Common Housefly Soars to First Place at Nikon’s Small World
MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2005 — Bristling with sharp, sensitive antennae, bulbous eyes with 4,000 lenses, and a mouth that sucks up food using a bellows-like pump in its head, the common housefly is one of 119,500 known species of fly, and this year’s winning image in Nikon’s Small World competition.
Founded in 1975 to recognize excellence in photography through the microscope, the competition is the leading forum for celebrating the beauty and complexity of objects seen through the light microscope. This year’s winning photographers will be recognized this evening at New York’s famed Hudson Theatre where Nikon will unveil the complete gallery of winning photographs set to tour science and art museums across the nation beginning January 1st.
The top three images include Mr. Charles Krebs’ photomicrograph of a common housefly, Mr. Thomas Deerinck’s quantum dot fluorescence image of a mouse kidney section, and Mr. Stefan Eberhard’s crystallized image of vitamin A.
“Nikon’s Small World provides a unique opportunity for people to see ordinary things in an extraordinary way,” said Lee Shuett, executive vice president, Nikon Instruments. “Modern microscopes have become information technology platforms that combine sophisticated optics, internet communications and advanced software to unveil amazing new worlds in miniature. Tonight, we will honor and celebrate each Small World contributor as we congratulate the 2005 winners.”