Images of specimens entered into the 2006 Small World contest included insects, recrystallized chemicals and biochemicals, fluorescently labeled tissue sections, insects, plants, various microorganisms, liquid crystals, and fibers. Judges for the 32nd annual contest were Sir Harold W. Kroto (Florida State University), Cristina Scalet (Time Magazine), Vladimir I. Gelfand (Northwestern University), and J. D. Talasek (National Academy of Sciences).

• Image of Distinction
  David Almquist
  Tallahassee, Florida, USA
  Polyester, rayon and metallic thread (100x)
  Stereomicroscopy

• Image of Distinction
  Tracy Anderson
  College of Biological Sciences Imaging Center
  University of Minnesota
  Lauderdale, Minnesota, USA
  Selaginella strobilus (130x)
  Fluorescence stereomicroscopy

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Sondra Barrett
  Mystic Molecules
  Forestville, California, USA
  White wine drops (31x)
  Differential interference contrast

• Image of Distinction
  Steve Beats
  Steeple Claydon, UK
  Pleurosigma angulatum from a diatom test slide (140x)
  LRGB composite image

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Howard Berg
  Danforth Plant Science Center
  St Louis, Missouri, USA
  Rose of Sharon pollen grain (100x)
  Confocal

• Image of Distinction
  Eric Bischoff
  X-Ceptor Therapeutics
  San Diego, California, USA
  Rat mammary gland artrey (40x)
  Phase contrast

• Image of Distinction
  Dylan Burnette
  Paul Forscher Laboratory
  Yale University
  New Haven, Connecticut, USA
  Neuronal growth cones of Aplysia californica (Sea hare) (1000x)
  Confocal

• Image of Distinction
  Katie Cadwell
  Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
  University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Madison, Wisconsin, USA
  Nematic liquid crystal (20x)
  Polarized light

• Image of Distinction
  Andrew Childs
  Disperse Technologies
  Guildford, UK
  Oil and water with surfactant (400x)
  Intense light with small aperture

• Image of Distinction
  Susan DeVictor
  Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center
  Marine Resources Research Institute
  Charleston, South Carolina, USA
  Pelagic amphipod (18x)
  Stereomicroscopy, reflected light

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Seth Donahue
  Michigan Technological University
  Houghton, Michigan, USA
  Trabecular bone (16x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Lars Engstrom
  Pfizer
  Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  Convallaria (20x)
  Fluorescence

• Image of Distinction
  Jedidiah Gaetz
  The Rockefeller University
  New York, New York, USA
  Fluorescent microtubules (63x)
  Widefield epi-fluorescence

• Image of Distinction
  Christian Gautier
  Bios/Phone Photographic Agency
  Avignon, France
  Caterpillar's hairs (Argya antiqua) (40x)
  Brighfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Jacinthe Gingras
  Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
  Harvard University
  Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
  Donkey serum (60x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Hieronim Golczyk
  Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology
  Jagiellonian University
  Krakow, Poland
  Collenchyma from stem of Petasites (2500x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  David Harris
  Syracuse University
  Manlius, New York, USA
  Hibiscus flower (10x)
  Binocular inspection

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Patrick Hickey
  LUX Biotechnology Ltd.
  Edinburgh, UK
  Hydroid medusa (4x)
  Transmitted light

• Image of Distinction
  Charles Kazilek
  W. M. Keck Bioimaging Laboratory
  Arizona State University
  Mesa, Arizona, USA
  Silk fibers from mold-made paper (100x)
  Confocal (2-laser)

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Stephen Kempf
  Department of Biological Sciences
  Auburn University
  Auburn, Alabama, USA
  Veliger larva (40x)
  Confocal

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Peter Kitin
  Institute of Wood Technology
  Akita Prefectural University
  Akita-ken, Japan
  Wood of Kalopanax pictus (Araliaceae) (200x)
  Confocal Laser Scanning

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Michael Klein
  University of Alabama School of Medicine
  Birmingham, Alabama, USA
  Lumbar vertebral body macerated (Marrow removed) (16x)
  Polarized light

• Image of Distinction
  Charles Krebs
  Charles Krebs Photography
  Issaquah, Washington, USA
  Feather of a Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) (31.25x)
  Differential interference contrast

• Image of Distinction
  Robert Lavigne
  vignebert.com
  Montreal, Canada
  Bamboo Stem (200x)
  Brightfield and reflected light

• Image of Distinction
  Karine Leblanc
  Laboratoire d'Océanographie et de Biogéochimie
  Marseille, France
  Marine diatom (Asterionellopsis) (400x)
  Multiphoton confocal

• Image of Distinction
  Kevin Mackenzie
  EM and Imaging Facility
  University of Aberdeen
  Saturated solution of Vitamin C (15x)
  Polarized light

• Image of Distinction
  Shannon McCook
  Rochester Institute of Technology
  Holmdel, New Jersey, USA
  Cracked mounting medium (40x)
  Darkfield

