Winners Of The Close-Up Photographer Of The Year Awards Give Their Unique Perspective On the World

For the second year, the Close-up Photographer of the Year competition has spotlighted the small world that often passes under our noses, unobserved. Through micro, macro, and close-up photography, these photographers settle into the details and expose new aspects of our planet. This year's contest has had more entries than ever, with over 6,500 images submitted from photographers in 52 different countries.

"Bufo Bufo" by Mathieu Foulquié (France). Third Place, Animals. "This common toad (Bufo bufo) took a liking to me, probably because I looked like a frogman myself. He didn't stop following me during my two-hour dive in the Buèges karst spring (Hérault, Occitanie, France), so he became the perfect model."