Close-up Photographer of the Year has named Linda Repasky from the US the winner of the CUPOTY Challenge theme competition: Something Beautiful. Her photograph, Puddle Reflection, was taken with an iPhone 16 Pro Max and reveals beauty in an ordinary puddle.
"In late fall, after the leaves have fallen from the trees, the landscape shuts down and goes to sleep. But in this small puddle, the reflection of a bare tree comes alive with soft colors amid scattered acorns and pebbles," winner Linda Repasky said. "Puddles, so ordinary and humble, and so easily overlooked, are a source of endless beauty and magic!" (Technical information: iPhone 16 Pro Max, f/1.78, 1/120sec, ISO 64.)
Tracy Calder, co-founder of CUPOTY, emphasized how successfully the photograph finds beauty in the everyday: "Linda's photograph of a fall puddle, taken with an iPhone, proves that you do not need exotic locations or special equipment to capture something beautiful. By looking closely at the sidewalk, she has revealed textures, colors, and details that many of us would simply walk past. It is a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the everyday."
The CUPOTY Challenge runs alongside the annual Close-up Photographer of the Year competition, which launches in May. As the winner, Linda Repasky receives £300 in cash and will be featured in an article in Amateur Photographer magazine.
The CUPOTY Challenge is a themed competition organized by Close-up Photographer of the Year, designed to give photographers regular opportunities to showcase their close-up, macro, and micro images. The competition runs throughout November and features a different theme each year, chosen by the community.
Alex Pansier is also among the finalists with his photograph Puffin Profile: "A puffin stands out in a low-light setting, its colorful beak glowing softly against a dark background. The rim light around its beak and chest really appeals to me, as it highlights the bird's unique features and creates a calm, mysterious atmosphere. The contrast between the illuminated beak and the shadows adds a touch of elegance to the scene." (Technical information: Sony A1, Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS, f/9, 1/1000 sec, ISO 640.)
Noelle Bennett was a finalist with Deluge, a photograph of achillea flowers: "I love the shape of achillea flowers, whether they are alive or dead. In this case, I took a flower that was in full bloom and submerged it in a container of cold water. I anchored it to the bottom with a weighted alligator clip. I placed the container and the flower in a collapsible light tent and set up my camera on a tripod with my cable release attached. I then carefully dripped condensed milk into the container above the flower with a pipette before releasing the shutter. I had set the camera to burst mode and kept shooting until all the condensed milk had sunk to the bottom of the container. I really love how this technique adds drama to such a beautiful but somewhat overlooked flower."
(Technical information: Panasonic Lumix DC-G9, Leica DG Macro Elmarit 45mm f/2.8, f/14, 0.625 sec, ISO 100.)
Basic adjustments in Affinity Photo: removed air bubbles and small particles from the condensed milk. Topaz Studio 2 for clarity, sharpness, and a blue/cream color shift. Layer, mask, and texture in Affinity Photo.
The seventh Close-up Photographer of the Year opens in May 2025.
More images can be seen in the winners gallery at www.cupoty.com.
