# Nikon Small World photomicrography competition > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nikon-small-world-photomicrography-competition > Updated: 2026-10-29T07:33:46.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Ole Bielfeldt, a student and experimental photographer from Cologne, Germany, won first prize in the 52nd annual Nikon Small World competition. His winning image depicts ink droplets suspended in mid-air during the inkjet printing process. To capture the droplets, which travel at nearly 20 meters per second, Bielfeldt used a custom-built imaging rig and a reverse engineering process to keep the printer nozzles stationary while moving the paper. He utilized a dark room and a flash to act as a shutter to freeze the high-speed motion. Bielfeldt, who taught himself the craft during the COVID-19 lockdown, confirmed he did not use AI in his work. The competition included 1,803 entries from 69 countries. Other winners included second-place finisher John-Oliver Dum for an image of a jumping spider and third-place winners Kaelin Wulf and Rachel Flannery for a photograph of mouse brain neurons. In the separate Nikon Small World in Motion video category, the winner was disqualified for using generative artificial intelligence in violation of the rules. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-29: Ole Bielfeldt wins Nikon Small World microscopic photography contest German photographer Ole Bielfeldt won the 2026 Nikon Small World contest with a microscopic image of ink droplets being deposited by an inkjet printer. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ole-bielfeldt-wins-nikon-small-world-microscopic-photography-contest ### 2026-10-21: Ole Bielfeldt wins Nikon Small World photomicrography competition German student Ole Bielfeldt won the 52nd Nikon Small World photomicrography competition with a microscopic image of ink droplets inside a printer. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nikon-small-world-2026-photography-competition-winners-announced --- Cite as: Nikon Small World photomicrography competition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nikon-small-world-photomicrography-competition