2009 Nikon Small World Competition

A magnificent depiction of the essence of floral life, a gorgeous photograph of a thale cress anther (the male sex organ of a small flowering plant) was the winning image in the 2009 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition. Heiti Paves of Tallinn, Estonia took the top honor with this image, which was magnified 20 times and taken using a confocal microscope.
Nikon Small World recognizes Dr. Paves’ image, along with the other winners from this year, for showing both scientific and artistic qualities. More than 2000 entries were received this year, the most ever for the competition, from scientists and artists across the world.

Now in its 35th year, Nikon Small World is the oldest and most respected competition of its kind. The contest, which has become the preeminent forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope, celebrates the world’s best photomicrographers—those who create beautiful imagery while showcasing a wide variety of advanced scientific disciplines. Nikon Small World recognizes their achievements in capturing dynamic images at the intersection of science and art.  

The top five images this year include Dr. Paves’ thale cress anther; Gerd Guenther’s picture of a spiny sowthistle’s stem; Dr. Pedro Barrios-Perez’s image of a wrinkled photoresist; James Hayden’s colorful, spiraling image of an anglerfish ovary; and Bruno Vellutini’s photomicrograph of the oral surface of a young seastar. Nikon also awarded several Honorable Mentions and Images of Distinction this year to outstanding photomicrographs that demonstrate superior technical competency and artistic skill.

This year’s judges represented top industry experts and included Gary Borisy, Ph.D., director and chief executive officer, Marine Biological Laboratory; Charles Krebs, photographer, Charles Krebs Photography; James Shreeve, science editor, National Geographic; and Clive Thompson, journalist.

Top images from the 2009 Nikon Small World Competition will be exhibited in a full-color 2010 calendar and through a national museum tour. For additional information, including tour cities and dates, please visit www.nikonsmallworld.com.