Sometimes, a moment is so fleeting or a scene is so small that not even the fiercest squint can capture it.
Thankfully, that’s where cameras—and the photographers that wield them—come in. Today, the winners and finalists of the fifth Close-up Photographer of the Year competition are revealed. Showcasing nature at its smaller scales, the awarded images—selected from nearly 12,000 entries—offer an intimate look at the animal kingdom, fungi, and the remarkable planet that we call home.
Here are the winning images from each of the 11 competition categories.
