Published Nov 14, 2026 8:06 AM EST A split-second, a zoomed in frame, an element you’ve never noticed: close-up photography puts the tiniest details into focus. The Close-up Photographer of the Year 8 (CUPOTY 8) awards honor the greatest achievements in close-up, macro, and micro photography. A record-setting 15,388 images were entered into this year’s competition before being whittled down to a shortlist of 59 images across 11 categories.