A gliding frog clings to twigs in its last minutes of life. A pit viper is attached to the frog, which will soon be swallowed whole. This brutal battle took place in the rainforest of Agumbe, India, where photographer Pavan Kumar TS captured the moment. The resulting image (seen above) was shortlisted in the Animals category this year Awards for Close-Up Photographer of the Year.
Photographers from around the world submitted 11,681 photos which were assessed by 25 judges to create the shortlist. The top 100 photos and winners in 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 become the largest for close-up, macro and micro photography. .
(Click on the images below to expand them in their full, incredible glory.)