Feature Photographer of the Year Celebrates Small Miracles and Exquisite Details — Colossal

The shortlist for this year’s Feature Photographer of the Year competition has been announced. After 20 hours of deliberation on Zoom, 22 judges evaluated a record-breaking 12,557 photos and selected the most promising contenders. Each photo captures the diversity of wildlife and natural landscapes in 11 unique categories, highlighting stunning close-up, micro and macro perspectives.

CUPOTY’s top 100 photos have not yet been selected from the January 2026 series. Find the full shortlist on the competition website and follow us on Instagram for the latest updates. Can’t get enough of these extreme close-ups? Immerse yourself in images from past rounds.