Although the close-up photographer of the year competition took place in 2022, nothing beats a dose of photographs showing some of nature's greatest moments and diversity through minuscule detailed photos. In case you missed it, these are the highlighted photos that were among the winners of the photographer of the year competition.
What Is the Close-up Photographer of the Year Contest?
An exquisite insect spreads multicolored wings, a lacy slime mold grows from leaves, and brilliant abstractions were created by microscopic patterns in the winning photos of the Close-up Photographer of the Year competition in 2022. The contest, now in its fourth year, drew more than nine thousand entries from fifty-four different nations, and guess what? The results were absolutely astonishing. Out of this world astonishing.
The Top 100 Photographs of the Year
In 2022, many skilled photographs entered the competition to show what their photography skills were made of. Impressively, everyone showed such a high level of photographic ability that these were the top 100 close-up photographs that conquered the competition in 2022. The most interesting part was to see there were 11 different categories in which different participants showed their abilities to photograph life's greatest natural moments involving animals, insects, fungi, and butterflies, among many more.
The Talented Winner That Took Over the Competition
Although all the participants delivered top-level and superb results while photographing nature, there was one photo that stood out and strikes the eyes of many. Sam Stephens' image of two little amphibians trapped inside a carnivorous plant is the overall competition winner this year.
Normally, these plants eat invertebrates like flies and moths, but recently, Algonquin Wildlife Research Station researchers found a startling new item on the plant's menu: young spotted salamanders (ambystoma maculatum). It was a timely capture because the insects had sunk to the bottom of the pitcher by the next day.
The Creators of the Close-up Photographer of the Year Contest
Tracy and Dan are the founders of this magnificent competition which lets photographers and creatives burst their maximum potential while learning from each other, but always including the greatest gift of life: nature. The founders both adore macro photography and are astounded by what they can see under a microscope, and delight in paying attention to the little things.
By establishing CUPOTY (Close-up Photographer of the Year) in 2018, they both hoped to give close-up, macro, and micro photography the spotlight it deserves and to recognize its numerous variations.
When Will the Next Competition Take Place?
The photographer of the year competition takes place two times a year. The main one, 'Close-up Photographer of the Year 05' will open in March and close in June 2023, while the other competition, named 'Challenge' will run throughout November. Here's how to learn more about the contest.
Photos courtesy of Cupoty.
