Hungarian photographer Csaba Daróczi has been awarded the title Close-up Photographer of the Year 5, supported by Affinity Photo 2, with his striking picture of a Eurasian nuthatch in flight taken from inside a hollowed-out tree stump.
Csaba explains: ‘In the winter of 2023, I took a lot of photos in a forest close to my home in Hungary. I found something new to photograph almost every week, and I spent several days exploring ideas and perfecting techniques. Staying curious and open-minded led me to this hollowed out tree stump, which measured around half a metre in diameter. I carefully positioned my GoPro 11 camera inside the trunk and took a few shots. I was amazed by the results. After a few days, however, I decided the composition might be improved if I included an animal in the frame. So, I returned to the spot and placed a sunflower near the hole, which the mice and birds soon found.’
Csaba will be awarded a £2,500 (approx. US$3,100) cash prize, a Universal License for Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher apps, NiSi macro focusing rail NM-200S, NiSi macro 77mm close up lens and the Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) trophy. He also sees his work displayed to a global audience in the Top 100 online gallery at www.cupoty.com.
The fifth CUPOTY attracted almost 12,000 entries from 67 countries. A jury of 23 brilliant photographers, scientists, naturalists, journalists and picture editors spent over 20 hours collectively on Zoom calls to find the winners and Top 100 pictures.
Main Image :© Csaba Daróczi | cupoty.com. All copyright remains with the photographers.