Water Photo Close Up Contest Winners: Some Amazing Images [View all]

Along with the usual CUPOTY (Close-up Photographer of the Year) competition that runs each year, the organizers hold an annual challenge focusing on a different theme. Water was the chosen motif this year and the entries did not disappoint the judges.
We asked photographers to show us work on a Water theme. Our callout was answered with images of seahorses swimming through kelp, flowers bejeweled with rain, and insects drying out their wings before taking flight, among so many other things. As usual, looking at all the entries was both educational and inspiring, noted Tracy Calder, co-founder of CUPOTY
https://www.iflscience.com/a-newts-midnight-feast-wins-close-up-photographer-of-the-year-water-challenge-73917
My favourite at first was the second place winner which was incredibly colorful and surrealistic.
When I read the description of how the image was made I was disappointed by the manipulation. I dont even like photos where mist has been sprayed on subjects to make them appear dew covered, much less imbedded in a block of ice and shot on a light table.
The damselfly (above) did it for me: Simplicity of composition, sharp focus and no manipulation of the subject.
I also enjoyed the apparently dew covered images. Yet, am always concerned that such subjects have been enhanced as mentioned above. The finalist Long Over Dew is striking but wonder not only about the dew but if the insect has been put in a refrigerator by the photographerI hope not, yet this is not an uncommon practice.
This all points out that
long before AI generated or even photoshopped images a picture might not be what it seems.