The winners of Close-up Photographers of the Year’s (CUPOTY) ‘Death & Decay’ challenge have been announced, with top spot going to Willem Kruger for his emotive image of a hyena carrying a zebra head in South Africa's Kruger National Park.
"Early one morning during a game drive in Kruger National Park, my wife and I came across three spotted hyenas walking along the road," says Kruger. "One was carrying the head of a zebra, presumably from a nearby lion kill, and was heading straight towards us. In nature, almost nothing goes to waste – even hyenas have a family to feed, and they do it with remarkable commitment."
Kruger's evocative shot is 1 of 14 close-up and macro photos celebrated in CUPOTY's winners' gallery. Second place went to Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada for his poignant image of a male toad clutching a dead female. Gaël Modrak came third with an eerie underwater shot of a dead waterfowl chick.
The CUPOTY challenge – designed to give photographers regular opportunities to showcase their close-up, macro and micro images – runs alongside the main annual CUPOTY competition.
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