Close-Up Photographer Of The Year 2021 Has Been Announced, And Here Are The 30 Best Photos Of The Contest

Bored Panda was lucky enough to get an interview from one of the founders of the contest, Tracy Calder. They've told us about how they came up with the contest, how it has fared through the years, and much more. "I’ve been a fan of close-up photography for more than a decade now. For me, one of the greatest joys is that it slows you down and encourages you to be more mindful about your surroundings. A macro lens is like a portal to another world – even the most mundane subjects can be transformed into fascinating subject matter – I’ve seen incredible pictures of slime moulds, glass bottles and human hair, for example. If you approach a subject with a sense of curiosity, then the ordinary can become the extraordinary."

"We both have a background in photography magazines (I’m a former editor of Outdoor Photography magazine and a regular contributor to Amateur Photographer) and during the course of our work we’ve seen thousands of close-up images. A few years ago, it occurred to us that while there were a number of competitions featuring close-up categories, there didn’t seem to be any celebrating close-up, macro and micro photography. We wanted to share the wonder of this field with as many people as possible and, via our background in journalism, put the work of close-up photographers in front of a global audience. We’ve had some incredible support from the photo industry and we’re so grateful for all the support and advice!"

"The competition has been growing year on year, and the standard seems to be going up and up! This year we had more than 9,000 entries, from 56 countries, and photographers were using everything from mobile phones to high-end DSLRs. But it’s not just about the numbers – we want to create a safe space where likeminded people can share ideas, inspiration, resources and knowledge. A community of encouragement, if you like!

There are a few things that strike me about our shortlisted entrants, finalists and winners. For one, there is a clarity of vision and a confidence to their pictures. They are not afraid to eliminate anything that doesn’t add to the story they’re trying to tell, and they are superb at communicating what attracted them to the scene or subject in the first place. There is no extraneous information. What’s more, many of the pictures trigger an emotional reaction from the viewer – they are more than mere record shots."

"The standard just keeps going up and up! We are really keen to show people how accessible close-up photography can be and so it’s lovely to see a number of pictures taken in people’s back gardens with minimal equipment as well as those created in exotic locations with more complex set-ups.

I love the image of the daddy long legs taken by Juan J. González Ahumada (winner of the Animals category). Most people will be familiar with the subject, and yet it’s been captured in such a clever and beautiful way that it feels like a celebration of this particular species and even this individual."

"The overall winner receives a cash prize of £2,500 (and a trophy) and each of the main category winners receives £300. The Young Close-up Photographer of the Year receives a SIGMA 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art lens (and a trophy).

To see the Top 100 pictures from CUPOTY 03 and take part in the CUPOTY Two of a Kind Challenge visit our website!"