A gliding frog clings to twigs in its final minutes of life. A pit viper is latched to the frog that will soon be swallowed whole. This brutal battle took place in the rainforest of Agumbe, India where photographer Pavan Kumar T S captured the moment. The resulting image (seen above) made the shortlist in the Animal category at this year’s Close-Up Photographer of the Year awards.
Photographers from around the world submitted 11,681 photographs that 25 judges assessed to create the shortlist. The top 100 pictures and winners across 11 categories will be announced in January 2025. Tracy and Dan Calder founded the Close-up Photographer of the Year in 2018 and the competition has grown to be the largest dedicated to close-up, macro and micro photography.
(Click on the images below to expand to their full, incredible glory.)
Maria Yoder is a writer for Reynolds World News, covering politics, health, business, parenting, and finance. She's also a mom of two and an avid photographer. Her hobbies include hiking and watching TV shows with her husband.