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)

Folk artists perform intangible culture heritage items during a celebration at a park in Chengshan Town to welcome Chinese new year, on Janaury 18, 2022 in Rongcheng, Shandong Province of China. (Photo by Yang Zhili/VCG via Getty Images)

A model presents creations by Japanese designer Ayano Ichige from the Autumn/Winter 2022 collection for the label “NON TOKYO” during the Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo, Japan, 14 March 2022. The presentation of the Autumn/Winter 2022 collections runs from 14 to 19 March. (Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA/EFE)

A Netherlands fan with his face painted is seen in the stand before the match against Poland during UEFA Nations League action at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland on September 22, 2022. (Photo by Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

An Aston Villa fan outside Villa Park before the side’s Premier League match against Liverpool in Birmingham, Britain on May 13, 2024. The game finished 3-3, shoring up Villa’s hopes of a top-four finish and a Champions League spot for next season. (Photo by Carl Recine/Reuters)

A fisherman with a close bond to cormorants uses the flock of birds to catch big fish in Li river in Guilin, China. The aquatic birds can be seen perching on a bamboo raft before swooping into the calm water to grasp hold of prey. (Photo by Julia Wimmerlin/Solnet News & Photo Agency)

Mothers-to-be show their belly paintings in Hefei, east China's Anhui province on May 8, 2020. (Photo by Rex Features/Shutterstock/China Stringer Network)

Tourists ride in inflatable boats as they go rafting down a river at Buyun Mountain Scenic Spot on July 10, 2020 in Dalian, Liaoning Province of China. (Photo by Wang Hua/VCG via Getty Images)