Overall Winner & Winner Animals: “Nature’s Traps” by Samantha Stephens
Winners and finalists of Close-up Photographer of the Year was announced. This image of an iguana caught in a carnivorous pitcher plant taken by Samantha Stephens—first prize in the Animal category—won overall. The Canadian shooter used the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Laowa 15mm f/4 wide-angle macro lens to capture this amazing shot.
There are also some great images in the Underwater category, with the first, second and third place winners all taken by DPG Photographer of the Week. 2nd runner-up is Italian Pietro Cremone, with the amazing black water image of an octopus mimicking a larva. South Africa Kate Jonker was the runner-up with a stunning photo of a blue-spotted klipfish perched in the middle of a mussel shell. The category winner is the Georgian shooter Viktor Lyagushkin, who is known for his amazing photos taken under the ice in Russia’s White Sea. His tiny object is a jellyfish with a body, which uses their “legs” to cling to seaweed, and at the same time capture prey with their tentacles.
For more incredible photos from Close-Up Photographer of the Year 04, check out the gallery at www.cupoty.com. Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up.
Underwater Winner: “Little Predator” by Viktor Lyagushkin
2nd place underwater: “Beauty and the Beast” by Kate Jonker
3rd place underwater: “The Martian” by Pietro Cremone
