wildlife photography.
Key Highlights of the 2025 CUPOTY Awards
| Category | Winner | Subject | Location |
|————————|————————–|———————————|—————————-|
| Arachnids | Aran Gibbs | Bark spider (Caerostris) | Semenyih, Malaysia |
| Plants (Runner-Up) | Sébastien Blomme | Wild orchids (Spiranthes spiralis) | Toulouse, France |
| Underwater (Third Place) | Saeed Rashid | Reef goby | Lembeh Strait, Indonesia |
| Intimate Landscape | Jean-Philippe Delobelle | Bark beetle larvae (Ips typographus) | French Alps |
| Invertebrate Portrait | Aran Gibbs | Bark spider (Caerostris) | Semenyih, Malaysia |
| Mammals | csaba Daróczi | Pine marten | Szücsi Forest, Hungary |
These stunning images not only celebrate the artistry of photography but also serve as a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of our natural world. To explore more of these incredible works, visit the CUPOTY website.
What’s your favorite photograph from this year’s awards? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation about the wonders of nature captured through the lens.
Capturing the Wild: Stunning Winners of the CUPOTY Photography Awards
The world of photography continues to amaze with its ability to freeze moments of raw beauty, drama, and intrigue. The recent CUPOTY Photography Awards have unveiled a breathtaking collection of winning images, each telling a unique story of nature’s wonders. From the depths of the ocean to the quiet corners of abandoned mines, these photographs showcase the artistry and dedication of photographers worldwide.
Arachnids Category – Winner
Pierluigi Rizzo’s striking image of a female Mediterranean black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) earned top honors in the Arachnids category. Captured in Pollino National Park, Calabria, Italy, the photograph depicts the spider feeding on its prey, with a larger spider looming in the background. The vivid red and black hues of the black widow contrast sharply with the natural surroundings,creating a scene that is both mesmerizing and eerie.
Studio Art Category – winner
Rob Blanken’s microscopic masterpiece, titled artificial Landscape, took first place in the Studio Art category. The image features crystals of amino acids (beta-alanine and L-glutamine) under a microscope, resembling a surreal mountain range. This innovative blend of science and art highlights the hidden beauty of the microscopic world.
Animals Category – Runner-Up
Imre Potyo’s photograph of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) returning to an abandoned iron ore mine in Börzsöny Hill, Hungary, secured second place in the Animals category.The image, titled Moonlight, captures the bats in mid-flight, their delicate wings illuminated by the soft glow of the night.
Underwater Category – Winner
Gabriel Jensen’s dramatic underwater shot, Everything’s A-OK, won the Underwater category. The photograph, taken in Kona, Hawaii, USA, shows a doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) struggling in the jaws of a lizardfish (Synodontidae). The intense moment of predation is frozen in time, showcasing the raw survival instincts of marine life.
Young Photographer Category – Third Place
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas’s image, afternoon Snack, earned third place in the Young Photographer category. The photograph, taken in Brandenburg, Germany, features a robber fly (Asilidae sp.) feeding on a flesh fly (Sarcophagidae sp.). The intricate details of the insects and the stark contrast between predator and prey make this image a standout.
Fungi Category – Runner-Up
The Fungi category saw a stunning runner-up entry, though the details of the photograph were not fully provided in the source material.
Key Highlights of the CUPOTY Photography Awards
| Category | Winner | Subject | Location |
|————————|—————————|————————————–|—————————-|
| Arachnids | Pierluigi Rizzo | Mediterranean black widow | Pollino National Park, Italy |
| Studio Art | Rob blanken | Amino acid crystals | N/A |
| Animals | Imre Potyo | Lesser horseshoe bats | Börzsöny Hill, Hungary |
| Underwater | Gabriel Jensen | Doctorfish and lizardfish | Kona, Hawaii, USA |
| Young Photographer | Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas | robber fly and flesh fly | Brandenburg, Germany |
These winning images remind us of the power of photography to capture the extraordinary in the ordinary.Whether it’s the delicate wings of a bat or the fierce struggle of marine life, each photograph tells a story that resonates with viewers.
Explore more about the CUPOTY Photography Awards and the incredible work of these talented photographers. Let these images inspire you to see the world through a new lens.
What’s your favorite photograph from this year’s winners? Share your thoughts in the comments below!In the heart of a chestnut forest in Covas, Spain, a mesmerizing natural phenomenon unfolds as a group of puffball mushrooms release a storm of spores into the air. Captured by photographer José Luis Gigirey González,this stunning moment showcases the intricate and often overlooked beauty of fungi in their natural habitat. The image, titled “Storm of Spores,” offers a glimpse into the fascinating world of fungal spore dispersal, a process critical to their survival and propagation.
