Nature and Biodiversity

These microscopic photos highlight the need to protect nature

shown here is a man taking a photo of a butterfly. The 2021 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition has been helping to raise awareness of the beauty of nature and how we must protect it

The latest winners of the 2021 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition have been revealed. Image: UNSPLASH/Jamie Street

Annabel Walker
Writer, Forum Agenda
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  • The 2021 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition winners have been announced.
  • The winning image shows the structures of a southern live oak leaf and was made from stacking hundreds of individual images together.
  • The competition celebrates microscopic photography and how seeing a close-up image can change perceptions of the natural world.

Nature’s hidden beauty has been revealed in all its tiny glory in the latest winners of a microscopic photography competition.

Jason Kirk placed first in the 2021 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition for his striking shot of something seemingly mundane: the stomatal pores of a southern live oak leaf.

An optical imaging specialist from Texas, Kirk called on his passions for microscopes and photography to produce this winning shot with a custom-made microscope and by stacking together 200 individual images.

shown here is a photograph of Trichome (white appendages) and stomata (purple pores) on a southern live oak leaf
1st place. Trichome (white appendages) and stomata (purple pores) on a southern live oak leaf. Image: Jason Kirk/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

The annual competition showcases tiny images magnified by microscope and given depth and meaning by state-of-the-art photographic and imaging techniques and the vision of the photographer.

Kirk’s winning entry illustrates the technical knowledge required to capture such artistic composition.

“Microscope objectives are small and have a very shallow depth of focus,” Kirk says. “I couldn’t just stick a giant light next to the microscope and have the lighting be directional. It would be like trying to light the head of a pin with a light source that’s the size of your head. Nearly impossible.”

Revealing how plants survive extreme weather

The image highlights three vital structures essential to plant life: the trichomes (in white), which are fine outgrowths that protect a plant against extreme weather, microorganisms and insects.

The stomata (in purple) are small pores that regulate the flow of gases in a plant, while coloured in cyan are vessels that transport water throughout the leaf.

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Now in its 47th year, the competition received almost 2,000 entries from 88 countries. Among them was second-placed Esmerelda Paric and Holly Stefen’s shot of networking neurons.

shown here is a microfluidic device containing 300k networking neurons in 2 isolated populations. Both sides were treated with a unique virus and bridged by axons.
2nd place. A microfluidic device containing 300k networking neurons in 2 isolated populations. Both sides were treated with a unique virus and bridged by axons. Image: Esmerelda Paric/Holly Stefen/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

Many of the photos in this competition were constructed by layering scores of images over each other and applying different colour treatments to highlight specific features.

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Here are some of the other winners in the top 20:

a close up photo of the rear leg, claw, and respiratory trachea of a louse (Haematopinus suis)
3rd place. Rear leg, claw, and respiratory trachea of a louse (Haematopinus suis) Image: Frank Reiser/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

Under the microscope, the least pleasant of things can look disarming or even beautiful, like this image of a housefly’s proboscis.

shown here is the proboscis of a housefly (Musca domestica)
5th place. Proboscis of a housefly (Musca domestica). Image: Oliver Dum/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

Meanwhile, others take on terrifying proportions, such as this photo of the head of a tick.

shown here is the close up head of a tick
7th place. Head of a tick Image: Dr Tong Shang/Dr Paul Stoodley/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

The use of colour to pick out individual features lets us see the otherwise imperceptible organs of small beasts.

this is a water flea (Daphnia), carrying embryos and peritrichs
9th place. Water flea (Daphnia), carrying embryos and peritrichs Image: Jan Van Ijken/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition


This close up of the vein and scales of a butterfly’s wing could be a modern art representation of summer flowers.

these are the close up vein and scales on a butterfly wing (Morpho didius)
10th place. Vein and scales on a butterfly wing (Morpho didius) Image: Sébastien Malo/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

These images reveal the incredible beauty that can be found in even the most day-to-day objects, such as a detail of cotton fabric with pollen grains.

close up cotton fabric with pollen grains.
13th place. Cotton fabric with pollen grains. Image: Dr. Felice Placenti/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

They also capture forever the most fleeting of nature’s creations, like this the robotic symmetry of a snowflake.

this is a close-up of a snowflake
14th place. Snowflake. Image: Dr. Joern N. Hopke/Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition
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