The shortlist for the Close-up Photographer of the Year has been announced, and some downright stunning, weird and very very zoomed-in images are in the frame for the top prize.
From an adorable baby wallaby seeking shelter in its mother's pouch to a bird feeding their chick in an unusual way, these images highlight the beauty of nature close-up.
Tracy and Dan Calder founded Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) to celebrate the wonders of nature close-up, including macro photography and microphotography. The winners will be announced in January 2025, but until then we have selected our favourites from this year's shortlist.
Insects category
Four honey bees get a drink of water during a drought in Texas, USA. Photo by Jose Madrigal/CUPOTY
A young wallaby tries to snuggle into its mother’s pouch, seeking warmth and shelter. Photo by Pedro Jarque/CUPOTY
Butterflies and dragonflies category
A familiar bluet damselfly (Enallagma civile) flies over blue waters. Photo by Jose Madrigal/CUPOTY
Animals category
A snakebird (Anhinga anhinga) parent feeds its three young. As you can see in this image, the parent tends to get the chick to feed unconventionally. Photo by Jackie Schletter/CUPOTY
Underwater category
A basket star (Asteronychidae) holds onto an orange sea sponge. In False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, basket stars are generally seen holding onto fans. They have feet that tightly wrap around the fan, leaving their intricate tendrils free to stretch out and grab food. Photo by Ofek Liepaz/CUPOTY
Animals category
A Malabar gliding frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) struggles to escape from the strong bite of its predator – a Malabar pit viper (Craspedocephalus malabaricus). Photo by Pavan-Kumar/CUPOTY
Arachnids category
A mother wolf spider hunts at night with her newly hatched babies on her back. Photographed near the shore of a lake in Saint Simons Island, Georgia, USA Photo by Lane Kirstein/CUPOTY
Small mites walk across the head of a Kloss's forest dragon (Gonocephalus klossi). The image was taken in the mountains south of Lake Danau Ranau in Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo by Aloys Pichard/CUPOTY
Insects category
Two male stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) battle for a mate. Photo by Ivanenko Svetlana/CUPOTY
James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked on the magazine and website for over a decade, telling compelling science stories through the use of striking imagery. He holds a degree in Fine Art, and has been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards, being highly commended in 2020. His main areas of interest include photography that highlights positive technology and the natural world. For many years he was a judge for the Wellcome Trust's image competition, as well as judging for the Royal Photographic Society.
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