The winners of Close-up Photographers of the Year’s (CUPOTY) ‘Death & Decay’ challenge have been announced, with top spot going to Willem Kruger for his emotive image of a hyena carrying a zebra head in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
“Early one morning during a game drive in Kruger National Park, my wife and I came across three spotted hyenas walking along the road,” says Kruger. “One was carrying the head of a zebra, presumably from a nearby lion kill, and was heading straight towards us. In nature, almost nothing goes to waste – even hyenas have a family to feed, and they do it with remarkable commitment.”
Kruger’s evocative shot is 1 of 14 close-up and macro photos celebrated in CUPOTY‘s winners’ gallery. Second place went to Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada for his poignant image of a male toad clutching a dead female. Gaël Modrak came third with an eerie underwater shot of a dead waterfowl chick.
The CUPOTY challenge – designed to give photographers regular opportunities to showcase their close-up, macro and micro images – runs alongside the main annual CUPOTY competition.
Ghostly scorpion among 23 mind-blowing images from Close-up Photographer of the Year
True Love – 2nd place. Credit: Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada/cupoty.com
Dead Chick of the Pond – 3rd place. Credit: Gaël Modrak-Dead Chick of the Pond/cupoty.com
A Warning from the Wild – Finalist. Credit: Alex Pansier/cupoty.com
The Grip of Winter – Finalist. Credit: David Silsbee/cupoty.com
Eyed Food – Finalist. Credit: Emanuele Biggi/cupoty.com
The Fly Wing Trophy – Finalist. Credit: G Ramaprasad/cupoty.com
Parasite – Finalist. Credit: Jacek Hensoldt/cupoty.com
Feathers in the Wind – Finalist. Credit: Jason Gilbody/cupoty.com
The Souls of the Swamp – Finalist. Credit: Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada/cupoty.com
Serenade – Finalist. Credit: Ken Bluma-Marionette/cupoty.com
Crazed Paint – Finalist. Credit: Martin Malies/cupoty.com
Mallard in Ice – Finalist. Credit: Pål Hermansen/cupoty.com
Bee Meal- Finalist. Credit: Pete Burford/cupoty.com
Cranefly Entangled in a Sundew – Shortlist. Credit: Ed Phillips/cupoty.com
Deadly Spikes – Shortlist. Credit: Emanuele Biggi/cupoty.com
The Catch – Shortlist. Credit: Pål Hermansen/cupoty.com
Is It Cake – Shortlist. Credit: Nelson Milano/cupoty.com
Love is in the Air – Shortlist. Credit: Sophie Mijnhout/cupoty.com
Hyena Portrait Zebra – 1st. Credit: Willem Kruger/cupoty.com – Willem Kruger/cupoty.com
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