Meet the 2025 Nikon photomicrography winners

The 2025 Nikon Small World photomicrography contest has crowned a captivating image of a rice weevil perched on a single grain of rice as its winner. This remarkable photograph, captured by Zhang You from Yunnan, China, offers new insights into the structure and behavior of this familiar agricultural pest. Zhang's talent was further showcased as another of his works secured the 15th position in the competition. Emphasizing the intricate relationship between artistry and science, You stated, "It pays to dive deep into entomology: understanding insects’ behaviors and mastering lighting. A standout work blends artistry with scientific rigor, capturing the very essence, energy, and spirit of these creatures." The creation of his award-winning image involved a stroke of luck. "I had observed rice weevils in grains before, but never one with its wings spread," Zhang explained. "This specimen was naturally preserved on a windowsill, perhaps in a final attempt to escape. Its tiny size makes manually preparing spread-wing specimens extremely difficult, so encountering it was both serendipitous and inspiring." Since its inception in 1974, Nikon's annual contest has aimed to highlight the beauty and complexity of microscopic views. Photomicrography, which involves attaching a camera to a microscope to capture high-resolution images, has roots dating back to the 1850s with British physiologist Richard Hill Norris's studies on blood cells. Over the decades, this technique has gained recognition not only for its scientific value but also as a form of art, especially with the rise of digital imaging technologies.