Each year, the Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) Challenge celebrates the art of discovering beauty in the tiniest and most easily missed details of our world. The 2025 edition, themed Something Beautiful, drew in photographers from across the globe, all tasked with capturing the subtle wonders hidden in everyday life. From delicate insects to fleeting patterns in nature, the competition continues to spotlight how powerful close-up photography can be in transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Topping this year’s entries was Linda Repasky from the United States, who captured the winning image titled Puddle Reflection using nothing more than an iPhone. Her photo impressed the judges with its quiet composition and surprising depth, perfectly embodying the competition’s theme.
Alongside Repasky’s standout piece, ten other remarkable photographs were selected, each offering a unique perspective on overlooked beauty. Together, these images serve as a stunning reminder that sometimes the most captivating art lies in the smallest details.
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#1. Winner: "Puddle Reflection" by Linda Repasky
"In late autumn, after the leaves have fallen from the trees, the landscape shuts down and heads toward slumber. But in this tiny puddle, the reflection of a bare tree comes alive with soft colours amid a scattering of acorns and pebbles. Puddles, so ordinary and humble, and so easily overlooked, are a source of endless beauty and magic!"
#2. 2nd Place: "At the Hub" by Michael Friel
#3. 3rd Place: "Slime Moulds and Reflections" by Kamilla Szava-Oberndorfer
Finalists
#4. "Deluge" by Noelle Bennett
#5. "Miracle" by Yann Raulet
#6. "Tulip Gift In Ice" by Kathleen Clemons
#7. "Green Meshweaver" by Ryan Dale
#8. "Squid on the Run" by Alessandro Grasso
#9. "Wild Welsh Pony" by Richard Sambrook
#10. "In the Shelter of the Mushroom" by Tibor Litauszki
#11. "Puffin Profile" by Alex Pansier
