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)

Retired 90 year old Frank Foss of St. Petersburg, Florida, with his home made banjo, made from a frying pan, a length of wood and some strings. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 2nd July 1972

A caterpillar driven ferry with a 24 horsepower engine takes holidaymakers from the mainland at Bigbury in Devon to Burgh Island, a quarter of a mile away. (Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images). 4th April 1935

Typhoon Haiyan survivor Mariena Delacueva stands amongst the ruins of her families home on November 6, 2014 in San Antonio, Samar, Philippines. Mariena's looks after the property after her parents moved to Manila to find work so they can save enough money to rebuild the house. Residents of Leyte and surrounds are preparing for the 1-year anniversary since Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the coast on November 8, 2013, leaving more than 6000 dead and many more homeless. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

The “Yama” (Pit) memorial is seen in the centre of Minsk May 5, 2015. The memorial is dedicated of the destruction of the Minsk ghetto during World War Two, when several hundred thousands of Jews were slaughtered. Belarus will mark Victory Day on May 9, the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. (Photo by Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

A man sits under lanterns and decorations on a street ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Chinatown Yangon, Myanmar January 23, 2017. (Photo by Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters)

Masked Guggen music bands parade through the streets on the occasion of the beginning of the Fasnacht Carnival of Lucerne, Switzerland, early 23 February 2017. (Photo by Urs Flueeler/EPA)

In this Sunday, June 4, 2017 photo, a model walks the runway wearing a design by Agatha Ruiz de la Parada on the final day of Miami Fashion Week at Ice Palace Film Studios in Miami. (Photo by Bryan Cereijo/Miami Herald via AP Photo)