Most people know Nikon as a purveyor of pro and consumer-grade digital cameras. But the company's expertise with optics bleeds over into related markets – it's one of the science community's major suppliers of microscopes. And each year the company asks the community to send it some of their favorite images of tiny objects. A panel of scientists and journalists have chosen the best of this past year's submissions, which Nikon has placed on its Small World site.

Photo: Honorable Mention. “Snow crystal, illuminated with colored lights (5x)”. (Photo by Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Department of Physics, Pasadena, California, USA)

A masked protester talks to a soldier during clashes after the funeral of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan October 21, 2012. Lebanese soldiers fired guns and tear gas to push back hundreds of protesters who broke through a police cordon and tried to storm the government headquarters in Beirut. (Photo by Hussein Malla/Associated Press)

A penguin swims in its enclosure during a photocall to promote London Zoo's annual stock take of animals on January 4, 2012 in London, England. The zoo's stocktake takes place annually, and gives keepers a chance to check on the numbers of every one of the animals from stick insects and frogs to tigers and camels. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Paintings are moved on a stand at the “London Art Fair” on January 18, 2012 in London, England. The fair includes over 100 different stands featuring work by well known 20th century British artists and showcases some of the best emerging talent in the art world today. The show runs until January 23, at Business Design Centre in Islington. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Model enthusiast Peter Smith poses with his collection of handmade scale model coaches at the “London Model Engineering Exhibition” at Alexander Palace on January 20, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Runners warm up during the Team Pants And Bra photcall at City Hall on January 26, 2012 in London, England. Team Pants and Bra sprinted through central London this morning, encouraging fellow runners to join TeamPB and proudly wear pants and bras for the Virgin London Marathon in April, representing The Prostate Cancer Charity and Breast Cancer Care. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Prostate Cancer)

Two rare ceramic heads from a series by Japanese ceramicist Takahiro Kondo are displayed at the “Masterpiece London” Auction on June 29, 2011 in London, England. The second “Masterpieces London” sale is currently underway at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, showcasing fine and decorative arts, jewellery, classic cars, fine wines and sculpture from over 30 dealers. The event takes place from June 30 – July 5, 2011. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

“John Thomson (14 June 1837 – 29 September 1921) was a pioneering Scottish photographer, geographer and traveller. He was one of the first photographers to travel to the Far East, documenting the people, landscapes and artifacts of eastern cultures. Upon returning home, his work among the street people of London cemented his reputation, and is regarded as a classic instance of social documentary which laid the foundations for photojournalism. He went on to become a portrait photographer of High Society in Mayfair, gaining the Royal Warrant in 1881”. – Wikipedia. Photo: Ex Omnibus Driver. (Photo by John Thomson/LSE Digital Library)