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The highly anticipated seventh edition of Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 (CUPOTY 2025), in association with Affinity Photo, is now officially open for entries. This renowned international competition invites photographers to unveil the hidden wonders of the world through their best close-up, macro, and micro photographs. With a substantial £2,500 cash prize for the overall winner, £250 for each category winners, and exciting gear prizes for the Young CUPOTY winner, this is an unmissable opportunity.
The closing date for entries is July 13th, 2025, but an early bird offer with savings of up to 10% on larger picture bundles is available until June 15th. The competition is structured across 10 diverse categories and a dedicated category for Young photographers under 18. For those seeking the best photo challenges to participate in that offer significant rewards and expert feedback, CUPOTY 2025 stands out.
The jury will select the best pictures to be showcased in the Top 100 gallery, which traditionally receives worldwide media attention, and the celebrated shortlist galleries will provide a comprehensive look at the current state of close-up photography. The combination of cash prizes, high-value gear, software licenses, and invaluable exposure makes this one of the most rewarding macro photography contests globally.
The Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 Prizes
The Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 (CUPOTY 7) offers an impressive array of prizes, combining substantial cash awards with high-value photographic equipment, software, and significant global exposure:
- Overall Winner (Close-up Photographer of the Year):
- £2,500 cash prize.
- CUPOTY Trophy.
- Universal License for all three Affinity apps (Photo, Designer + Publisher).
- A license for Topaz Labs Photo AI 4.
- Category Winners (10 categories):
- £250 cash prize for each category winner.
- Universal License for all three Affinity apps (Photo, Designer + Publisher).
- Young Close-up Photographer of the Year (under 18s):
- SIGMA 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro | Art lens.
- CUPOTY Trophy.
- A license for Topaz Labs Photo AI 4.
- All Entrants:
- A FREE copy of the CUPOTY 7 ebook.
- Early Entry Bonus (within the first 72 hours of launch – by 6 pm BST on Friday, May 23rd):
- Entry into a draw to win a 30-minute one-to-one critique or consultation with CUPOTY co-founder Tracy Calder.
- Top 100 and Shortlisted Photographers:
- Work showcased in the prestigious Top 100 online gallery.
- Inclusion in the celebrated shortlist galleries.
- Worldwide media attention.
Related Photo Contests
The Categories of the CUPOTY 2025
Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 offers a diverse range of 11 categories, inviting photographers to submit their best close-up, macro, and micro images across various subjects. This structure allows for specialized talents to shine and provides a comprehensive showcase of the art of close-up photography.
The categories are:
- Animals: Capturing intimate portraits or details of animals in a close-up perspective. This is a significant category among animal photography contests.
- Insects: Dedicated to the intricate world of insects, showcasing their beauty and complexity.
- Invertebrate Portrait: Highlighting the character and detail of various invertebrates beyond insects and arachnids.
- Arachnids: A category for images of spiders, scorpions, and other arachnids.
- Butterflies & Dragonflies: Focusing specifically on these often colorful and delicate winged insects.
- Underwater: Exploring the close-up wonders found beneath the water’s surface.
- Plants: Showcasing the beauty of botanical subjects, from flowers to leaves and other plant details.
- Fungi & Slime Moulds: A unique category dedicated to the fascinating and often overlooked world of fungi and slime moulds.
- Intimate Landscape: Focusing on small-scale views of the natural world, revealing patterns, textures, and details that might otherwise be missed.
- Studio Art: For creatively constructed close-up images, often involving studio setups and artistic concepts.
- Young Close-up Photographer of the Year: This category is open to photographers aged 17 or under, encouraging young talent in close-up photography.
Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
Plan your participation in CUPOTY 7 with these important dates:
- Early Bird Deadline: June 15th, 2025 (offers up to 10% savings on larger picture bundles).
- Closing Date for Entries: Sunday, July 13th, 2025.
- Final Date to Submit Pictures (after registration): July 20th, 2025.
Entry Fees:
- Earlybird entry bundles: £22 (6 images), £30 (15) £40 (30).
- Regular fees: £22 (6), £33 (15), £44 (30).
- Young CUPOTY fee: £5 for up to 15 images.
How to Enter:
To enter Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025, visit the official CUPOTY website. You will need to register for the competition. Once registered, you can prepare and submit your photographs into one or more of the 11 categories. Ensure your images meet any specified formatting and sizing guidelines provided on the entry platform.
About the Jury
The Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 (CUPOTY 2025) is judged by a large and highly respected international jury. This panel comprises expert photographers, influential editors, and knowledgeable naturalists, ensuring a diverse and skilled evaluation of submissions.
The jury members include:
- Karine Aigner
- Nigel Atherton
- Sue Bishop
- Tracy Calder (CUPOTY Co-founder)
- Renee Grinnell Capozzola
- Matt Doogue
- Guy Edwardes
- Wim van Egmond
- Marit van Ekelenburg
- Viktoria Haack
- Ross Hoddinott
- Greg Lecoeur
- Chien C. Lee
- David Maitland
- Sarah Marino
- Piotr Naskrecki
- Alex Noriega
- Bart Somers
- Georgina Steytler
- Rachael Talibart
- Keith Wilson
Why Enter Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 (CUPOTY 2025)?
Entering Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) 2025 offers a multitude of compelling reasons for photographers passionate about the miniature world. The substantial cash prizes, including £2,500 for the overall winner and £250 for each category winner, provide significant financial reward. Moreover, the array of high-value gear prizes adds considerable tangible value. This makes it one of the most attractive popular photo challenges online in terms of rewards.
Beyond the prizes, the exposure gained from CUPOTY is immense. Having your work showcased in the Top 100 gallery and potentially the shortlist galleries means your images will be seen by a vast international audience, and the free CUPOTY 7 ebook for all entrants is a generous offering. For anyone serious about close-up photography, CUPOTY offers a credible, rewarding, and highly visible platform to share their unique vision of the world’s hidden wonders.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Close-up Photographer of the Year 2025 (CUPOTY 2025) has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
The Close-up Photographer of the Year competition is open to photographers of all nationalities and skill levels, with a specific category for young photographers aged 17 or under. The core requirement is that submitted images must be close-up, macro, or micro photographs. Entrants are encouraged to reveal the hidden wonder of the world. While detailed image specifications are available on the official CUPOTY website, the competition generally focuses on authenticity and high-quality execution within the close-up genre. Participants should ensure they submit their entries by the closing date of Sunday, July 13th, 2025, at 23:59 BST, with the final picture submission deadline being July 20th after registration.
Copyright and Image Usage
While the provided newsletter snippet does not go into exhaustive detail on copyright and usage rights, it is standard and best practice for prestigious photography competitions like CUPOTY that photographers retain full copyright of their submitted images. By entering, participants typically grant the competition organizers (Close-up Photographer of the Year) a license to use the submitted images for purposes directly related to the competition and its promotion. This would include showcasing winning and shortlisted images in the online galleries, in the CUPOTY ebook, in press releases announcing the results, and in promotional materials for current and future editions of the competition. It is always advisable for entrants to carefully review the full terms and conditions on the official CUPOTY website to have a complete understanding of how their images may be used by the organizers and their media partners.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
