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Ole Bielfeldt won Nikon’s 2026 Small World in Motion competition with a microscopic video of an inkjet printer depositing ink on paper. The contest recognizes moving images made through light microscopes and is part of Nikon Small World, founded in 1974.
Ole Bielfeldt has won Nikon’s 2026 Small World in Motion competition with a microscopic video showing an inkjet printer depositing droplets on paper. The winning entry turns an everyday printing process into a view of ink in motion, and was selected in a contest devoted to videos and time-lapse images captured through light microscopes.
The image shows ink droplets being deposited on paper by an inkjet printer, as seen through a microscope. Nikon’s contest announcement identifies Bielfeldt as the winner and describes the work as an example of microscope imaging combined with technical ingenuity and artistic presentation. The supplied report does not give the video’s duration, recording setup, or the precise magnification used.
Eric Flem, a spokesperson for Nikon Instruments, said Bielfeldt used a microscope objective in a different way to depict a familiar object in an unexpected manner. Flem characterized the microscope as both a scientific instrument and a creative tool. Those comments are Nikon’s assessment of the work, rather than a separate technical evaluation of its imaging method.
Nikon also identified the top 10 entries in this year’s competition, with a full list that includes honorable mentions available through the contest. The company said it is producing a full-color 2027 calendar featuring the 2026 winners. The source report does not provide the other finalists’ names or a detailed account of the judging process.
Microscopy Turns Printing Into Motion
The winning video puts a process most people encounter only as a finished page into view as a sequence of moving droplets. That shift in scale and presentation is the contest’s central appeal: it makes small, fast events visible while presenting them in a form that can be watched rather than inferred from a still image.
The award also highlights how microscopy can serve purposes beyond documenting scientific specimens. Flem said the image combines microscope imaging, ingenuity and artistry. The result may interest readers in photography and visual science, as well as those curious about how everyday technology works. The announcement does not claim that the video represents a scientific discovery or establishes new findings about inkjet printing.
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From Still Images to Microscope Video
The Nikon Small World competition was founded in 1974 to showcase the beauty and complexity of subjects viewed through light microscopes. Nikon added the Small World in Motion competition in 2011, extending the program from still photomicrographs to photovideography, including movies and time-lapse images made through microscopes.
The two competitions share a focus on microscope-based imaging but recognize different formats: one rewards still photographs, while Small World in Motion recognizes moving images. Nikon’s 2026 announcement places Bielfeldt’s inkjet video among this year’s leading motion entries. The supplied report does not establish whether he has previously entered or won either competition.
“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
Imaging Setup Details Remain Limited
The announcement identifies the subject and winner but does not explain in detail how Bielfeldt adapted the microscope objective, what equipment or lighting he used, or how the video was recorded and processed. It also does not report the judges’ criteria, the number of submissions, or the margin separating the winning entry from other finalists.
The supplied report names the top 10 collectively but does not list their individual projects or explain how the honorable mentions were selected. No broader scientific conclusions are reported: the confirmed news is a contest result and Nikon’s description of the winning image, not a peer-reviewed study or a technical finding about printer performance.
Winners to Feature in 2027 Calendar
Nikon says it is preparing a 2027 full-color calendar featuring the 2026 winners. Readers can also consult the contest’s full results, including honorable mentions, through the list referenced in the announcement. The source material does not give a release date for the calendar or indicate whether Nikon plans a further exhibition or screening of the winning videos.
The immediate next development is the publication of the winning entries and associated contest material. Any additional information about Bielfeldt’s recording technique, the judging process, or the other top-ranked videos would need to come from Nikon, the entrant, or further reporting.
Key Questions
What won the 2026 Nikon Small World in Motion competition?
Ole Bielfeldt’s microscopic video of an inkjet printer depositing ink droplets on paper won the 2026 contest.
What does Small World in Motion recognize?
It recognizes photomicroscopy videos, including movies and time-lapse images captured through light microscopes. Nikon added the competition in 2011.
How did Bielfeldt create the winning image?
Nikon spokesperson Eric Flem said Bielfeldt used a microscope objective in a different way. The announcement does not provide a full account of the equipment or recording process.
Where can readers find the other 2026 winners?
Nikon’s announcement points to a full results list that includes the top 10 and honorable mentions. The company also plans a 2027 calendar featuring the 2026 winners.
Source: arstechnica.com
