Ink Droplets In Motion Snag Top Prize In Nikon Small World Contest

A 25-year-old German photographer, Ole Bielfeldt, claimed victory at the 2026 Nikon Small World competition with a captivating microscopic image of ink droplets frozen mid-air as they are emitted by an inkjet printer onto a sheet of paper. Out of 1,802 entries from 69 countries, Bielfeldt's work stood out as the top winner.

Bielfeldt's fascination with photomicrography began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when he stumbled upon an old microscope in his parents' attic. He then devised a way to connect the microscope to his father's camera using a tube and some wood. Through trial and error, Bielfeldt learned the art of capturing these images, building custom tools as necessary.

The inspiration for his winning entry came from Bielfeldt's curiosity about how inkjet printers function. However, capturing the rapid movement of ink drops proved challenging, as the process occurs too quickly for a regular camera shutter. To overcome this obstacle, Bielfeldt devised a solution: he disassembled the printer so that the paper moved under a stationary printhead, and then took the image in a dark room, using a flash as the shutter to freeze the ink drops in mid-air.

Bielfeldt's winning image exemplifies the essence of Nikon Small World, which highlights the convergence of microscope imaging, creativity, and artistry. As Eric Flem, a spokesperson for Nikon Instruments, noted, Bielfeldt's innovative approach transformed a familiar object into something entirely new and previously unseen, showcasing the microscope's potential as both a scientific and creative tool.

The Nikon Small World competition recognizes the creative possibilities of microscope imaging and encourages photographers to explore the hidden wonders of everyday objects.