Dutch photographer Alex Pansier won a category in the 2021 Close-up Photographer of the Year Challenge: Two of a Kind with his heartwarming photo True Love showing two European ground squirrels sharing a faded poppy in a grassy field in Vienna. The animals are classified as vulnerable, primarily because of habitat loss.
“I really enjoyed watching them work together, like father and son,” Alex explained. “For me, observing and photographing nature is a wonderful way to relax and share the beauty that is all around us. I prefer compositions that are simple and understated, and I usually photograph on dark, gloomy days, although this image has a lighter feel.”
The CUPOTY Challenge was held throughout November, separately from CUPOTY’s annual competition, and featured a different theme each year. This edition was designed to highlight close-up, macro, and micro images of two similar subjects, ranging from a pair of animals to a duo of cells or flowers.
CUPOTY co-founder Tracy Calder said: “These beautiful photographs demonstrate the power of two, whether that means two ground squirrels working together or two deer fighting over mates in a wooded area. Once again, entrants have shown that close-up photography can help us see the world in a new way and discover beauty in subjects that are often overlooked.”
The winning photographs could be viewed in the winners’ gallery at cupoty.com.
