The shortlist for Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) 2025 has been announced – and there are some truly stunning shots, including brilliant butterflies, posing frogs, stalking spiders and cuddling sloths.
The top 100 pictures from CUPOTY 2025 will be revealed in January 2026.
Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 shortlist
‘Hungry Springtails’ by Pavel Krásenský | CUPOTY
‘Orchid Bee Colombia’ by Clay Bolt | CUPOTY
‘Ethereal Frogfish’ by Daniel Sly | CUPOTY
‘Ash Cicada Exuvia’ by Tony North | CUPOTY
‘Guided by the Whistles’ by Guillaume Correa-Pimpao | CUPOTY
‘Pumpkin Spice’ by Justin Chan | CUPOTY
‘Bearded Ghost’ by Imre Potyó | CUPOTY
‘Splash’ by Douglas Gimesy | CUPOTY
‘Mite Feeding on Slime Mould’ by Barry Webb | CUPOTY
‘It’s a Trap!’ by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas | CUPOTY
‘Light Trap’ by Imre Potyó | CUPOTY
‘Bee in Flight’ by Uwe Zimmermann | CUPOTY
‘Leafcutter Bee’ by Andrei Chetronie | CUPOTY
‘Weevil’s End’ by Rafael Steinlesberger | CUPOTY
‘3 Springtails’ by Paweł Ty | CUPOTY
‘Frog in the Wall’ by Willi Roman | CUPOTY
‘In the Forest of Mordor’ by Vincze Balint | CUPOTY
‘Predator’ by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas | CUPOTY
‘Eyes Bigger Than Stomach’ by Fabi Fregonesi | CUPOTY
‘In Mothers Arms’ by Dvir Barkay | CUPOTY
‘Orangutan Crab the Miniature Underwater Primate’ by Maryline Renault | CUPOTY
‘Whiskers’ by Luca Lorenz | CUPOTY
‘Price of Living’ by Laurent Hesemans | CUPOTY
‘Precarious Perch’ by Rafael Steinlesberger | CUPOTY
‘The Dark Side’ by Lorenzo Shoubridge | CUPOTY
‘Flight’ by Pal Hermansen | CUPOTY
‘The Decisive Moment’ by Turgay Uzer | CUPOTY
Find out more about Close-up Photographer of the Year
Top image: ‘In Mothers Arms’ by Dvir Barkay | CUPOTY
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