German Photographer Wins 2026 Nikon Small World Contest with Inkjet Printer Ink Droplets Image

Image: Ars Technica · Source

Ole Bielfeldt's microscopic photo capturing ink droplets from an inkjet printer won first place among nearly 1,800 entries in Nikon's 2026 Small World photomicrography contest.

The 2026 Nikon Small World photomicrography competition awarded its top prize to Ole Bielfeldt, a 25-year-old experimental photographer from Germany, for an extraordinary microscopic image capturing ink droplets being deposited onto paper by an inkjet printer.

Bielfeldt’s winning photo emerged from a combination of curiosity, ingenuity, and technical creativity. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he developed an interest in photomicrography after discovering an old microscope in his parents’ attic. Teaching himself through trial and error, Bielfeldt constructed custom adapters from simple materials like tubes and wood to connect the microscope to his father's camera, documenting his process on his photography brand, macrofying.

Fascinated by the mechanics of inkjet printers, Bielfeldt faced the challenge that ink droplets move faster than a conventional camera’s shutter speed, making them difficult to capture mid-flight. To solve this, he disassembled the printer to allow the paper to move beneath a stationary printhead, instead of the usual moving printhead over stationary paper. He conducted the shoot in a dark room using a flash of light as a shutter to freeze the rapid motion of ink droplets, all with modest equipment and without resorting to AI manipulation.

Eric Flem, spokesperson for Nikon Instruments, praised Bielfeldt’s image for beautifully illustrating the intersection of microscope imaging, technical innovation, and artistry. He emphasized that this artwork transformed a familiar subject into an unprecedented visual experience, underscoring the microscope’s dual role as both a scientific and creative tool.

The Nikon Small World competition, celebrating its 52nd year in 2026, is a long-standing forum showcasing the complexity and beauty revealed by light microscopy. Alongside the still-image contest, Nikon also hosts the Small World in Motion competition for photovideography. Nikon releases a full-color calendar annually featuring the winners, including those from the 2026 contest.

Bielfeldt’s image was chosen from 1,802 entries representing 69 countries, highlighting a global appreciation for microscopic artistry. The top ten winners have been published by Nikon, continuing to inspire with profound glimpses into the micro-world.