Slideshow: Winners of the 2023 Nikon Small World photomicroscopy competition

Photographic subjects can be all shapes and sizes, from vast landscapes to tiny animals and everything in between. But what’s often overlooked – and understandably so – is the teeny, tiny and beautifully detailed microscopic world. Beyond the reach of the naked eye (most of the time) and your traditional macro lens, the world of microscopy, or photomicrography, is a specialized style of photography that bridges scientific imaging technology with visual creativity.

Now in its 49th year, Nikon just announced the winners of this year’s Small World photo contest, with the top prize being awarded to Hassanain Qambari, assisted by Jayden Dickson of the Lions Eye Institute, for his image of a rodent optic nerve head.

DPReview has highlighted the Top 20 recognized images from this year’s competition, including artist information and details about the magnification and imaging techniques used. For the full gallery of this year’s top images, please head over to the Nikon Small World photo gallery.