• Image of Distinction
  Shannon McCook
  Rochester Institute of Technology
  Holmdel, New Jersey, USA
  48 hour chick embryo (20x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Claire Medine
  Centre of Integrative Physiology
  Edinburgh University
  Edinburgh, UK
  Rat pancreatic islet (63x)
  2 photon microscopy

• Image of Distinction
  Shaun Merrigan
  IRISNDT
  Edmonton, Canada
  Tantalum metal (300x)
  Differentital interference contrast

• Image of Distinction
  Rodrigo Méxas
  Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  Megabalanus azoricus (40x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Marian Miller
  University of Cincinnati
  Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
  Mouse glandular gastric mucosa (100x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Bradley Molyneaux
  Harvard University
  Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
  Neonatal mouse brain (10x)
  Immunofluorescence

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Kuruganti Murti
  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
  Memphis, Tennessee, USA
  Fluorescent antibody precipitate (1000x)
  Confocal

• Image of Distinction
  Kathleen Newell
  School of Oceanography
  University of Washington
  Seattle, Washington, USA
  Diatom (Chaetoceros debilis) (100x)
  Phase contrast

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Gregor Overney
  Agilent Technologies, Inc.
  San Jose, California, USA
  Lilac leaf (Syringa paradermal) (400x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Gurkan Ozturk
  YYU Medical School
  Van, Turkey
  Dried poly D-lysin crystals (200x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Krystian Polak
  Crows Nest, Australia
  Water (4x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Evelyn Ralston
  National Institutes of Health
  Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  Human skeletal muscle biopsy (10x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Jose Almodovar Rivera
  University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus
  Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
  Parafine cuts of a plant (20x)
  Darkfield

• Image of Distinction
  Jose Almodovar Rivera
  University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus
  Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
  Parafine cuts of a plant (20x)
  Darkfield

• Image of Distinction
  Jens Rüchel
  Department of Zoology
  University of Osnabrück
  Osnabrück, Germany
  Spirorbis sp. (Annelida, Polychaeta) (10x)
  Confocal laser-scanning microscopy

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Carlo Sala
  CNR Institute of Neuroscience
  Milano, Italy
  Hippocampal neuron (63x)
  Confocal light microscopy

• Image of Distinction
  Neal Scruggs
  California Institute of Technology
  Pasadena, California, USA
  Ferroelectric liquid crystal (10x)
  Polarized light

• Image of Distinction
  Samuel Silberman
  Ramat-Gan, Israel
  Wild flower stamen (20x)
  Fiber optics illumination

• Image of Distinction
  Pavel Škaloud
  Department of Botany
  Charles University
  Praha 4, Czech Republic
  Marine diatom (Thalassiosira) (100x)
  Phase contrast

• Image of Distinction
  Marriner Skelly
  Houston Vitreoretinal Consultants
  Houston, Texas, USA
  Pteridium rhizome cross section (4x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Marriner Skelly
  Houston Vitreoretinal Consultants
  Houston, Texas, USA
  Amphioxus pharynx and gonad cross section (1x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Viktor Sykora
  Institute of Pathophysiology
  Charles University
  Hyskov, Czech Republic
  Asclepias syriaca (seeds) (2x)
  Stereomicroscopy, darkfield

• Image of Distinction
  Chiedozie Ukachukwu
  Rochester Institute of Technology
  New York, New York, USA
  Gills of a flame scallop (20x)
  Darkfield

• Image of Distinction
  David Van Der Beek
  Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée
  Université Pierre et Marie Curie
  Paris, France
  Colloidal gibbsite platelets (50x)
  Polarized light

• Image of Distinction
  Wim van Egmond
  The Micropolitan Museum
  Rotterdam, Netherlands
  Leaf stomata, nailvarnish cast (160x)
  Rheinberg illumination

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Julio Vazquez
  Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
  Seattle, Washington, USA
  Sea urchin embryo (40x)
  Spinning disk confocal microscopy

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Julio Vazquez
  Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
  Seattle, Washington, USA
  Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) (20x)
  Laser scanning confocal microscopy

• Image of Distinction
  Spike Walker
  Microword Services
  Penkridge, UK
  Head and mouthparts of female flea (50x)
  Rheinberg illumination

• Image of Distinction
  Spike Walker
  Microword Services
  Penkridge, UK
  Shells of a foraminiferan (Elphidium crispum) (20x)
  Epi-darkfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Ben Whittle
  Bristol, UK
  Air bubbles in a gelatine-set (10x)
  Transmitted light

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Caroline Wilson
  Pacific Biosciences Research Center
  University of Hawaii
  Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
  Planktonic copepod (Labidocera sp.) (20x)
  Confocal fluorescence

• Image of Distinction
  Mrs. Daphne Zbaeren-Colbourn
  Bern, Switzerland
  Strand of grass (Spinifex littoreus) (400x)
  Brightfield

• Image of Distinction
  Dr. Petr Znachor
  Hydrobiological Institute
  Laboratory of Phytoplankton Ecology
  Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
  Freshwater planktonic dinoflagellate (Ceratium hirundinella) (100x)
  Brightfield

2006 COMPETITION PRIZE WINNERS

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.

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 $3000 (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.