Nikon Small World 51st Winners Spotlight Tiny Worlds in Extreme Close-Ups

Nikon Small World marks its 51st year by honoring microphotography that reveals nature’s hidden complexity at the smallest scales. The collection features dramatic close-ups such as a droplet containing Volvox algae colonies and a rice weevil depicted as if in flight, alongside portraits of embryonic mouse vasculature, germinating mallow pollen under fungal attack, and a golden-hued rhinoceros beetle horn. Out of 1,925 entries, 71 images were recognized for originality, technical prowess, and beauty. Photographers Jan Rosenboom and Zhang You are among the standouts, illustrating how microphotography can educate, fascinate, and illuminate ecological and biological detail far beyond ordinary vision. Author: Nikon Small World

Introduction to the Nikon Small World Contest

The Nikon Small World competition, now in its 51st year, honors the art of microphotography, bringing to light the tiniest corners of the natural world. More than 1,900 entries were evaluated, with 71 images recognized for originality, information, technical skill, and beauty. The contest highlights how photomicrography can transform ordinary subjects into extraordinary, almost otherworldly scenes, deepening our understanding of biology and ecology.

Standout Images and What They Reveal

Among this year’s honorees are images that blur the line between science and surreal art. A top-featured shot presents translucent spheres of Volvox algae, each a colony that can contain tens of thousands of cells, seemingly trapped inside a droplet of water. The image underscores the remarkable organization of single-celled life forming complex colonies, a theme that recurs across the portfolio.

Another striking entry shows a rice weevil in mid-flight, the insect photographed at scale to stress its small size while revealing its potential danger as an agricultural pest. Zhang You, based in China, describes the two-week effort behind this image and its broader aim to illuminate the ecological roles of insects, encouraging protection and informed use of these organisms rather than fear alone.

The exhibition also features a vivid image of the blood vessels in an embroyonic mouse limb, illustrating how fluorescent dye can map vascular pathways, a reminder of how microphotography supports biomedical research by visualizing intricate anatomy that is otherwise invisible.

Other images pair biology with dynamic processes, such as a germinating mallow pollen grain enmeshed in a fungal network, a reminder of plant reproduction and fungal interactions at microscopic scales. A stacked photo of the horned Golofa porteri beetle reveals the floral-like hairs and weaponized forms these insects bear, while a sunflower trichome image showcases plant defenses at the micro level. A stained tardigrade exposes its internal organs, highlighting microscopic anatomy and cellular structure in an iconic micro-animal known for resilience. Finally, a fluoresced copepod captures the diversity of marine life that thrives in water, emphasizing how ubiquitous microscopic life is across Earth’s ecosystems.

Artist Intent and Ecological Insight

Photographers emphasize that microphotography is not merely about pretty pictures; it is a tool for education and ecological awareness. You emphasizes that his work aims to contribute to insect protection and ecological stewardship, a sentiment echoed by many contributors who hope their images can inform conservation and responsible resource use. The collection thus serves a dual purpose: revealing the hidden beauty of biology while prompting readers to consider the ecological roles and conservation needs of these tiny organisms.

Contest Scope and Notable Names

With 71 winners out of 1,925 entries, the Nikon Small World showcase includes works from a range of scientists and photographers. The featured pieces draw on techniques such as fluorescent labeling, high-morizon stacking, and advanced illumination to render microstructures with clarity and color that ordinary microscopes cannot achieve. The collection demonstrates the breadth of microphotography as a field, spanning zoology, botany, embryology, and materials from pollen to pollen tubes and beyond.

Impact and Takeaway

Beyond artistry, the Nikon Small World images illuminate the incredible diversity and complexity of life at scales invisible to the naked eye. They remind viewers that understanding micro-scale biology can inform macro-scale issues—from agriculture and pest management to developmental biology and ecology. The 2025 winners continue to push the boundaries of aesthetic and technical achievement in microphotography, inviting a broader audience to marvel at the hidden intricacies of the natural world and to consider their ecological implications.