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Photo winners show us 'rainstorm' and other worlds the eyes can't see

Have a look at the winner and some honorable mentions of the 2026 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.

Sean Breslin
BySean Breslin•
October 21, 2026Updated: October 21, 2026, 9:56 am EDTPublished: October 21, 2026, 6:00 am EDT
Dark liquid droplets falling from a glowing orange ceiling onto a pale surface, forming splattered patterns below

This microscopic view of an inkjet printer depositing ink onto paper was selected as the winning photo of the 2026 Nikon Small World competition.

(Ole Bielfeldt via Nikon Small World)

Colossal tornadoes, hurricanes and winter storms get plenty of attention. It's time to honor the tiniest phenomena among us.

The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition has just announced its winner for 2026 — it's the picture above. Taken by Ole Bielfeldt in Cologne, Germany, it shows a printer dropping ink onto paper like raindrops falling on the flat ground.

The annual competition honors the best of the best in photography under the light microscope. Simply put, it's some of the most awe-inspiring and downright coolest photography you'll see all year.

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Below, you can see a few of our favorite finalists. For the full top 20 and to see previous winners, head to the competition's website.

(MORE: Video winners take us into worlds the eyes can't see)

Second place — John-Oliver Dum

Extreme macro close-up of a jumping spider's face with large black eyes, white scales, and pollen grains

Extreme macro close-up of a jumping spider's face with large black eyes, white scales and pollen grains.

(John-Oliver Dum via Nikon Small World)

Third place — Kaelin Wulf and Ms. Rachel Flannery

Fluorescent microscopy image of blue-glowing pyramidal neurons with long dendrites against a dark background

This image shows neurons in an expanded mouse brain.

(Kaelin Wulf and Ms. Rachel Flannery via Nikon Small World)

Fifth place — Mike Crutchley

Close-up macro of an unopened daisy flower bud showing white petals and yellow disc florets against a black background

This is the inner structure of a closed daisy.

(Mike Crutchley via Nikon Small World)

Sixth place — Eric Epstein

Close-up macro shot of reddish-brown branching bubbles with ribbed texture against a vivid blue background

These are Hemitrichia slime mold spore structures.

(Eric Epstein via Nikon Small World)

Eighth place — Dr. Marcel Clemens

Two blue sparks emit golden light trails in a swirling pattern against a dark background

Pencil lead during exposure to a high-voltage electrical discharge.

(Dr. Marcel Clemens via Nikon Small World)

12th place — Dr. Gonzalo Quiroga Artigas

Fluorescence microscopy image of a tardigrade shedding its exoskeleton, with orange cell nuclei and blue outer cuticle

Known for its survival in extreme conditions, weather and otherwise, a tardigrade is seen molting and laying an egg in the old skin.

(Dr. Gonzalo Quiroga Artigas via Nikon Small World)


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