Get ready to zoom in on a world most of us never notice. The shortlist for the 2025 Close-Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY 7) is out, and it’s absolutely mind-blowing. After a marathon of 12,557 photographs reviewed across 11 categories and 20 hours of intense Zoom judging, the final images have been revealed — each one capturing a hidden universe that feels almost otherworldly.
From delicate butterflies and dragonflies that look like flying jewels to intricate fungi glowing like alien forests, this year’s shortlist celebrates nature’s tiniest wonders with larger-than-life artistry. There are also jaw-dropping shots of arachnids, invertebrate portraits, and surreal underwater scenes that prove beauty thrives even in the smallest details. Every frame is a love letter to patience, precision, and the pure thrill of discovery.
What makes CUPOTY so special is its ability to merge art with science. Whether it’s a dew drop reflecting the sunrise or a praying mantis caught mid-leap, each photo pushes the boundaries of what close-up photography can reveal. The competition, now in its seventh year, offers the grand winner £2,500 ($3,277), a trophy, and a copy of Topaz Labs AI 4, while each category winner pockets £250 plus a Universal License for all three Affinity apps — serious bragging rights for any creative.
These shortlisted photos aren’t just about technique; they’re about perspective — seeing life’s tiniest details as epic stories. In an age when we scroll past beauty every day, CUPOTY invites us to stop, look closer, and rediscover the magic hiding in plain sight.
You can find more info about The CUPOTY:
#1. Animals: "Splash" by Douglas Gimesy
#2. Insects: "Le Projectionniste" by Nicolas Reytet
#3. Insects: "Sharp Bend" by Mark Pal
#4. Insects: "Light Trap" by Imre Potyo
#5. Fungi and Slime Moulds: "Bearded Ghost" by Imre Potyo
#6. Fungi and Slime Moulds: "Weevil’s End" by Rafael Steinlesberger
#7. Butterflies and Dragonflies: "Flight" by Pal Hermansen
#8. Butterflies and Dragonflies: "S" by Mark Pal
#9. Butterflies and Dragonflies: "Xanthocnemis Zealandica" by Glenys Steegh
#10. Arachnids: "Nightmare on Karella Street" by William Menzies
#11. Arachnids: "Magician" by Thirachet Sonakul
#12. Arachnids: "Hungry Mite" by Pavel Krasensky
#13. Arachnids: "Sunrise" by Natalia Shinkevich
#14. Arachnids: "Pumpkin Spice" by Justin Chan
#15. Arachnids: "Nocturnal Huntress" by Darcy Santos
#16. Arachnids: "Caught Between Worlds" by Ben Revell
#17. Arachnids: "Mite Feeding on Slime Mould" by Barry Webb
#18. Arachnids: "Predator" by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas
#19. Animals: "Frog in the Wall" by Willi Roman
#20. Animals: "In the Forest of Mordor" by Vincze Balint
#21. Animals: "The Decisive Moment" by Turgay Uzer
#22. Animals: "Precarious Perch" by Rafael Steislesberger
#23. Animals: "Whiskers" by Luca Lorenz
#24. Animals: "Island Hare" by Jacqueline Kirk
#25. Animals: "Guided by the Whistles" by Guillaume Correa-Pimpao
#26. Animals: "Flowered" by Frensis Kuijer
#27. Animals: "In Mothers Arms" by Dvir Barkay
#28. Insects: "Bee in Flight" by Uwe Zimmerman
#29. Invertebrate Portrait: "Leafcutter Bee" by Andrei Chetronie
#30. Invertebrate Portrait: "Long Hormed Beetle" by Raghuram Annadana
#31. Invertebrate Portrait: "Dew Covered Scathophaga" by Jay Birmingham
#32. Invertebrate Portrait: "Windows to a Diminutive Yellow Soul" by Zhong Rui Marcus Kuan
#33. Invertebrate Portrait: "Arna Cangrejo Amarilla" by Andes Carmona
#34. Invertebrate Portrait: "Mastophora Stowei " by Ken Bluma
#35. Invertebrate Portrait: "Weevil" by Manfred Auer
