Photography

Tiny worlds: The winners of the 2020 Macro Art Photography Awards

Tiny worlds: The winners of the 2020 Macro Art Photography Awards
Macro Art Photography Awards. Commended. Posing. Rainforest, Costa Rica. A tiny glass frog on a flower in the rainforest
Macro Art Photography Awards. Commended. Posing. Rainforest, Costa Rica. A tiny glass frog on a flower in the rainforest
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2nd Place. Mountains of Tulip Petals. St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
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2nd Place. Mountains of Tulip Petals. St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Macro Art Photography Awards. Commended. Posing. Rainforest, Costa Rica. A tiny glass frog on a flower in the rainforest
2/20
Macro Art Photography Awards. Commended. Posing. Rainforest, Costa Rica. A tiny glass frog on a flower in the rainforest
1st Place. Botanic Loop. São Paulo, Brazil. The spiral-shaped filiform structure of the Passiflora (passion fruit) tendrils are an important specialised botanic feature. They are used by climbers like claws to affix themselves for support and provide a stable place to grow and flower.
3/20
1st Place. Botanic Loop. São Paulo, Brazil. The spiral-shaped filiform structure of the Passiflora (passion fruit) tendrils are an important specialised botanic feature. They are used by climbers like claws to affix themselves for support and provide a stable place to grow and flower.
Finalist. Vortex Blossom. São Paulo, Brazil. A macro photograph of an Abutilon flower.
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Finalist. Vortex Blossom. São Paulo, Brazil. A macro photograph of an Abutilon flower.
Highly Commended. On the Look Out. Torreira, Aveiro, Portugal. A brown praying mantis
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Highly Commended. On the Look Out. Torreira, Aveiro, Portugal. A brown praying mantis
Commended. Leaf Structure. RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, London, England, United Kingdom
6/20
Commended. Leaf Structure. RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, London, England, United Kingdom
Finalist. Rainbow Lily. Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Spectral light from a prism was used to bathe this Lilium (lily) flower in the full colours of the rainbow.
7/20
Finalist. Rainbow Lily. Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Spectral light from a prism was used to bathe this Lilium (lily) flower in the full colours of the rainbow.
Commended. You Can Leave Your Hat On. Hoogerheide, North Brabant, The Netherlands
8/20
Commended. You Can Leave Your Hat On. Hoogerheide, North Brabant, The Netherlands
Finalist. Flying Wishes. Manchester, England, United Kingdom. A dandelion seed head in natural sunlight.
9/20
Finalist. Flying Wishes. Manchester, England, United Kingdom. A dandelion seed head in natural sunlight.
Commended. Camassia after the Rain. Studio, Republic of Ireland
10/20
Commended. Camassia after the Rain. Studio, Republic of Ireland
Highly Commended. Peep through the Window. Dabie Mountains, Hubei Province, China. A South China tree toad (Annam tree frog) at rest on the foliage of plants in the forest
11/20
Highly Commended. Peep through the Window. Dabie Mountains, Hubei Province, China. A South China tree toad (Annam tree frog) at rest on the foliage of plants in the forest
Commended. Butterfly Wing V. Goričan, Croatia. A sleeping butterfly in the early morning
12/20
Commended. Butterfly Wing V. Goričan, Croatia. A sleeping butterfly in the early morning
Finalist. The Presence. Carmel, Western Australia, Australia. The bark of a Eucalyptus tree trunk.
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Finalist. The Presence. Carmel, Western Australia, Australia. The bark of a Eucalyptus tree trunk.
Commended. Enigma Rubra. Bridgetown, Western Australia, Australia. A knot in the bark of a Eucalyptus tree
14/20
Commended. Enigma Rubra. Bridgetown, Western Australia, Australia. A knot in the bark of a Eucalyptus tree
Commended. Silver-Studded Blues on Heather. London, England, United Kingdom. Female and male Plebejus argus (silver-studded blue) butterflies at rest on heather flowers
15/20
Commended. Silver-Studded Blues on Heather. London, England, United Kingdom. Female and male Plebejus argus (silver-studded blue) butterflies at rest on heather flowers
Commended. Wild Carrot Flowers in the Late Afternoon. Private Garden, Salzburg, Austria
16/20
Commended. Wild Carrot Flowers in the Late Afternoon. Private Garden, Salzburg, Austria
Commended. The Hunter. Veenwouden, Friesland, The Netherlands. A spider on its web, waiting; as the patient hunter for any vibration - to inform it that its prey had arrived.
17/20
Commended. The Hunter. Veenwouden, Friesland, The Netherlands. A spider on its web, waiting; as the patient hunter for any vibration - to inform it that its prey had arrived.
Highly Commended. Common Blues on Apple Mint. Hoe Grange Quarry Butterfly Nature Reserve, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom. Two Polyommatus icarus (common blue) butterflies at rest on this Mentha (apple mint) flower head in Derbyshire’s first dedicated butterfly nature reserve.
18/20
Highly Commended. Common Blues on Apple Mint. Hoe Grange Quarry Butterfly Nature Reserve, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom. Two Polyommatus icarus (common blue) butterflies at rest on this Mentha (apple mint) flower head in Derbyshire’s first dedicated butterfly nature reserve.
Commended. Jewels. King Rama IX Park, Bangkok, Thailand. A jewel bug (metallic shield bug) exploring an open seed pod
19/20
Commended. Jewels. King Rama IX Park, Bangkok, Thailand. A jewel bug (metallic shield bug) exploring an open seed pod
3rd Place. Shepherd's Purse Seed. Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. Classified as a common annual weed, Capsella bursa-pastoris seed pods, known commonly as shepherd’s purse. Being part of the Brassica family its seeds are edible and are consumed across Asia
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3rd Place. Shepherd's Purse Seed. Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. Classified as a common annual weed, Capsella bursa-pastoris seed pods, known commonly as shepherd’s purse. Being part of the Brassica family its seeds are edible and are consumed across Asia
View gallery - 20 images

