The eighth annual Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) competition has revealed its shortlist, selected from a record-breaking 15,388 entries submitted by photographers around the world.
The images span 11 categories, including Animals, Insects, Arachnids and Underwater, alongside a dedicated category for young photographers.
“Close-up photography has a wonderful way of revealing details and perspectives that often go unnoticed,” says competition co-founder Tracy Calder. “This year’s shortlist is a fabulous showcase of imagination, technical expertise, and natural curiosity.”
The overall winner and category champions will be announced in January 2027. Until then, here are some standout images from the shortlist.
A note of caution before you continue: if spiders make you uneasy, you may want to skip a few of these images.
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