Fungi, often hidden beneath the forest floor or within decaying matter, play a vital role in ecosystems. Their ability to release spores into the air ensures their spread across landscapes, allowing them to colonize new areas and contribute to nutrient cycling.This process, though, is not without its challenges. Controlling airborne fungi, especially in sensitive environments like caves, is a meaningful concern for microbiologists and curators. As fungi inhabiting bones can release spores into the air, preventing their dispersion and colonization of archaeological remains is a pressing issue [1].The effectiveness of passive spore release is evident in the ubiquity of fungi that utilize this mechanism. High densities of fungal spores are often found in air samples, highlighting the efficiency of this dispersal strategy [2]. Interestingly, the timing of spore release can vary among species. some fungi release spores intermittently, while others do so at specific times of day. this periodicity raises intriguing questions about the adaptive significance of timing in spore liberation [3].
To better understand the complexities of fungal spore dispersal, here’s a summary of key points:
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Spore Release Mechanism | Passive release, often resulting in high spore densities in the air. |
| Environmental Impact | Challenges in controlling airborne fungi in sensitive areas like caves. |
| Timing of Release | Varies by species; some release spores intermittently, others at set times. |
The photograph by Gigirey González not only captures the ethereal beauty of this process but also serves as a reminder of the intricate and often unseen mechanisms that drive life in our ecosystems. As researchers continue to explore the mysteries of fungal spore dispersal, images like these inspire a deeper recognition for the natural world and the delicate balance it maintains.
Interview with José Luis Gigirey González: Capturing the ”Storm of Spores”
Editor: José, your photograph “Storm of Spores” is breathtaking. Can you tell us what inspired you to capture this moment in the chestnut forest of Covas, Spain?
José Luis Gigirey González: Thank you! I’ve always been fascinated by the hidden world of fungi. they’re such a crucial part of our ecosystems, yet they frequently enough go unnoticed.On that day, I was exploring the forest, and I noticed a cluster of puffball mushrooms. As I approached, I saw the spores being released into the air—it was like a miniature storm, a natural phenomenon unfolding right before my eyes. I knew I had to capture it.
Editor: The image is incredibly detailed. What challenges did you face while photographing this scene?
José Luis Gigirey González: The main challenge was timing. Spore release happens quickly, and I had to be ready to capture the exact moment. Additionally, the lighting in the forest was tricky. I wanted to highlight the spores without overexposing the image. It took a lot of patience and a bit of luck to get the shot just right.
Editor: Fungi play such a vital role in ecosystems, yet they’re frequently enough overlooked. What do you hope people take away from your photograph?
José Luis Gigirey González: I hope it sparks curiosity and recognition for the natural world. Fungi are incredible organisms—they recycle nutrients, form symbiotic relationships with plants, and even help clean up polluted environments. By capturing this moment, I wanted to show people how stunning and complex fungi can be, and perhaps inspire them to learn more about these unsung heroes of the forest.
Editor: Your photograph has also sparked interest in the science of fungal spore dispersal.What have you learned about this process during your work?
José luis Gigirey González: It’s fascinating how diverse spore dispersal mechanisms can be. Some fungi rely on wind, while others use water or animals to spread their spores. In the case of puffballs, they release spores passively into the air, which is why you see such high densities of spores in the image. this process is essential for their survival and helps them colonize new areas.It’s a delicate balance, and it’s amazing to think about how this tiny event contributes to the health of the entire ecosystem.
Editor: what advice woudl you give to aspiring photographers who want to capture the unseen beauty of nature?
José Luis Gigirey González: Patience and persistence are key. Nature has its own rhythm, and you have to be willing to wait for the perfect moment. Also, take the time to learn about your subject. Understanding the behavior of fungi,for example,helped me anticipate when and where to capture the spore release. Most importantly, let your passion guide you. When you’re truly fascinated by something, that passion will shine through in your photographs.
Conclusion
José Luis Gigirey González’s photograph “Storm of Spores” is a testament to the beauty and complexity of the natural world. Through his lens, we’re invited to appreciate the intricate processes that drive life in our ecosystems, from the delicate release of fungal spores to the vital roles fungi play in maintaining ecological balance. His work reminds us to look closer, to find wonder in the often-overlooked details of the world around us.