The mind-bending winners of the 2020 Macro Art Photo Awards offer a surreal assortment of images. From a close-up of tree bark made to resemble landscape drone photography, to some glimpses of mischievous tree frogs, this macro photography contest is an annual highlight for fans of tiny things made large.

The Macro Art Photo Awards are part of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition, an annual global search for the best in garden, plant, flower and botanical photography. The primary competition is still open for entries but there are several annual smaller sub-contests including Black And White, Still Life, and Macro awards.

1st Place. Botanic Loop. São Paulo, Brazil. The spiral-shaped filiform structure of the Passiflora (passion fruit) tendrils are an important specialised botanic feature. They are used by climbers like claws to affix themselves for support and provide a stable place to grow and flower.
1st Place. Botanic Loop. São Paulo, Brazil. The spiral-shaped filiform structure of the Passiflora (passion fruit) tendrils are an important specialised botanic feature. They are used by climbers like claws to affix themselves for support and provide a stable place to grow and flower.

“Macro photography demands not just spot on technique but a highly creative outlook that broadens the way you approach subjects,” the contest guidelines suggest. “It’s also an opportunity to get artistic, bold, bright and really carve out your own style.”

This year’s top prize went to Brazilian photographer Bruno Militelli. Titled Botanic Loop, Militelli’s winning shot focused on the incredible spiral-shaped filiform structure of the passion fruit plant. The beautiful image captures an almost artificial precision in this impressive natural feature.

Commended. Enigma Rubra. Bridgetown, Western Australia, Australia. A knot in the bark of a Eucalyptus tree
Commended. Enigma Rubra. Bridgetown, Western Australia, Australia. A knot in the bark of a Eucalyptus tree

Other highlights from the commended and finalist list include a pair of surreal photographs from Australian photographer Peter Pullan. On first inspection, both of Pullan’s shots resemble abstract aerial landscape images. However it turns out these images are actually macro views of Eucalyptus tree bark.

Minghui Yuan’s perspective on a tiny tree frog presents an impeccably timed snap of this amphibian through a hole in a leaf.

“I found this South China tree toad at rest on the foliage of plants in the forest,” says Yuan. “I watched from underneath through the holes in the leaves, and I focused on the head of the amphibian, which was gazing into the surrounding environment. It's like nature provided a window for me in this exact moment, so I could see into the frog’s world.”

Highly Commended. Peep through the Window. Dabie Mountains, Hubei Province, China. A South China tree toad (Annam tree frog) at rest on the foliage of plants in the forest
Highly Commended. Peep through the Window. Dabie Mountains, Hubei Province, China. A South China tree toad (Annam tree frog) at rest on the foliage of plants in the forest

Take a look through our gallery at more highlights from this year’s strong competition. Plus catch up on the 2019 winners here, and the 2018 winners here.

Source: IGPOTY

View gallery - 20 images
1 comment
1 comment
ljaques
The glass frog and brown mantis took my top honors, with The Presence euc bark taking third.