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Ole Bielfeldt won the 2026 Nikon Small World in Motion contest with a microscopic video showing an inkjet printer depositing ink on paper. The contest recognizes photovideography captured through a light microscope; Nikon says the image uses a microscope objective in an unconventional way.
Ole Bielfeldt’s microscopic video of an inkjet printer depositing ink on paper won the top prize in the 2026 Nikon Small World in Motion competition, which recognizes films and time-lapse images made through light microscopes. The video shows ink droplets as they land on paper. Nikon spokesperson Eric Flem said Bielfeldt used a microscope objective in a different way to produce the image.
The image shows ink droplets in motion as they land on paper. Nikon spokesperson Eric Flem said Bielfeldt used a microscope objective in a different way to produce the view. The supplied report does not describe the specific setup, the recording process, or the technical settings used to capture the video.
Nikon said the contest’s purpose is to showcase the beauty and complexity of subjects viewed through a light microscope. Small World in Motion is the video-focused counterpart to the company’s still-image competition. The 2026 winners include a top 10, with the full list and honorable mentions available through Nikon’s contest coverage, according to the report.
Nikon is also producing a full-color 2027 calendar featuring the 2026 winners. The report identifies Bielfeldt as the motion contest’s top-prize winner but does not provide the names or details of other ranked entries in the material supplied here.
Microscope Videos Reach New Audiences
The award recognizes microscope videography, a format that records processes over time rather than capturing a single still image. Bielfeldt’s video shows droplets moving and settling as ink lands on paper. The footage depicts activity at a scale that is not ordinarily visible without magnification.
Nikon spokesperson Eric Flem described the winning work as an example of microscope imaging, ingenuity and artistry coming together. This is Nikon’s characterization of the entry. The available source presents the video as an imaging achievement and does not report that it advances inkjet research or establishes a scientific result.
The entry shows a familiar printing process through a microscope, focusing on the movement of ink droplets as they land on paper. The supplied report does not describe further implications for printing technology or microscopy.
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A Still Contest Adds Motion
The Nikon Small World competition began in 1974 and is marking its 52nd anniversary in 2026, according to the report. It celebrates images made with light microscopes, highlighting subjects that become visible through magnification and careful imaging.
Nikon added Small World in Motion in 2011. While the original contest centers on still photographs, the motion contest recognizes photovideography, including movies and time-lapse images captured through microscopes. The distinction reflects changes in imaging technology that allow microscope users to record movement as well as detail, the report says.
The two contests share a focus on what can be seen through a light microscope but present it in different formats. Bielfeldt’s inkjet video fits the motion category by making the changing position of droplets part of the subject. Nikon’s planned 2027 calendar, featuring the 2026 winners, will also carry selected entries beyond the contest announcement.
““Ole Bielfeldt’s winning image embodies what makes Nikon Small World so powerful: the intersection of microscope imaging, ingenuity, and artistry.””
— Eric Flem, spokesperson for Nikon Instruments
Capture Methods Still Undisclosed
The supplied report does not state how Bielfeldt recorded or processed the video, what microscope or objective configuration he used, or whether the footage was slowed, edited or assembled from multiple captures. Flem’s comment says the objective was used differently, but does not explain the method.
The material also does not give the prize’s value, judging criteria, the identities and placements of the other top 10 entries, or the date when the 2027 calendar will be released. The award announcement confirms the winning subject and artist, but further details would be needed to assess the imaging method or any scientific implications. No separate scientific finding is reported in the source material.
Winners Feature in 2027 Calendar
Nikon plans to produce a full-color 2027 calendar featuring the 2026 contest winners. The report does not give a release date or say where it will be available. Readers seeking the other results can consult the full contest list and honorable mentions referenced in the report.
Further technical information about Bielfeldt’s recording setup may clarify how the droplets were filmed, but none is included in the supplied account. For now, the confirmed development is the award itself and Nikon’s plan to publish selected winning images in the calendar.
Key Questions
What won the 2026 Nikon Small World in Motion contest?
Ole Bielfeldt’s video of an inkjet printer depositing ink on paper took the top prize. The footage shows ink droplets moving as they land on the paper under a microscope.
What is Nikon Small World in Motion?
It is Nikon’s video-focused microscopy competition, added in 2011. It recognizes movies and time-lapse images made through light microscopes, in contrast with the original Small World contest’s still photographs.
How did Bielfeldt make the winning video?
The report does not provide a detailed method. Nikon spokesperson Eric Flem said Bielfeldt used a microscope objective in a different way, but the specific equipment and recording process were not described.
Does the award recognize a scientific discovery?
The available report presents the entry as a microscopy image and creative achievement. It does not report a new scientific finding or say that the video advances inkjet research.
Where can readers see more of the 2026 entries?
The report points readers to Nikon’s full list of winners and honorable mentions. Nikon also plans a 2027 calendar featuring the 2026 winners, though no release date is given.
Source: arstechnica.com
