Clash of the Titans by Svetlana Ivanenko (Russia).
PhotographerSvetlana Ivanenkowas named the overall winner for her fascinating photo of two stag beetles battling for dominance.
Seemingly emerging from the shadows, their horns lock as they clash.
“Clash of the Titans” by Svetlana Ivanenko (Russia). Overall Winner and 1st Place, InsectsTwo stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) battle for dominance in the Voronezh region of Russia.
These elusive creatures inhabit oak forests, making them difficult to find.
I traveled 700km to witness this beautiful event and I want to share it with everyone.
Here are the winners of the sixth annual Close Up Photographer of the Year contest.
“Spring” by Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco (Spain), 14 years old. Winner, Young Close-up Photographer of the YearA European Bee-eater in mid-flight with an insect in its beak. Southern Spain at the end of spring 2023.
Spring by Andres Luis Dominguez Blanco (Spain), 14 years old.
Winner, Young Close-up Photographer of the YearA European Bee-eater in mid-flight with an insect in its beak.
Southern Spain at the end of spring 2023.
“Queen of Hearts” by Pierluigi Rizzo (Italy). 1st Place, ArachnidsA female Mediterranean black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) feeds on its prey in Pollino National Park, Calabria, Italy.
Queen of Hearts by Pierluigi Rizzo (Italy).
New Forest, UK.
Damselfly by the Waterfall by Yong Miao (China).
“Ear-Pick Fungus” by Barry Webb (UK), 1st Place, Fungi & Slime MouldsA 15mm tall ear-pick fungus growing on a pine cone. New Forest, UK.
1st, AnimalsAn Andean Bear stands amidst the dense foliage of a highland rainforest.
Ecopalacio Nature Reserve, La Calera, Colombia, about 30km from Bogota, Colombia.
The photo contest attracted over 11,000 photos from 61 countries.
“Damselfly by the Waterfall” by Yong Miao (China). 1st Place, Butterflies & DragonfliesA damselfly (Archineura incarnata) rests on a rock amidst a flowing waterfall in Tianmushan Nature Reserve, Zhejiang Province, China
Everything’s A-OK by Gabriel Jensen (USA).
1st Place, UnderwaterA doctorfish struggles in the jaws of a lizardfish.
Mosses by Piet Haaksma (Netherlands).
“God in the Shadows” by Santiago J. Monroy García (Colombia). 1st, AnimalsAn Andean Bear stands amidst the dense foliage of a highland rainforest. Ecopalacio Nature Reserve, La Calera, Colombia, about 30km from Bogotá, Colombia.
1st Place, PlantsGarden moss covered in dew drops.
Sneek, Netherlands
Search for the Dragon by Jenny Stock (UK).
Artificial Landscape by Rob Blanken (Netherlands).
“Everything’s A-OK” by Gabriel Jensen (USA). 1st Place, UnderwaterA doctorfish struggles in the jaws of a lizardfish. Kona, Hawaii.
1st Place, Studio ArtCrystals of amino acids (beta-alanine and L-glutamine) under a microscope.
Veenwouden, the Netherlands.
Bark is Worse than its Bite by Aran Gibbs (Ireland).
“Mosses” by Piet Haaksma (Netherlands). 1st Place, PlantsGarden moss covered in dew drops. Sneek, Netherlands
1st Place, Invertebrate PortraitA Caerostris spider rests on a stick in the Malaysian jungle.
Semenyih, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Moonlight by Imre Potyo (Hungary).
“Search for the Dragon” by Jenny Stock (UK). 2nd Place, UnderwaterA leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) swims with a school of rough bullseye fish (Pempheris klunzingeri) in Rapid Bay, South Australia.
2nd Place, AnimalsLesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) return to an abandoned iron ore mine.
Borzsony Hill, Hungary.
Stauropus Fagi by Jose Manuel Lois Rial (Spain).
“Artificial Landscape” by Rob Blanken (Netherlands). 1st Place, Studio ArtCrystals of amino acids (beta-alanine and L-glutamine) under a microscope. Veenwouden, the Netherlands.
The photographers submitted their best work into 11 different categories.
Mayfly Arena by Imre Potyo (Hungary).
2nd Place, InsectsDanube mayflies (Ephoron virgo) swarm above the Danube in Hungary.
“Bark is Worse than its Bite” by Aran Gibbs (Ireland). 1st Place, Invertebrate PortraitA Caerostris spider rests on a stick in the Malaysian jungle. Semenyih, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Afternoon Snack by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas (Germany), 17 years old.
2nd Place, YoungA robber fly (Asilidae sp.)
feeds on a flesh fly (Sarcophagidae sp.).
“Moonlight” by Imre Potyó (Hungary). 2nd Place, AnimalsLesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) return to an abandoned iron ore mine. Börzsöny Hill, Hungary.
Storm of Spores by Jose Luis Gigirey Gonzalez (Spain).
2nd Place, Fungi & Slime MouldsPuffball mushrooms release spores in a chestnut forest in Covas, Spain.
Flowing Kelp by Sigfrido Zimmermann (USA).
“Stauropus Fagi” by José Manuel Lois Rial (Spain). 2nd Place, Invertebrate PortraitA Lobster moth caterpillar (Stauropus fagi) on a tree branch in my garden in Spain.
Fall Matrix by Andrew Mielzynski (Canada).
2nd Place, Intimate LandscapeDead Jack Pine branches cross-cross vibrant huckleberry plants.
Jackpine-Crowberry Barrens, Nova Scotia, Canada.
“Mayfly Arena” by Imre Potyó (Hungary). 2nd Place, InsectsDanube mayflies (Ephoron virgo) swarm above the Danube in Hungary.
Sphere by Ferenc Kocsis (Hungary).
2nd Place, Butterflies & DragonfliesA winter moth flies in a Hungarian forest at twilight.
Fire Stream Scorpio by Avilash Ghosh (India).
“Afternoon Snack” by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas (Germany), 17 years old. 2nd Place, YoungA robber fly (Asilidae sp.) feeds on a flesh fly (Sarcophagidae sp.). Brandenburg, Germany.
Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India.
A online grid of Life and Death by Jean-Philippe Delobelle (France).
Le Monal in the French Alps.
“Storm of Spores” by José Luis Gigirey González (Spain). 2nd Place, Fungi & Slime MouldsPuffball mushrooms release spores in a chestnut forest in Covas, Spain.
Drift 5 by Matt Vacca (USA).
2nd Place, Studio ArtOil drops on water.
Los Angeles, USA.
“Flowing Kelp” by Sigfrido Zimmermann (USA). 3rd Place, PlantsA giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) frond in the water of Channel Islands National Park, California.
Related Articles:
“Fall Matrix” by Andrew Mielzynski (Canada). 2nd Place, Intimate LandscapeDead Jack Pine branches cross-cross vibrant huckleberry plants. Jackpine-Crowberry Barrens, Nova Scotia, Canada.
“Sphere” by Ferenc Kocsis (Hungary). 2nd Place, Butterflies & DragonfliesA winter moth flies in a Hungarian forest at twilight.
“Fire Stream Scorpio” by Avilash Ghosh (India). 2nd Place, ArachnidsA scorpion glows under UV light on the sand of the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India. Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India.
“A Network of Life and Death” by Jean-Philippe Delobelle (France). 1st Place, Intimate LandscapeThe etched tunnels of bark beetle larvae (Ips typographus) beneath the bark of a spruce tree. Le Monal in the French Alps.
“Drift 5” by Matt Vacca (USA). 2nd Place, Studio ArtOil drops on water. Los Angeles, USA.
