This category celebrates macro images – those that highlight the astonishing details otherwise hidden to the naked human eye.
They can be shots of any kind of bug or related subject. And as an image can be entered into multiple Bug Awards categories, macro bug images can be entered into this category as well as their corresponding species category.
Please click on the 'Brief in detail tab' for a full technical definition of macro photography.
The 'Extreme close-up' category is sponsored by Litra – a global award-winning brand that designs and manufactures professional grade video and camera lights. They are offering prizes to the 'Extreme close-up[' winner, as well as the overall winner of the Luminar Bug Photography Awards and the winner of the 'Young Bug Photographer' category.
The classical definition of macro photography is an image where the subject appears as lifesize or larger on a full frame digital chip or 35mm photographic film (ie a minimum 1:1 ‘reproduction ratio’). With the smaller format digital chips in many cameras nowadays, the subject can actually be smaller than lifesize to qualify for this definition. For example with a micro four-thirds chip the subject must only be 50% life-size or larger.
Use this definition as a minimum criteria for entering this category, but there is no limit to how macro you can go. That said, this category is not just a competition to see who can shoot at the greatest reproduction ratio. The judges will still be looking for interesting subjects, good composition, and technical quality, amongst other things.
Overall winner:
Category winners:
Shortlisted photographers:
This contest is expert judged only with no rating by the crowd. You will be able to find out how you did when the judging or rating period has closed.