German photographer wins Nikon Small World microscopy competition

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 20:58 · Archive

Ole Bielfeldt of Germany won the 2026 Nikon Small World photomicrography competition with an image of inkjet printer ink droplets.

Ole Bielfeldt, a 25-year-old German experimental photographer, has won the 52nd annual Nikon Small World photomicrography competition with a microscopic image of an inkjet printer depositing ink onto paper. He defeated 1,802 other entries from 69 countries.

Bielfeldt discovered photomicrography during the COVID-19 lockdown after finding an old microscope in his parents' attic. He taught himself the art through trial and error, building custom tools and adaptors from everyday materials like tubes and wood to connect the microscope to his father's camera.

Capturing the winning image presented a technical challenge. Ink droplets move faster than a standard camera's shutter speed, so Bielfeldt deconstructed the printer to keep the printhead stationary while moving the paper underneath. He then photographed the result in a dark room using a flash to freeze the droplets mid-air, avoiding the need for expensive equipment. He does not use artificial intelligence in his images, preferring traditional techniques.

Nikon Instruments praised the image as embodying 'the intersection of microscope imaging, ingenuity, and artistry', noting how Bielfeldt transformed a familiar object into something previously unseen by using the microscope objective in an unconventional way.

How it is being reported

• Meet the 2026 winner of Nikon's Small World photomicrography contestOle Bielfeldt of Germany captured a microscopic view of an inkjet printer depositing ink onto paper.Ars Technica · 22 Oct, 20:34
• Nikon’s Small World photomicrography competition winners – in picturesThe 52 nd annual Nikon Small World competition honours the world’s most remarkable images captured through a microscope. The first-place prize was awarded to Ole Bielfeldt, a student and experimental photographer, for his image of ink droplets suspended inside an inkjet printer as it prints Continue reading...The Guardian · 21 Oct, 15:00

In this story: Ole Bielfeldt · Nikon · Germany

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