Both photomicrography and macrophotography efforts were awarded prizes in the 1981 Small World contest. Among the winners were specimens imaged with polarized light, brightfield, reflected and transmitted differential interference contrast (DIC), phase contrast, and a macro lens. The judges for the 7th annual Small World contest were Martin L. Scott (Eastman Kodak), Nina S. Allen (Dartmouth College), Vernon Miller (Brooks Institute), and Raymond E. Lund (Johns Hopkins University).

• First Prize
  David Gnizak
  Ferro Corp., Technical Center
  Independence, Ohio, USA
  Collapsed bubbles from an annealed experimental electronic sealing glass (55x)
  Reflected Light, Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast

• Second Prize
  Edmund R. Montello
  Polaroid Corp.
  Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
  Coating process defect in a Polaroid color negative. Spectrum of color created by white light filtration of imaging dyes found in the negative (26x)
  Brightfield Illumination

• Third Prize
  Viqar Zaman
  National University of Singapore
  Scolex (head) of a tapeworm (Taenia sp) showing a circular ring of hooks (80x)
  Differential Interference Contrast

• Fourth Prize
  Lars Bech
  Wilhelmina Gasthuis
  Amsterdam, Holland
  nr.759; Aminopyrine, acetophenetidine, cholesterin-melted (100x)
  Polarized Light

• Fifth Prize
  D.R. Simpson
  UCLA, Jerry Lewis Center
  Los Angeles, California, USA
  Whole mount of an ant (40x)
  Polarized Light

• Sixth Prize
  Richard B. Provonchee
  Marine Colloids Div., Colloids Div., FMC Corp.
  Rockland, Maine, USA
  Leaf of house plant; thin slice of underside (40x)
  Brightfield Illumination

• Seventh Prize
  Herbert Stevens
  Oakwood Hospital, Department of Pathology
  Dearborn, Michigan, USA
  Colorless micro-sporium organism superimposed over a blue CC filter (400x)
  Brightfield Illumination

• Eighth Prize
  Steve Warner
  Celanese Research Co.,
  Summit, New Jersey, USA
  Crystals of hippuric acid (50x)
  Polarized Light

• Ninth Prize
  Eric V. Gravé
  College of Physicians and Surgeons
  Columbia University, New York, USA
  (Kremerelida sp.) a mite unstained (50x)
  Differential Interference Contrast

• Tenth Prize
  Timothy J. Schefter
  Intermedics Inc.
  Freeport, Texas, USA
  Portion of a M.O.S. integrated circuit read only memory (25x)
  Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast

• Eleventh Prize
  Alyce Eisenhauer
  Richford, Vermont, USA
  Photographic bleach crystal (50x)
  Polarized Light

• Twelfth Prize
  Donald G. Schick
  Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
  Downey, California, USA
  Sodium thiosulfate, crystalized from aqueous solution at a controlled rate (60x)
  Transmitted polarized light and multiple exposure

• Thirteenth Prize
  George Watchmaker
  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  Livermore, California, USA
  Eosin stained sea urchin sperm. Head and mid-piece appear orange; tail propels the sperm (500x)
  Phase Contrast

• Fourteenth Prize
  Per H. Kjeldsen
  University of Michigan, School of Dentistry
  Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  Ascorbic Acid - slow melt (40x)
  Polarized Light

• Fifteenth Prize
  Jean-Claude Wittmann
  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
  Strasbourg, France
  Large crystal of hydroquinone grown from a single nucleus during drying of a solution (65x)
  Polarized Light

• Sixteenth Prize
  Lars Bech
  Wilhelmina Gasthuis
  Amsterdam, Holland
  1243C- Diallyl barbituric acid, hydrochloric acid-melted (100x)
  Polarized Light

• Seventeenth Prize
  Stevie Walter
  Odyeaus
  Tuscon, Arizona, USA
  Whole mount of preskia (cactus). Structural elements with crystal inclusions. No Stain (40x)
  Polarized Light with #12 yellow filter

• Eighteenth Prize
  Ronald P. Rehfeld
  IBM Corp.
  Kingston, New York, USA
  P-P' DDT recrystallized from the melt (50x)
  Polarized Light

• Nineteenth Prize
  Jack Kath
  Merck Institute
  Rahway, New Jersey, USA
  Ice crystals on glass (20x)
  Camera with macro lens and bellows

• Twentieth Prize
  Jean-Claude Wittmann
  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
  Strasbourg, France
  Thin crystals of an aromatic hydrocarbon deposited on a glass slide from solution. Color produced by insertion of mica sheet (165x)
  Polarized Light

The Nikon Small World Competition is open to anyone with an interest in photography through the microscope. Truly international in scope, entries have been received from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Winners have included both professionals and hobbyists.

The subject matter for this year's contest is unrestricted and any type of light microscopy technique is acceptable, including phase contrast, polarized light, fluorescence, interference contrast, darkfield, confocal, deconvolution, and mixed techniques. Entries submitted to Nikon are then judged by an independent panel of experts who are recognized authorities in the area of photomicrography and photography. These entries are judged on the basis of originality, informational content, technical proficiency and visual impact.

For the first time, entries may be submitted either on film (in 35 millimeter transparency format) or uploaded digitally through your web browser. The links below provide options for entering the contest.

Digital Entries - Entrants may enter Nikon's Small World Competition by uploading digital images directly to our servers. Before you begin, read the Contest Rules and prepare your images for uploading according to the instructions. You may also download a 2008 Competition Entry Form in portable document format for submission of entries by mail.

Prize List - Winners will receive one of 20 prizes, sorted according to rank in the competition. First place is a vacation trip valued at $5000 (US) or the equivalent amount of photographic, scientific, or industrial equipment and accessories at their suggested retail selling prices in the USA. Honorable mention winners will receive an 16 x 20-inch print of their entries.