Nikon has announced the winner of its 2008 Small World Photomicrography Competition.
Michael Stringer of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, UK, was awarded first prize in the competition for his image of Pleurosigma (marine diatoms), which was magnified 200 times and taken using darkfield and polarised light.
Nearly 2,000 entries were received for the competition from scientists and artists across the world.
The winning images were selected by a panel of judges, including Ivan Oranksy, managing editor, online, Scientific American; Alice Park, department head, science, Time Magazine; David L Spector, director of research and head of the Gene Regulation Programme, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory; Ron Strum, senior petrographer, CTLGroup; and Michael Davidson, director of the Optical and Magneto-Optical Imaging Center at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University.
The top three images include Stringer's diatoms, Paul Marshall's picture of post-growth carbon nanotubes, and Albert Tousson's image of Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley).
Nikon also awarded several Honourable Mentions and Images of Distinction this year to photomicrographs that demonstrate superior technical competency and artistic skill.
The 2008 winners were recognised at the Astor Center in New York City, US.
Nikon also unveiled the complete gallery of winning photomicrographs set to tour science and art museums across the nation beginning 24 October.
The images are also available in the Small World calendar and an online gallery.
