2025 Photomicrography Competition

In Their Own Words

What does being a winner of the Nikon Small World competition mean to you?

The Nikon competition is the most important competition dedicated to microscopic photography in the world. That is why just qualifying for the so-called Top 100 is already a remarkable achievement. However, being in the top twenty is something truly fantastic. Winning 11th place gave me enormous satisfaction, especially since the competition is always very strong. Additionally I am very proud that my winning image will be included to 2026 calendar. There are so many wonderful photographs that deserve to be included in the calendar, so the fact that one of its pages will be adorned with my photo is a great honor for me.

Can you describe in further detail (beyond what’s written in the caption), in a way the general public would understand, what is happening in your winning image?

The photo shows a small fragment of a sunflower stem in cross-section, together with the hairs covering it, called trichomes. Although these hairs are visible to the naked eye, they are so small that their actual structure cannot be seen. Only the use of a microscope has made it possible to show how they are constructed. In addition, it turns out that the hairs are not uniform but vary in size and structure. The use of polarized light further emphasized their diversity and hidden beauty.

As Nikon Small World celebrates its 51st anniversary, how do you feel about being part of such a long-standing tradition that highlights the beauty and importance of scientific discovery through microscopy?

I am proud that one of my photos made it into the top 20. My pride is even greater because the other two photos were also appreciated by this year's jury. Having all three photos in the so-called Top 100 is a source of great satisfaction, especially when you consider the long tradition of this competition and how important it is for everyone involved in microphotography to participate in it. By participating in the competition and showing my photographs, I have the opportunity to reveal not only the hidden beauty of the micro world, but also, and perhaps above all, to show my way of perceiving it.

Why do you think competitions like Nikon Small World, and scientific communication in general, are important?

Such competitions provide an opportunity to show the beauty of the micro world, its complexity and great diversity to all those who have no contact with a microscope. Through wonderful photographs, they spread knowledge about the world around us, which is often right next to us, but due to its small size, goes unnoticed. In addition, mentions in the press and various more specialized magazines about the results of the competition focus the attention of a wider audience on this topic, at least for a moment.