A microscopic image of a honey bee eye covered in dandelion pollen grains was declared winner in the 2015 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Contest. The photographer behind the work hopes to raise environmental awareness by bringing the world closer to the eye of this embattled creatures.
The winning photographer is Ralph Grimm, who hails from Australia. The judges were specifically fascinated by his adept style in capturing the image stack. To get the perfect shot, Grimm had to carefully mount the eye for more than four hours, adjust the focus increments, adequately light the honey bee and prevent smudging at the side while in the process of stacking. The finished product was indeed an attestation of Grimm's scrupulous work.
More than its visual appeal, the winning photo also emphasized how little the public know of these wonderful insects. As the particular subject matter is close to Grimm's heart, he hopes that his work could be the an advocate for the increasingly disappearing species that is critical to the overall pollination process of crops all over the world.
"In a way I feel as though this gives us a glimpse of the world through the eye of a bee," said Grimm, who is a high school teacher and former bookkeeper. He added that amid the beauty of the subject, the work should also serve as a warning that people should not lose their connection to the world - to consider tiny creatures and to look for a strategy on how to safeguard the planet we call home.
Grimm, a self-taught photomicrographer, is now included in the circle of top prize winners, comprising 37 international artists, photomicrographers and scientists.
For the 2015 contest, Nikon received more than 2,000 entries from over 83 nations. Aside from Grimm, more than 77 other photographers were given recognition for their work, including the top twenty images, 12 honorable mentions and 56 "With Distinction" photos.
The competition was stiff. Judges chose the winner not only based on artistry but on excellent scientific technique as well.
"Each year we are blown away by the incredible quality and quantity of microscopic images submitted from all over the world, from scientists, artists, and photomicrographers of all levels and backgrounds," said Eric Flem, Nikon Instruments' Communications Manager. He said that this year is not an exclusion.
The Nikon Small World Photomicrography contest was first held in 1974 to remark photography excellence using a microscope.
