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)

Costumed guests arrive for the “Life Ball” charity event at the Rathaus city hall in Vienna, Austria, 10 June 2017. The 24th Life Ball is a charity fundraiser for HIV and Aids projects. (Photo by Christian Bruna/EPA/EFE)

Four actors on horseback dressed in Game of Thrones related costumes carry the Queen's Baton as they make their way way along the Dark Hedges on August 29, 2017 in Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Dark Hedges near Stranocum in County Antrim featured as the King's Road in season two of Game of Thrones and has become a tourist mecca for fans of the television series along with other filming locations in the province. The Queen's Baton Relay is currently on a tour of the United Kingdom as it makes its way around Europe in preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

A minaret, that was damaged during fighting between Islamic State jihadists and government forces, is seen in Ben Guerdane, near the Libyan border, Tunisia April 10, 2016. After a U.S. air strike killed a Tunisian jihadist commander in western Libya in late February, dozens of Islamic State fighters sneaked across the border into Tunisia and attacked an army barracks and police bases in the town of Ben Guerdane. (Photo by Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)

A young macaque perches on a pole, observing nearby tourists while eating some seeds in Jigokudani Yaen-koen wild macaque monkey park on February 16, 2015 in Yamanouchi, Nagano, Japan. (Photo by Manuel Romaris/Getty Images)

Motorcycle fans dressed as Santa Claus ride near Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg)during the 25th annual “Santa Claus On Road” Berlin Bike Tour, to deliver gifts to the needy on December 10, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. Some 200 riders with vehicles decorated with lights and mini-Christmas trees took part in the annual event on its 25 year. Anyone may ride along, whether on motorcycle, trike or quad, as long as the vehicle is decorated accordingly. (Photo by Omer Messinger/Getty Images)

Chinese honor guards prepare for the arrival of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (Photo by Jade Gao/Pool Photo via AP Photo)

Protesters throw fireworks at riot police during clashes in Nanterre, near Paris, France, 29 June 2023. Violence broke out after police fatally shot a 17-year-old during a traffic stop in Nanterre on 27 June 2023. According to the French interior minister, 31 people were arrested with 2,000 officers being deployed to prevent further violence. (Photo by Yoan Valat/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)