This photograph captures a delicate moment, with an ant and a dandelion seed creating a beautiful, ethereal composition. The soft lighting complements the fragile nature of the subjects, and the bokeh effect adds to the sense of depth. To enhance this image, improving the focus on the ant's body could bring more definition to its delicate features. The subject is engaging, and with a bit more detail on the ant, this could become an even more impactful shot.
This image features the mantis in a striking pose, showcasing its unique characteristics with precision. The fine details of its body and its texture are beautifully captured, and the lighting is excellent for revealing these intricate aspects. The strong contrast between the subject and the dark background makes the mantis stand out dramatically. A suggestion would be to experiment with slightly different angles or focal points, as this could help emphasize the overall shape of the mantis even more effectively. Nonetheless, it is a fantastic shot of a fascinating subject.
In this shot, the cicada's wings are well captured, showcasing the intricate patterns and delicate textures. The lighting is balanced, and the shallow depth of field effectively focuses on the subject while softening the background. To enhance this shot, consider experimenting with different angles or increasing the contrast between the subject and the background to make the cicada stand out more.
This image is full of life, with the frog’s vibrant colours contrasting beautifully against the soft pink of the flower. The angle of the shot is lovely, capturing the frog’s delicate pose and attention to detail. The lighting complements the subject well, avoiding harsh shadows. For further improvement, experimenting with a higher aperture could bring both the frog and the flower into sharper focus. Overall, it’s a charming shot with great potential.
The sharpness and details of the horn beetle’s head and body are impressive, especially in macro photography, where these tiny details can easily be overlooked. The use of light effectively highlights the subject. However, the composition could benefit from a more dynamic angle to provide a better view of the beetle's form.
This image excellently showcases the iridescent qualities of the tiger beetle’s body. The fine details and textures are beautifully captured, and the soft background blur helps maintain the viewer’s focus on the subject. The angle of the shot effectively highlights the insect's form, but incorporating more dynamic lighting could add depth to the shiny surfaces. While the shallow depth of field works well, having a bit more of the insect in focus would enhance the overall impact. Overall, it’s a captivating shot with room for more depth.
As the focal point, the ladybug does an excellent job of showcasing its bright colour and small size against the leaf. The bokeh effect is beautiful, and the composition is well-balanced. The soft, pleasing lighting makes the ladybug appear delicate and vibrant. For improvement, experimenting with a different angle could better display the ladybug's shape or a slight change in focus could capture more details on its back. A slightly more open aperture might bring the leaf into sharper focus, enhancing the overall composition.
This macro shot of the fly is a great example of using bright, vibrant colours to highlight the subject. The yellow and black stripes on the fly are clear and well-defined, and the background blur creates a pleasing contrast. The use of a shallow depth of field is effective here, keeping the focus on the fly and isolating it from the background. To improve this image, it might be worth experimenting with different lighting angles to bring out even more texture in the fly’s wings and body. Overall, it’s a sharp, well-composed image with a dynamic feel.
The shot of the Bargibanti pygmy seahorse in the coral is an excellent example of wildlife camouflaging within its environment. The soft pink and white corals create a unique backdrop, while the seahorse's texture and subtle colours blend nicely. The image effectively captures the seahorse's tiny size and intricate details, but increasing the contrast slightly might help the subject stand out more. The angle and composition are strong, but a bit more sharpness on the seahorse would have made the image even more captivating. Overall, it's a beautiful underwater macro shot.
This image beautifully highlights the intricate textures of the stag beetle's exoskeleton. The sharp focus on the head and upper body emphasizes the details essential in macro photography. The depth of field is commendable; it allows the background to blur smoothly without distracting from the main subject. A slightly angled shot could have revealed more of the insect's body to enhance the composition, creating a stronger sense of depth. The photograph demonstrates fantastic attention to detail and showcases a captivating subject.
This macro shot of a tick on fur provides a captivating look at the fine details of both the insect and the hairs it is attached to. The soft, blurred background effectively emphasizes the tick, allowing the viewer to focus on its surface textures. The contrast between the tick's smooth body and the delicate, wispy hairs creates an interesting juxtaposition. One suggestion is to ensure that the focus remains sharp on the features of the tick, as the slight softness along its edges may diminish its impact. Additionally, a slightly tighter crop could enhance the tick's prominence in the composition. Overall, it is a well-executed image with a unique subject!
The positioning of the spider on the leaf and the vivid background create a strong contrast that draws the viewer in. One suggestion would be to lighten the shadows around the spider’s legs, as this could reveal more fine details. A slightly different angle might also emphasize the spider’s unique features even further. Overall, it’s a great shot that captures the intricacy of the subject well.
This image beautifully captures the vibrant red of the ladybug, and the sharpness of the focus is impressive. The soft lighting highlights the ladybug's body, creating a pleasing contrast with the green background. A slightly narrower aperture could have captured more details of the leaf in focus, but the smooth background serves the composition well. Seeing the ladybug's full face would be fantastic, which could add even more impact to the shot.
This image beautifully captures the stunning texture and vibrant colour of the green tree python, with its scales highlighted by the lighting. The way the light accentuates the snake's curves and details is exceptional. The shallow depth of field draws attention to the head, adding an element of intrigue. To enhance this further, experimenting with a slightly wider aperture could bring more of the snake’s body into focus, providing a more complete view of the subject. The contrast between the dark background and the vivid green is effective, contributing to the overall mood of the shot.
4,152 Images entered
Meet the expert judge
This image beautifully captures the delicate wings of the glasswing butterfly, with their translucence standing out against the darker background. The backlighting effectively highlights the intricate patterns on the wings. The blurred background emphasizes the butterfly, keeping it as the main focus of the shot. One suggestion is to shift the focus to make the entire set of wings sharper or to experiment with different angles to enhance the depth of the butterfly's wings even further. Overall, it is a gentle and atmospheric photograph that conveys elegance.
1,381 Photographers
Brief
See more contest details
Photographing wildlife up close brings a special joy to both the photographer and the viewer, revealing details that might elude the naked eye. It also brings into play more technical aspects such as macro lenses and extension tubes, and nowadays maybe even software solutions such as focus stacking. Wildlife is a broad term, but for the purposes of this contest we will restrict ourselves to animals, and not include plants.
This beautifully captured shot focuses on the snake's head, highlighting the intricate details of its skin and the sharpness of its eye. The texture of the scales is particularly well presented, and the use of natural light enhances these details without making the image appear too harsh. The soft background complements the subject, but a bit more contrast could make the textures stand out even more.
This image beautifully captures the detailed structure of the praying mantis. The sharp focus is excellent, revealing the intricate patterns on its body and head. The background blur effectively keeps the mantis as the primary subject. A slight adjustment in the angle of the shot could highlight the mantis’s form even more, and experimenting with lighting might enhance the texture and depth. Nonetheless, this is a striking and visually engaging shot.
