Welcome to the CUPOTY CHALLENGE – a themed contest running alongside the annual competition of Close-up Photographer of the Year.

Once again we asked our community to vote on the theme and Death & Decay came out on top!

That means we’re looking for your best photographs of any animal, plant, fungi, landscape detail, ecosystem, habitat, object or material that is in a state of decay, is dying or dead. It could also be something in the natural world predating on something else or an image that suggests this theme in a less direct way.

The winner receives a £300 cash prize.

A selection of images will be part of a feature in Amateur Photographer magazine.

The shortlisted and finalist pictures will get showcased on our website, and the finalist pictures will also go into the CUPOTY eBook.

Enter the CUPOTY CHALLENGE

Enter and win photography books

This year, we’re also giving away a photography book from Abrams & Chronicle every Monday.

The earlier you enter, the greater chance you have of winning a copy.

Enter before the end of Sunday 2nd November to be in the draw for The Radiant Sea – Color and Light In the Underwater World and you’ll stay in the running for all the remaining prizes.

Enter by:

Sunday 2nd November to be in the draw for The Radiant Sea – Color and Light In the Underwater World by Steven Haddock and Sönke Johnsen and the following titles…

Sunday 9th November to be in the draw for Nanocosmos – Journeys in Electron Space by Michael Benson and the following titles…

Sunday 16th November to be in the draw for Shapeshifters - The Wondrous World of Jellyfish by Lisa-ann Gershwin and the following title…

Sunday 23rd November to be in the draw for The Shape of Nature – The Intricate Patterns of Life by CUPOTY judge David Maitland.

Enter once, stay in every draw that follows.

A selection of the winning pictures are published in *Amateur Photographer* magazine, and one picture is often selected for the front cover.

Pictures can be of absolutely any subject using any device (camera, phone, scanner or microscope) but they must be a close-up, macro or micro photograph. No AI generated images are allowed.

Photographs that have been entered into any CUPOTY competition before may be entered again so long as they have not made the Top 100 winners gallery or the winners gallery of previous challenges.

The closing date to register for the CUPOTY CHALLENGE is Saturday 30th November and you will need to send us your pictures by 7th December.

Enter Now

Who can enter?

Anyone, of any age, living in any country can enter.
Photographs can be captured with any type of camera, phone, scanner or microscope.
You may enter images that have already been entered into any other CUPOTY contest as long as they have not made The Top 100 winners galleries or the previous Challenge winners gallery.

Prizes

The winner receives £300 cash and will be featured in Amateur Photographer magazine.
A selection of the finalists pictures will be featured in Amateur Photographer magazine.
The winner and finalist pictures will be displayed in our online winners gallery and will be included in the CUPOTY eBook.
All shortlisted entrants will be showcased in the shortlist gallery on our website for one year.
The winner and finalists will receive a digital badge and certificate, while the shortlisted entrants will receive a digital badge.
International exposure in other publications and websites.

Entry fee