In Best of 2025, macro photography proved once again that the smallest details often hold the biggest stories. From the delicate veins of a leaf to the piercing gaze of an insect no bigger than a fingernail, this year’s award-winning macro photos pulled viewers into worlds most of us walk past every day. These images didn’t just impress judges — they stopped time, demanding a second look and a deeper breath.
The photographers behind these winning shots mastered patience, precision, and pure obsession with detail. Every droplet of dew, grain of pollen, and flicker of movement was captured with intention. What makes these images extraordinary isn’t just technical perfection, but emotion. A single frame can feel alive, almost breathing, revealing the hidden drama unfolding inches from the ground.
From vibrant insects frozen mid-flight to abstract patterns found in nature’s smallest forms, the 2025 winners pushed macro photography into artistic territory. Light became a paintbrush. Texture became storytelling. These photographers transformed everyday subjects—bugs, petals, frost, and fungi—into cinematic masterpieces that feel larger than life.
What truly sets this year apart is how these images connect science and art. Each photograph is both a visual spectacle and a reminder of the fragile ecosystems surrounding us. Judges from leading international competitions praised the work for its creativity, technical mastery, and ability to spark curiosity about the unseen world.
In a year filled with visual noise, these 33 award-winning macro photographs cut through the chaos. They remind us that beauty doesn’t always shout—sometimes it whispers, hidden in the tiniest corners of nature, waiting for someone patient enough to notice.
#1. Mobile Photography Awards: 1st Place Winner – "Assassin Fly" by Linda Repasky
#2. Mobile Photography Awards: "Tiny World of Ferns" by Linda Repasky
#3. Mobile Photography Awards: "On a Thistle" by Erin Achterhof
#4. Mobile Photography Awards: "Eyes" by Fabio Sartori
#5. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Insects: "Le Projectionniste" by Nicolas Reytet
Master Your Focus
- Use manual focus for precision when working at close distances
- Focus on the most important detail, usually the eyes or texture
- Move your camera slightly instead of refocusing to fine-tune sharpness
- Use focus peaking or magnification if your camera supports it
- Shoot in burst mode to increase your chances of perfect focus
#6. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Butterflies and Dragonflies – "Flight" by Pal Hermansen
#7. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Arachnids – "Sunrise" by Natalia Shinkevich
#8. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Arachnids – "Pumpkin Spice" by Justin Chan
#9. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Arachnids – "Mite Feeding on Slime Mould" by Barry Webb
#10. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Arachnids – "Predator" by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas
Control Your Lighting
- Shoot during early morning or late afternoon for softer natural light
- Use a diffuser to soften harsh sunlight
- Try a ring light or macro flash for consistent illumination
- Avoid direct flash—it flattens texture and kills detail
- Experiment with backlighting for dramatic effects
#11. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Invertebrate Portrait – "Leafcutter Bee" by Andrei Chetronie
#12. Close-Up Photographer of the Year: Invertebrate Portrait – "Windows to a Diminutive Yellow Soul" by Zhong Rui Marcus Kuan
#13. British Photography Awards: Macro – Winner: "Pink Elephant" by Adam Ferry
"I am fortunate to have Elephant Hawk Moths living in my area and sometimes they can get attracted to the lights in my garden. I found this particularly beautiful moth in my garden resting during the day, probably attracted to the lights or honeysuckle in my garden."
#14. British Photography Awards: Macro – Peoples Choice: "Glistening Slime mould" by Barry Webb
"These glistening, Comatricha nigra slime moulds were photographed on an old, rotting fence post in my back garden. I used a spray bottle to create a wet foreground to add a reflection and give the image an extra dimension."
#15. Nikon Small World Photomicrography: 1st Place – "Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) on a grain of rice" by Zhang You
- Location: Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Technique: Image Stacking
- Magnification: 5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Choose the Right Aperture
- Use f/8 to f/16 for better depth of field
- Go wider (f/2.8–f/4) for artistic blur and isolation
- Balance aperture with light to avoid underexposure
- Remember: smaller apertures require more light or slower shutter
- Test multiple settings for the sharpest result
#16. Nikon Small World Photomicrography: 2nd Place – "Colonial algae (Volvox) spheres in a drop of water" by Dr. Jan Rosenboom
- Location: Rostock, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany
- Technique: Reflected Light
- Magnification: 5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
#17. Nikon Small World Photomicrography: 3rd Place – "Pollen in a garden spider web" by John-Oliver Dum
- Affiliation: Medienbunker Produktion, Bendorf, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany
- Technique: Image Stacking
- Magnification: 20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
#18. 1839 Photographer of the Year Awards: Macro, Winner – "Mushroom madness" by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos
"A close-up backlit photo of an Ameles heldreichi nymph. I took this photo in December 2024 on a mountain near Athens, Greece. I found a pine cone with a mushroom growing on it, picked it up and placed in front of my lens, framing it with the sun in the background."
#19. 1839 Photographer of the Year Awards: Macro, Silver – "A Stroll In the Primordial Countryside" by Tamra M. Gentry
"My work is an exploration of the hidden beauty within rocks and minerals. By magnifying natural formations, I reveal surreal worlds, transforming ordinary stones into art that invites contemplation and a deeper connection to Earth’s geological wonders."
#20. 1839 Photographer of the Year Awards: Macro, Bronze – "Invisible Repro Gems" by Hidetaka Ito
"The colors and forms of flowers conceal intricate mechanisms designed for reproduction and regeneration, reflecting the results of their co-evolution with humans. Using macro lenses, I have revealed the hidden strategies of these plants—at once beautiful and grotesque."
Stabilize Your Shot
- Use a tripod or mini tripod for sharp images
- Stabilize your hands by resting elbows on a solid surface
- Turn on image stabilization when shooting handheld
- Use a remote shutter or timer to prevent camera shake
- Shoot in short bursts to catch the sharpest frame
#21. 35 Photography Awards – "Jeweled Flower Mantis – Creobroter Gemmatus" by LOH CHEE WOEI
#22. 35 Photography Awards – "The robberfly hunting" by TRAN THE NGOC
#23. 35 Photography Awards – "Photo" by Dzulfikri
#24. 35 Photography Awards – "Photo" by Marcus Kam
#25. 35 Photography Awards – "Devil Flower Mantis – Idolomantis Diabolica" by LOH CHEE WOEI
Get Close, But Respect the Subject
- Move slowly to avoid scaring insects or disturbing nature
- Use a macro lens or extension tubes for true 1:1 magnification
- Avoid touching or damaging plants and insects
- Observe behavior before shooting to predict movement
- Respect wildlife and leave no trace
#26. 35 Photography Awards – "Dorcus parryiritsemae" by Javier Ruperez
#27. 35 Photography Awards – "Robber fly" by Richard Kubica
#28. 35 Photography Awards – "Morning dragonfly. Photo taken early in the morning, in dewdrops" by Zaitsev Roman
#29. 35 Photography Awards – "Dragonfly" by Tran The Ngoc
#30. 35 Photography Awards – "A heavy drop" by Koledova Irinav
Compose With Purpose
- Simplify the background to eliminate distractions
- Use leading lines and natural patterns
- Experiment with angles—shoot from eye level or below
- Try off-center compositions using the rule of thirds
- Let negative space enhance your subject’s impact
#31. 35 Photography Awards – "Robber fly" by Richard Kubica
#32. 35 Photography Awards – "Ladybug and Drops" by Tsvetan Ganev
#33. 35 Photography Awards – "Fresh shower" by Richard Kubica
