Willem Kruger Wins Close-up Photographer of the Year's 'Death and Decay' Challenge with Hyena Image
Willem Kruger, a photographer from South Africa, clinched the title of Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) 2026 in the themed challenge 'Death and Decay' with his striking photo of a spotted hyena carrying a severed zebra head in Kruger National Park. He received £300 ($400) and a feature in the CUPOTY ebook. The runner-up, Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada, captured an image of a common toad with a deceased female in Sierra Blanca, Spain, while Gael Modrak secured third place with a photo of a dead waterfowl chick near Paris. Other notable finalists included Emanuele Biggi, Jason Gilbody, and Pal Hermansen. The November challenge emphasizes the raw elements of nature, as highlighted by Kruger, with a complete gallery available online.
Key facts
- Willem Kruger won the CUPOTY 'Death and Decay' challenge with a hyena image from Kruger National Park.
- The challenge theme for 2026 was 'Death and Decay', focusing on nature's gruesome aspects.
- Kruger received £300 ($400) and will be featured in the CUPOTY ebook of 2026.
- Runner-up Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada photographed a toad in Sierra Blanca, Spain.
- Third place went to Gael Modrak for an image of a dead waterfowl chick near Paris, France.
- The challenge runs alongside the main CUPOTY competition, which opens in May.
- Finalists included entries from Madagascar, USA, Norway, Greece, England, Italy, Netherlands, and India.
- The full gallery of images is viewable online.
Entities
Artists
- Willem Kruger
- Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada
- Gael Modrak
- Emanuele Biggi
- Jason Gilbody
- Ken Bluma
- Pal Hermansen
- Pete Burford
- Ed Phillips
- Nelson Milano
- Sophie Mijnhout
- Indranil Basu Mallick
Institutions
- Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY)
Locations
- South Africa
- Kruger National Park
- Sierra Blanca
- Spain
- Viry-Chatillon
- Paris
- France
- Nosy Komba
- Madagascar
- Massachusetts
- USA
- Zahara de la Sierra
- Spring Grove
- Illinois
- Follo
- Norway
- Crete
- Greece
- Staffordshire
- England
- Licenza
- Italy
- Freeport Community Park
- Pennsylvania
- Dalfsen
- Netherlands
- Cherrapunji
- Meghalaya
- India