
© Mofeed Abu Shalwa/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (Shortlisted in the “Beetles” category)
Most people I know are afraid of bugs or disgusted by them. However, insects are a magnificent subject for macro photography, and they can look gorgeous, elegant, even comical. This year’s Luminar Bug Photographer of the Year winners show all sides of insects that could make you stop fearing them. After all, even the contest winner overcame his fear of insects through photography!
The 2020 contest saw over 5,000 entries from around the globe, competing for a total prize pool of £23,000. The grand prize winner and Luminar Bug Photographer of the Year 2020 is Mofeed Abu Shalwa. Interestingly enough, this Saudi Arabian photographer started shooting insects as an attempt to overcome his childhood phobia of them. Obviously, he successfully overcame his fear, and turned it into a creative expression. For his stunning image of a red palm weevil, he won £4,500 worth of prizes.

© Mofeed Abu Shalwa/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020
The title of Luminar Young Bug Photographer of the Year 2020 was awarded to 17-year-old Jamie Spensley from Solihull, UK. This second-year student won the prize for his technically brilliant shot of a carder bee, which earned him over £1,200 worth of prizes.

© Jamie Spensley/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020
Luminar Bug Photographer of the Year was launched as a way of celebrating invertebrates photography, but also raising awareness that so many invertebrates species have seen large declines in their populations. The awards have also raised valuable funds for the conservation efforts of Buglife.
Take a look at more stunning photos below. To see all the winning images, runners up and shortlisted images, visit the Luminar Bug Photography Awards website.

©Mofeed Abu Shalwa/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (Shortlisted in the “Beetles” category)

©Mofeed Abu Shalwa/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (Shortlisted in the “Arachnids” category)
Aquatic Bugs

© Galice Hoarau/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Galice Hoarau/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Neil Phillips/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Arachnids

© Lung-Tsai Wang/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Digby Rogers/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Raed Ammari/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Beetles

© Christian Brockes/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Martijn Nugteren/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Li Feng/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Flies, Bees, Wasps and Dragonflies

© Peter Orr/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Rory J Lewis/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Chris Ruijter/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Butterflies and Moths

© Sara Jazbar/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Mike Chuan Kwee Lim/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Sara Jazbar/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Snails and Slugs

© David Lain/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Galice Hoarau/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© David Lain/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
All the Other Bugs

© Reynante Martinez/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Bence Mate/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Stephen James/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Extreme Close-up

© Riyad Hamzi/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Roger Mepsted/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Mofeed Abu Shalwa/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Bug Homes

© Lee Frost/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Heath McDonald/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Christian Brockes/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Mobile Phone Photography

© Fabio Sartori/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (1st place)

© Simon Hadleigh-Sparks/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Fabio Sartori/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
Young Bug Photographer

© Elliot Connor/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (2nd place)

© Jamie Spensley/Luminar Bug Photography Awards 2020 (3rd place)
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