I think @datych it must be a mixture of all of the potential reasons you came up with :) I am very glad to hear that those two are you favourite photos as they are exactly images I am sharing with the world for the first time ever!
Talking close ups, maybe you would consider entering this Contest?
:)
I don't know. I feel macro guys like exactly macro photos showing tiny things, better with many details (focus staking). Closeups I prefer are about something else. Maybe I am wrong.
Right you are @datych. But let's say your extreme close up of cabbage (yes, I still remember this photo of yours!) I reckon might be well taken? Just a thought.
I have planned a flower shooting in a weekend from now with a macro lens so hopefully I will have some fresh suitable new content to enter this contest as well.