Nikon have just unveiled the winners of the 47th annual Small World Photomicrography Competition. This year’s first place prize was awarded to Jason Kirk for his striking image of a southern live oak leaf’s trichomes, stomata and vessels.
Using various lighting techniques and design tools, Jason’s final image is a masterful example of the dynamic relationship between imaging technology and artistic creativity. Using a custom-made microscope system that combines colour filtered transmitted light with diffused reflected light, Jason captured around 200 individual images of the leaf and stacked them together to create the stunning image.
Nikon Small World is the premier microscopy image competition, and this year's batch of images certainly uphold the usual high standards.
We pick out our favourites from this year's winners and runners up.
Overall Winner
Trichome (white appendages) and stomata (purple pores) on a southern live oak leaf. Photo by Jason Kirk/Nikon Small World
2nd place
A microfluidic device containing 300,000 networking neurons in 2 isolated populations. Both sides were treated with a unique virus and bridged by axons. Photo by Esmeralda Paric & Holly Stefen/Nikon Small World
3rd place
Rear leg, claw, and respiratory trachea of a louse (Haematopinus suis). Photo by Frank Reiser/Nikon Small World
4th place
Sensory neuron from an embryonic rat, imaged using Fluorescence. Photo by Paula Diaz/Nikon Small World
5th place
Proboscis of a housefly (Musca domestica). Photo by Oliver Dum/Nikon Small World
6th place
3D vasculature of an adult mouse brain (somatosensory cortex). Photo by Dr Andrea Tedeschi/Nikon Small World
7th place
Head of a tick (Ixodida), confocal image. Photo by Dr Tong Zhang & Dr Paul Stoodley/Nikon Small World
8th place
Cross section of mouse intestine, imaged using fluorescence. Photo by Dr Amy Engevik/Nikon Small World
9th place
Water flea (Daphnia) carrying embryos and peritrichs. Photo by Jan van IJken/Nikon Small World
10th place
Vein and scales on a butterfly wing (Morpho didius). Photo by Sébastien Malo/Nikon Small World
James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked on the magazine and website for over a decade, telling compelling science stories through the use of striking imagery. He holds a degree in Fine Art, and has been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards, being highly commended in 2020. His main areas of interest include photography that highlights positive technology and the natural world. For many years he was a judge for the Wellcome Trust's image competition, as well as judging for the Royal Photographic Society.
