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Can you believe this is real? Nikon reveals microscopic life like you’ve never seen before

AnyFans 2025-10-13

By Kalum Carter

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Can you believe this is real? Nikon reveals microscopic life like you’ve never seen before

Kalum Carter

24 September 2025

From self-pollinating flowers to single-celled organisms dancing inside a coin, the 15th Nikon Small World in Motion winners reveal an entirely hidden universe – one that is as scientifically fascinating as it is strangely beautiful

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(Image credit: Benedikt Pleyer)

Nikon has just announced the winners of its 15th annual Small World in Motion Video Competition, and the results are astonishing.

From the self-pollination of a tiny thymeleaf speedwell to volvox algae performing a microscopic ballet inside a coin, these videos make the invisible world around us look utterly alien. The world of micro-video is like stepping into a hidden dimension, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and life at its smallest scale feels cinematic, surreal, and otherworldly.

1st Place – Jay McClellan, Saranac, Michigan, USA. Self-pollination in a flower of thyme-leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia). Time lapse, Image Stacking 5X (Objective Lens Magnification). (A frame from the video) (Image credit: Jay McClellan)
This year’s first-place winner is retired engineer-turned-microscopist Jay McClellan from Saranac, Michigan, USA, for a video capturing the self-pollination of a thymeleaf speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia).

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Using time-lapse and image stacking at 5X objective lens magnification, McClellan filmed a tiny blue blossom opening to the morning sun, its stamens curling toward the pistil to dust the stigma with pollen.

“This isn’t some exotic plant you’d need to travel the world to find. It’s a common ‘weed’ that might be growing right under your feet,” McClellan said. “I love the idea that anyone could discover beauty like this if they just looked closely.”
Capturing such a fleeting process wasn’t easy. Thymeleaf speedwells bloom unpredictably, and filming required anticipating movements and programming a custom motion-control system to keep everything perfectly in frame.
Advanced focus-stacking techniques ensured crystal clarity across focal planes, and McClellan admits he sometimes runs terabytes of raw footage for a single shot!

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“Running the focus-stacking overnight is like waiting for Christmas morning – you never know whether you’ll get a disappointment or something amazing,” he said.

Image 1 of 3

2nd Place – Benedikt Pleyer, Kirchberg, Bavaria, Germany. Volvox algae swimming in water drop that has been pipetted into the central opening of a Japanese 50 Yen Coin. Darkfield 50X (Objective Lens Magnification). (A frame from the video)(Image credit: Benedikt Pleyer)

Second place was awarded to Benedikt Pleyer from Kirchberg, Bavaria, Germany, for his video of volvox algae swimming in a water drop that had been pipetted into the central opening of a Japanese 50 Yen coin.
Captured using darkfield microscopy at 50X objective lens magnification, the video reveals the graceful, almost balletic movements of these single-celled organisms; a tiny universe in a droplet.

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Third place went to Dr. Eric Vitriol from Augusta University, Georgia, USA, for his super-resolution video of actin and mitochondria in mouse brain tumor cells at 40X objective lens magnification. The intricate interplay of cellular structures is revealed with stunning clarity, offering a glimpse into the microscopic machinery of life that is normally invisible to the human eye.
“As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Small World in Motion competition, this year’s winners showcase the extraordinary choreography of life unfolding at a scale beyond ordinary sight,” said Eric Flem, Senior Manager, Communications and CRM at Nikon Instruments.
“Jay McClellan and all our other winners’ videos reflect the competition’s enduring purpose to inspire wonder, fuel discovery, and showcase the artistry inherent in scientific exploration.”
Watching these videos, I was struck by how much beauty is happening all around us, invisible to the naked eye. Ordinary weeds, single drops of water, microscopic structures — the tiniest processes in our world are extraordinary when seen up close.
For anyone curious about life at the micro scale, you can find the full list of winners and honorable mentions on the Nikon Small World in Motion website. It is a treasure trove of sights that are at once scientific, artistic, and utterly captivating.

3rd Place – Dr. Eric Vitriol, Augusta University Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Augusta, Georgia, USA. Actin and mitochondria in mouse brain tumor cells. Super-Resolution40X (Objective Lens Magnification). (A frame from the video) (Image credit: Dr. Eric Vitriol)
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Check out our guides to the best macro lenses and the best microscopes.

Kalum Carter

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Staff Writer

Kalum is a photographer, filmmaker, creative director, and writer with over 10 years of experience in visual storytelling. With a strong focus on photography books, curation, and photo editing, he blends a deep understanding of both contemporary and historical works.
Alongside his creative projects, Kalum writes about photography and filmmaking, interviewing industry professionals, showcasing emerging talent, and offering in-depth analyses of the art form. His work highlights the power of visual storytelling, fostering an appreciation for the impact of photography.

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