From parasitic fungi and curious seadragons to rainbow birds and forest bears, here are some of the winning images from this year's Close-up Photographer of the Year competition.

A white fir tree surrounded by three giant sequoias in Sequoia National Park, captured in the snow and fog; Sequoia National Park, California, USA | Category: Intimate Landscape | Place: 3rd | Credit: Sigfrido Zimmermann, cupoty.com