Now celebrating its 40th year, Nikon Small World is widely regarded as the leading forum to recognize proficiency and photographic excellence of photography taken under the microscope. To select the winners, competition judges analyzed entries from all over the world covering subjects ranging from chemical compounds to up-close-and-personal looks at biological specimens. The 2014 winners will be revealed on October 30th. In 2014, the competition received over 1,200 entries from more than 79 countries around the world. (Photo by Dr. Igor Robert Siwanowicz/Nikon Small World 2014)

People dressed as Father Frost, the equivalent of Santa Claus, and Snow Maiden take part in the contest “Yolka-fest-2014” (Fir-festival-2014) in Minsk December 12, 2014. (Photo by Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

German fan Didi Senft known as El Diablo cheers as the pack rides past during the 234.5 km seventh stage of the 101st edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 11, 2014 between Epernay and Nancy, northeastern France. (Photo by Lionel Bonaventure/AFP Photo)

(L-R) Poppy Delevingne, Model of the Year Cara Delevingne, Joan Smalls and Karlie Kloss pose in the winners room at the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

People carry cutouts of coffins during a march to commemorate the more than 617 people they say have been killed by law enforcement in LA County since 2000, in Los Angeles, California April 7, 2015. (Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

A demonstrator sits on the roadway during a protest against police brutality against minorities, in New York April 14, 2015. Protesters angered by fresh cases of police violence against unarmed black men in the United States gathered on Tuesday in New York City in a protest organized by the group “Stop Mass Incarceration Network” hoping to invigorate a national discussion on the thorny issue. (Photo by Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

A partially burned American flag lies on the street near the spot where Michael Brown was killed before an event to mark the one year anniversary of his killing in Ferguson, Missouri August 9, 2015. (Photo by Rick Wilking/Reuters)

A tractor trailer drives through flash flood waters that overran Skunk Creek, Tuesday, August 19, 2014, in northwestern Phoenix. Flooding from heavy rain in the Phoenix area has forced authorities to close several major roads, including a portion of Interstate 17 about 25 miles north of the city. (Photo by Matt York/AP Photo)