Call for Entries: Nikon Small World in Motion Competition

In 2011, Nikon announced that it would begin accepting movies taken through the microscope as a new category in the 37th annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition. The introduction of this new category, titled Small World in Motion, encompasses any movie or digital time-lapse photography taken through the microscope and adds a new, distinct discipline to the competition. The movies are judged and honored as a separate category in the competition, complete with prizes for first, second and third places.

Nikon welcomes a broad range of subject matter, and any type of light microscopy technique is acceptable, including phase contrast, polarized light, fluorescence, interference contrast, darkfield, confocal, deconvolution, and mixed techniques.

Entries submitted to Nikon are then judged by an independent panel of experts who are recognized authorities in the area of photomicrography and photography. These entries are judged on the basis of originality, informational content, technical proficiency and visual impact.

Prize Information

• Top prize winners are selected and ranked by Small World In Motion Judges.
  • 1st Prize – USD $3,000
  • 2nd Prize – USD $2,000
  • 3rd Prize – USD $1,000
  • 4th Prize – USD $800
  • 5th Prize – USD $600
  • Honorable Mentions – USD $100 each. The number of Honorable Mention Prizes will be determined by the Judges in their sole discretion.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Nikon Small World in Motion Video Competition is open only to individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry and have access to a light microscope.
• The following individuals are not eligible to enter the Competition:
  • employees of Nikon Instruments Inc., Shaw & Todd, Inc., their respective parent companies and affiliated companies, and/or the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee,
  • the Competition Judges, regardless of the date of appointment, and/or their immediate family and household members, and/or
  • individuals engaged (as a business owner or employee) in the manufacture, distribution, and/or sale of microscopes, related accessories, and/or photographic equipment. Participation in the competition and/or the receipt of any prize may be restricted or void where prohibited.

Guidelines and Restrictions

• Videos must be submitted in .mp4, .mpg, .wmv, .avi, .or .mov format.
• Videos may not exceed sixty (60) seconds.
• Videos may not include the use of sound and may not include any graphics of any kind.
• Videos should be submitted with the highest quality with regard to file size, bit depth, and resolution.
• Videos do not need to be taken with a Nikon-branded microscope.
• Videos must be taken by Entrant using a light microscope. Videos taken with an electron or any other microscope(s) that do not capture imagery using optical light technology are not eligible.
• Macro photography is not eligible.
• Videos that have competed previously in any active or ongoing photomicrography competition, and/or that have won any other photomicrography competition, are not eligible.
• The submission must be in the english language.
• The submission must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, discriminatory, obscene, hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous, or contain material that is otherwise unlawful, in violation of or contrary to any applicable laws or regulations.

For more information, visit Nikon.