Human-Made Objects in Macro

I assume this is part of a doorstop or something similar. It is a ;lovely portrayal of a conical helix. The sharp focus in the front and the bokeh in the back make the image come to life, and the alternation created by the perfect camera angle produces the right amount of rhythm and flow. Congratulations.

That looks like a very well used softball, which is what gives this image its charm. It's a very satisfying capture of what might be termed a grunge texture. The colour seems to be a bit enhanced, which is completely appropriate here. The grass and background produce a colour contrast and add intertest to the image. Congratulations.

There were many different subjects entered in this contest but I believe this was the only one combining macro and high-speed motion photography. It is a totally amazing capture. The explosion of the match head itself is like a miniature firestorm and the flame portrays not nearly heat but also rapid motion, especially due to the particles entrapped in it. The cropping, if any was done, also is perfect. Congratulations on second place!

Beautiful and intricate lensing image of a checkerboard pattern. A perfect subject for a black and white macro photo. I like the fact that the background here is not totally blurred so that it stands out against the sharper lensing images. And, of course, the intricacy of the line network and size variation in the droplets makes it particularly enjoyable. Congratulations.

There were not many food entries in this contest, despite man -made food being on brief. I particularly like this one as it made my mouth water just looking at it. It is an amazing macro food shot and the exposure of the gooey caramel by breaking two of the chocolates is the perfect touch. Could be an advertising layout photo and would work very well at selling the product. Congratulations.

It is a great pleasure to award this first place! While there were several barbed wire photos entered, this one really stood out. The water drop lensing of the background is perfect and made even better by having two droplets. Along with the corrosion on the wire, the perfect placement of the knot, and the complete field depth in the foreground contrasting with a soft background blur, this makes a most pleasing image. Congratulations!

This close up of a green tennis ball is a juxtaposition of highly contrasting textures on the one hand and subtly contrasting colours on the other, which makes it an excellent subject. I really enjoy the way the stripe looks like a curving pathway through an alien grassland. Another instance of a macro shot of an everyday object which can spark the imagination. Congratulations.

This image was tops in the "what is it?" category.. I really had no idea without reading the title. It is a terrific example of how macro photography can take an ordinary object and make it look totally alien and bizarre. On top of which, the texture difference between the outside and the filling of the pencil jump out as does the colour contrast. It would be fascinating to know what some of the smaller particles on the inside are and where they came from.. Congratulations on third place!

I love this image for the beautiful background colours and the way they coordinate with the silver tone of the subject. The water droplets and water reflection are also beautiful. as is the elongated composition. It would be nice to learn a bit more about how this was produced. Congratulations.

At first I thought this was a single object - perhaps a drill bit. I really appreciate the contrast between the unity of the arrangement on the one hand and the slightly different colours of light refraction on the other. The elongated format also makes for a different and unusual image. with a pleasing sense of rhythm. Congratulations.