Close-up Photographer of the Year 2023: In picturesPublished8 January 2023Image source, Samantha Stephens/CUPOTYImage caption, This colourful picture was the competition's overall winner. It shows two salamanders inside a Northern Pitcher Plant in Canada's Algonquin provincial park. These carnivorous plants usually snap up small bugs like moths and flies!Image source, Nathan Benstead/CUPOTYImage caption, The Young Photographer of the year prize went to 17-year-old Nathan from the UK who captured this mesmerising image of slime mould growing on a log which he spotted when taking a walk through his local woodland.Image source, Wim Vooijs/CUPOTYImage caption, This glistening photo was the winner of the Butterfly and Dragonflies category. It's an interesting angle of a male Banded Demoiselle damselfly covered in dew, drying off in the early morning sun, that's why it looks like it's sparkling!Image source, Anirban Dutta/CUPOTYImage caption, This winning entry in the Insects category is actually three shots of different exposures combined together. It shows a swarm of termites in India that are drawn to a bright street light!Image source, Jamie Hall/CUPOTYImage caption, The winner of the Invertebrate Portrait was this photograph of a Triangular Spider found in Australia. They hunt their prey by curling themselves up like this onto a leaf to mimic bird poo and pounce when their prey gets close!Image source, Barry Webb/CUPOTYImage caption, Slime mould featured in another winning pic - this time in the Fungi category. The slime had frozen these teeny tiny fungi (only 3mm tall) into this wind swept like position!Image source, Mike Curry/CUPOTYImage caption, These cool-looking swirls are actually the reflection of a building in water! The picture was taken in London's Canary Wharf, famous for its tall and busy office buildings, in the east of the city.Image source, Matt Vacca/CUPOTYImage caption, This 'shocking' picture was the winner in the Manmade category. It shows two drops oil as they merge together!