Nikon’s Small World photography competition has celebrated its 50th anniversary, highlighting some of the most detailed and revealing images accessible only through a microscope. Established in 1974, the competition has evolved over the decades, with advancements in technology allowing for more impressive visual results each year. This year’s submissions include images of both living things visible to the naked eye and biological structures only observable under microscopic magnification.
One of the standout entries features fragments of a butterfly wing perched on the tip of a syringe, with a level of detail that might be mistaken for an AI-generated image. Over 2,100 entries from more than 80 countries were submitted this year. A panel of professional photographers and scientists selected the top 20 images from a final group of 87 recognized entries. Additionally, the winners of Nikon’s Small World in Motion competition were announced recently, offering an exploration into the dynamic aspects of microscopic life.
The first prize was awarded to Bruno Cisterna and Eric Vitriol for their depiction of brain tumor cells in a mouse, showcasing disruptions in the cytoskeleton. Their research is detailed in the Journal of Cell Biology. Cisterna, a research scientist at Augusta University, detailed the extensive process involved in capturing this image, which included three months of perfecting the staining process and three hours of meticulous observation under a microscope.
Second place was secured by Marcel Clemens for an image capturing an arc of electricity between a pin and a wire, while Chris Romaine earned third place with an up-close photograph of a cannabis leaf. Other notable images included a cluster of octopus eggs, a cross-section of beach grass, a neuron from a rat’s brain, pollen in a spider web, and black truffle spores.
The Small World competition brings focus to the often-overlooked microscopic world, offering a departure from the everyday macroscopic concerns of life. It provides an annual reminder of the intricate details present in smaller scales of existence, often hidden from everyday view.
