Close-up Photographer of the Year has unveiled its shortlist for the 2024 competition, showcasing stunning close-up, macro, and micro photography from across the globe. With over 11,600 entries in 11 categories, the competition highlights the incredible diversity of life on Earth in exquisite detail.
The entries cover a wide range of subjects, including animals, insects, invertebrates, underwater scenes, and arachnids. From flowing kelp to baby animals to tiny spiders, the images offer a glimpse into a world that is often hidden from view.
Among the standout entries is a mesmerizing portrait of fungi by Barry Webb, as well as a striking black-and-white image of a pine marten by Csaba Daróczi, the previous year’s overall winner. These images capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world in a way that is both captivating and thought-provoking.
The Top 100 photographs and winners will be announced in January, giving photography enthusiasts something to look forward to. In the meantime, viewers can explore more images on the Close-up Photographer of the Year website and follow the competition on Instagram for updates.
Some of the standout entries include a fascinating image of invertebrates inside a sea sponge hole by Jenny Stock, a close-up photo of a moth on a tree by Ignacio Castellanos, and a captivating shot of two insects eating starfruit by Rafael Steinlesberger. Other notable entries feature a freshly shed heather crab spider by Jamie Hall, a bowerbird with an insect in its beak by Keith Horton, a bright green buffalo treehopper nymph by Benjamin Salb, a baby wallaby in its mother’s pouch by Pedro Jarque, and an arachnid making a web in a leaf by Marco Chan.
These extraordinary photographs offer a unique perspective on the world around us, showcasing the beauty and diversity of nature in stunning detail. Whether capturing the intricate patterns of a spider’s web or the delicate features of a tiny insect, the images in the Close-up Photographer of the Year competition remind us of the wonders that exist just beyond our everyday perception.
