Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners Introduced

Overall winner & Underwater winner: “Fractal Forest” by Ross Gudgeon

 

The winners and finalists of Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) have been introduced. The seventh version of the competitors attracted over 12,000 entries from 63 international locations, and a jury of twenty-two photographers, naturalists and editors chosen winners and runners-up in 11 classes.

Australian shooter Ross Gudgeon bagged the highest prize together with his winner within the Underwater class—a mind-blowing inside-out view of a cauliflower mushy coral captured with the Nauticam EMWL (with 160º goal lens) within the Lembeh Strait. If “Fractal Forest” appears acquainted, that’s as a result of the image was the general winner within the 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, introduced in August final 12 months. (CUPOTY has no restrictions on submitting photos which have gained in different competitions.)

There have been heaps extra excellent photos within the Underwater class. Daniel Sly, one other Aussie photographing within the Lembeh Strait, clinched second place with a slow-shutter seize of an orange painted frogfish, whereas Spanish shooter Luis Arpa scored third together with his crinoid shrimp ingeniously hidden inside its feather star house—which was additionally shot with the EMWL. The finalists within the class have been Chris Gug, Richard Condlyffe, Ross Gudgeon, Gabriel Jensen, Simon Biddie, Andre Johnson, and Lilian Koh.

For extra breathtaking photos from Close-up Photographer of the Year 7, try the gallery at www.cupoty.com. Congratulations to all of the winners and runners-up.

 

Underwater 2nd place: “Ethereal Frogfish” by Daniel Sly

 

Underwater third place: “Featherhome” by Luis Arpa

 

Underwater Finalist: “Fully Loaded” by Chris Gug

 

Underwater Finalist: “Ladybug Amphipod” by Richard Condlyffe

 

Underwater Finalist: “Baby-Sitting” by Ross Gudgeon