This shot has bags of character, and that's what immediately leaps out of the frame. The expression on the tree frog's face as it dangles from the twig is impossible not to anthropomorphise. The technical skill demonstrated is excellent, too, with spot-on framing, as well as aperture choice. Timed to perfection, it was a clear winner among all the judges.
88,665 Ratings
We aren't quite sure whether this is a composite or a creative use of light, background and colour - but none of that matters, because what we have is a truly lovely image. It's elevated out of the ordinary into some kind of fantastical realm, and would look gorgeous as a book cover. A love shot that stands up to repeated viewings.
It's been said many times, but it bears repeating - sometimes the simplest approach is best, and this delightful image is a case in point. The delicacy of the cyclamen petals is matched by the softness of the tones, and keeping the majority of the background pink works beautifully, too. The water droplets are a pretty finishing touch, adding depth and texture.
Placing these petals and seed heads on a lightbox has enhanced their texture and translucence effectively and creatively. Converting the image to mono means we are drawn to their shapes rather than being distracted by colour, and the texture added in Photoshop elevates the whole image above the ordinary.
Brief
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Macro photography is one of the most popular genres of photography – and with good reason. Getting close-up allows us to explore elements of a scene that might otherwise be missed by the naked eye. There’s a whole world of different subjects that you could tackle for this challenge. Plants and natural subjects are the obvious first choice for many, providing a beautiful canvas of colour, shape and texture that function together to form a cohesive whole. But don’t forget to look elsewhere too – we want to see your imagination go wild. Jewellery, insects, shells, feathers, food – in fact anything you care to scrutinise at close quarters are all fair game.
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