A simple printer photo won: the astonishing world under the microscope
Ink setting on paper, a spider with pollen dust clinging to its body, and neurons in a mouse brain — these images took top places in the Nikon Small World 2026 photomicrography competition. In this year's contest, which received 1,803 photos from 69 countries, the judges recognized a total of 86 works.
A simple printer image won: the amazing world under the microscope
Nikon has held its competition selecting the most impressive photographs taken with a microscope for the 52nd time. The winning works allow a different look at everyday life through details that are usually unseen by the eye.
First place went to Ole Bielfeldt, a student and experienced photographer from Cologne, Germany. He captured the process of an inkjet printer depositing ink onto paper through a microscope.
For this, Bielfeldt built his own custom shooting setup. His project, named Macrofying, is also dedicated to showing ordinary objects and processes from an unexpected angle through microphotography.
According to the photographer, the printing process on a printer is so fast and repetitive that people hardly think about how it occurs on a microscopic level. The camera reveals the invisible details of this routine process.
Second place was taken by John-Oliver Dum. His photograph depicts a jumping spider — Salticus scenicus — with pollen sticking to its body.
Third place was awarded to the work of Kaelen Wolf and Rachel Flannery, which shows neurons in a mouse brain.
Among other highly acclaimed works in the competition are images of insects, plants, cells, and even a pencil lead under the influence of an electrical discharge.