The third year of the Close-up Photographer of the Year contest has just concluded, and the winners have been announced. The contest “celebrates close-up, macro and micro photography” among seven distinct categories. This year, over 9,000 entries were received from 56 countries. The winning images are distinguished by a profusion of color, detail, nuance, and unexpected shapes, and reveal the lesser-known aspects of the flora and fauna around us.

© Johan De Ridder

© Norbert Kaszás

© Bruno Militelli

© Pål Hermansen

© Svetlana Ivavnenko

© Bernhard Schubert

© Håkan Kvarnstrom

© Andy Sands

© Laurent Hesemans