Spectacular Shortlisted Photos from the 2025 Close-Up Photographer of the Year

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