LONDON, 3 November 2025 — The shortlist for this year’s Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition has been released. Judges spent more than 20 hours reviewing a record 12,557 entries before narrowing the field to a selection that celebrates precision, patience, and attention to detail.
The shortlist spans 11 categories, from animals and insects to plants, fungi, underwater life, and microscopic imagery. Each frame offers a close view of textures, movements, and patterns that usually escape notice.
Founded by Tracy and Daniel Calder, CUPOTY highlights photographers who reveal beauty on a small scale. “Close-up photography rewards curiosity,” Tracy Calder said. “It shows how the smallest scenes can tell the biggest stories.”
The final Top 100 photographs will be announced in January 2026, marking the next stage of this year’s competition. For now, the shortlist captures a quiet wonder—tiny organisms, crystalline formations, and fleeting moments caught in extraordinary focus.
The full collection is available on the CUPOTY website. More updates and featured work appear on the competition’s Instagram page.
