Macro

Like many close-up photographers, butterflies are among my favourite close-up subjects. They are tricky insects to get close to and best shot in the morning or evening when they are less active. Photographing one is hard enough, but capturing two in the same frame – and then keeping them both within the zone of focus – is no mean feat. It is unusual to discover two butterflies roosting on the same flower, but together they create a very pleasing symmetry. The use of a tele-macro lens has helped isolate the insects from their surroundings and created a visually stunning nature close-up. A worthy winner. Congrats!

I love backlighting – it beautifully highlights shape and form. This image almost works very well. The photographer has identified a good subject and the low viewpoint is natural and intimate – well worth getting down and dirty! The low evening light is soft and warm, but unfortunately the frame is a little messy. The twig overhanging the sun is a big distraction and the shot overall would benefit from a tighter crop. Doing so would simplify the composition and make it stronger overall. This is a shot with potential, but doesn’t quite make my shortlist on this occasion.

Although the competition was unsurprisingly inundated with close-ups of insects, I wanted to select a Top Ten boosting a nice mix of subjects – after all, close-up photographers have a wide and varied choice of subjects available to them. I thought this shot of blossom really stood-out. The shallow zone of focus helps the flowers pop from their surroundings. The bokeh and strong pinkish hue suit the image, helping create a fine-art result. I love the mood and softness of this image. In fact, I think the photo has a rather oriental feel to it – what do you think?

Close-up photographers have the ability to reveal exquisite miniature detail that would otherwise go unnoticed. It would be easy to overlook this frozen spider’s web, but up close it creates a graphic natural abstract. The blue tone of the image adds to the feeling of coolness, while the black backdrop helps the web standout. A very striking and interesting image that appeals to me. Also, a nice contrast to all the images taken in the summer months of spiders and insects.