An image of two majestic stag beetles locked in a fierce battle atop an oak tree has won the sixth Close-up Photographer of the Year. The photographer behind it is Svetlana Ivanenko from Russia, who shot the jaw-dropping photo as a testament to patience, passion, and the sheer power of nature.
Overall winner
Svetlana Ivanenko has claimed the title Close-up Photographer of the Year 6, presented in association with Affinity Photo. The photo, aptly named Clash of the Titans, captures the raw power and natural instinct of these creatures as they fight for dominance. And other than the main title, it also brought her first place in the Insects category.
Svetlana shared her journey to capture the image:
“For a brief period in summer, stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) engage in fierce battles for mating rights. These elusive creatures inhabit oak forests, making them difficult to find. I travelled 700km to witness this beautiful event and I want to share it with everyone.”
Her dedication paid off. Svetlana will be awarded £2,500 (roughly $3,000), a Universal License for Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher apps, and the coveted Close-up Photographer of the Year trophy. Her work will also gain worldwide exposure through the Top 100 online gallery and eBook of this year’s competition on the CUPOTY website.
Categories
This year’s competition attracted over 11,000 entries from 61 countries. An expert panel of 25 judges, including photographers, scientists, and journalists, spent countless hours deliberating to decide on the winners.
The category winners for CUPOTY 6 are:
- Insects and overall winner: Svetlana Ivanenko, Russia
- Animals: Santiago J. Monroy García, Colombia
- Butterflies & Dragonflies: Yong Miao, China
- Arachnids: Pierluigi Rizzo, Italy
- Invertebrate Portrait: Aran Gibbs, Ireland
- Underwater: Gabriel Jensen, USA
- Plants: Piet Haaksma, Netherlands
- Fungi & Slime Moulds: Barry Webb, UK
- Intimate Landscape: Jean-Philippe Delobelle, France
- Studio Art: Rob Blanken, Netherlands
- Young (Under 18s): Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco, Spain, aged 14
Tracy Calder, co-founder of CUPOTY, shared her admiration for the competition’s participants:
“Every year I’m fortunate enough to spend time with scientists, editors, naturalists, journalists and photographers while judging CUPOTY, and every year I’m blown away by the calibre of entries. Close-up photography is a celebration of curiosity, and this year’s Top 100 is a true testament to the artistry of everyone involved as well as an invitation to look, marvel at and honour the world around us.”
About CUPOTY
Close-up Photographer of the Year, also known as CUPOTY, was founded in 2018 by Tracy and Dan Calder to reveal the intricate beauty of the world through macro, micro, and close-up photography. While the competition is based in the UK, its reach is global, welcoming photographers of all skill levels.
In addition to the main contest, CUPOTY hosts a themed CUPOTY Challenge every November, encouraging even more photographers to explore this genre. The founders also provide inspiration through their popular newsletter, where Tracy shares insights into photography and creativity.
We bring you the winners below, plus second and third place in each category. Take a moment to explore more, as the Top 100 gallery is available on CUPOTY’s website.
More from Close-up Photographer of the Year
Insects
Animals
Butterflies & Dragonflies
Arachnids
Invertebrate Portrait
Underwater
Plants
Fungi & Slime Moulds
Intimate Landscape
Studio Art
Young (Under 18s)
