Ole Bielfeldt Wins 52nd Nikon Small World Competition
The photographer earned the top prize for an image capturing ink droplets inside a printer using a custom imaging rig.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Photography
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Ole Bielfeldt of Cologne, Germany, secured first place in the 52nd annual Nikon Small World photomicrography competition. His winning photograph utilized a self-built imaging rig to document how printer ink transfers onto paper.
Why it matters
The competition recognizes scientific imagery that bridges the gap between technical research and aesthetic appreciation. Bielfeldt captured the ink droplets to specifically investigate the mechanics of inkjet printer image transfer.
Ole Bielfeldt earned 1st place in the 52nd edition of the competition, while John-Oliver Dum secured 2nd place and Kaelin Wulf and Rachel Flannery took 3rd. Winners were officially announced in October 2026.
The players
Ole Bielfeldt
He is a photographer based in Cologne, Germany, who won the 52nd Nikon Small World photomicrography competition.
Nikon
It is a multinational corporation specializing in optics and imaging products that hosts the annual Small World competition.
John-Oliver Dum
He earned second place in the photomicrography competition for his capture of a jumping spider.
Kaelin Wulf
She shared the third-place prize for an image focusing on neurons within an expanded mouse brain.
Rachel Flannery
She is a co-recipient of the third-place award for her collaborative microscopy work.
The details
Bielfeldt utilized a custom-built microscope setup to capture the complex fluid dynamics of ink inside a printer. In a separate development, Nikon disqualified the Small World in Motion video competition winner in mid-October for using generative AI, which violated the contest guidelines.
Timeline
Winners for the Nikon Small World competition were announced in October 2026.
The Small World in Motion winner was disqualified in mid-October 2026.
Culture Shift
The competition rules regarding digital manipulation have become a focal point following the 2026 Nikon Small World in Motion video competition disqualification. This shift highlights a broader societal movement to maintain authenticity in scientific and professional photography.
Amateur photographers interested in future entries should review the updated competition guidelines to avoid disqualification due to generative AI usage. Participants looking to replicate these results will need to invest time in constructing specialized microscopy rigs similar to the winning entry.
The takeaway
Technological innovation in microscopy continues to reveal complex physical processes hidden in everyday objects like printers. Photographers should prioritize transparency in their methodology as contest organizers enforce stricter policies against generative AI.
Further reading
Discover more about the intersection of science and art in the Photography section.
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