Submit Entries for Nikon Small World in Motion Competition

Deadline: 30-Apr-2027

The Nikon Small World in Motion Competition recognizes exceptional movies and digital time-lapse videos created through light microscopy. The competition is open to adults with access to a light microscope and rewards entries for creativity, scientific and informational value, technical skill, and visual impact, with a US$3,000 first prize and additional cash awards.

About the Nikon Small World in Motion Competition

The Nikon Small World in Motion Competition is sponsored and administered in the United States by Nikon Instruments Inc. The competition celebrates photomicrography in motion, including microscope movies and digital time-lapse photography that reveal scientific, biological, medical or other microscopic subjects. Entries can use a wide range of light microscopy techniques, allowing participants to showcase both scientific detail and artistic creativity. What Does the Competition Recognize? The competition focuses on moving images captured through a light microscope and microscope objective.

Eligible microscopy techniques include:

Phase contrast microscopy Polarized light microscopy Fluorescence microscopy Interference contrast microscopy Darkfield microscopy Confocal microscopy Deconvolution microscopy Mixed microscopy techniques The subject matter is broad, provided that the submitted video meets the competition’s technical and eligibility requirements. Judging Criteria Entries are evaluated across four main areas:

Creativity and originality: How distinctive and inventive the video is.

Informational content: The scientific, educational or informational value of the submission.

Technical proficiency: The quality and effectiveness of the microscopy and imaging techniques.

Artistic and visual impact: The visual quality, composition and ability of the video to engage viewers.

A strong submission should therefore combine scientific interest, technical quality and compelling visual presentation. Prizes The competition awards prizes to five ranked winners.

First Prize: US$3,000

Second Prize: US$2,000

Third Prize: US$1,000

Fourth Prize: US$800

Fifth Prize: US$600

Honorable Mention: US$200 each, with the number determined by the judges

Prizes are awarded in U.S. dollars to the registered entrant. The rules state that prizes are awarded by check, while the competition prize information states that prizes are provided as Visa gift cards preloaded with the applicable U.S.-dollar amount. Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes and fees. Only one prize can be awarded per submitted video. Who Is Eligible? The competition is open to individuals who meet the applicable age and equipment requirements.

Applicants must:

Be at least 18 years old, or the older legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence. Use a light microscope and microscope objective to capture their submitted videos. Submit videos that they personally captured. Own the submitted material and have the necessary rights to enter it.

Participants can submit up to three videos

Who Is Not Eligible? Certain individuals and submissions are excluded from the competition.

Ineligible individuals include:

Employees of Nikon Instruments Inc. Employees of the competition’s service providers and agencies. Employees of their parent and affiliated companies. Immediate family and household members of the above individuals. Competition judges and their immediate family and household members. Individuals who own or work for businesses involved in manufacturing, distributing or selling microscopes, microscope accessories or photographic equipment. Individuals who won First Prize in any of the three immediately preceding Nikon Small World in Motion Video Competitions are also not eligible to win First Prize in the current competition. Video Submission Requirements Each entrant may submit up to three videos, subject to the competition rules.

Videos must:

Be captured by the entrant. Use a light microscope and microscope objective. Be no longer than 60 seconds. Be submitted in an accepted video format. Be provided at the highest practical quality in terms of file size, bit depth and resolution. Be submitted in English. Be owned by the entrant.

Accepted video formats include:

MP4 MPG WMV AVI MOV What Videos Are Not Eligible? Several types of content are specifically excluded. AI-Generated Videos AI-generated videos are not eligible. The competition is intended for microscopy footage captured through eligible optical microscopy methods. Non-Optical Microscopy Videos captured using electron microscopes or other non-optical-light microscopes are not eligible. Macro Photography Macro photography does not qualify as photomicrography for this competition and is therefore excluded. Previously Recognized Work Videos that have previously won a prize, placement or recognition in an active or ongoing photomicrography competition are not eligible. Content and Rights Requirements Entrants must have ownership and the necessary rights to the submitted material.

Submissions must not contain:

Third-party copyright or other rights violations. Unauthorised brand names. Logos or trademarks. URLs. Specified third-party personal information. Unlawful material. Otherwise prohibited content. Malicious computer code. Content that infringes another person’s rights. These requirements are important because eligibility is not determined solely by the quality of the microscopy footage. How to Enter Applicants should carefully prepare their microscopy footage before submitting it.

Step 1: Capture Original Microscopy Footage

Use a qualifying light microscope and microscope objective to capture the moving microscopic subject. The video should be the entrant’s own work.

Step 2: Select Your Best Footage

Choose up to three videos that demonstrate strong scientific or informational content as well as visual and artistic quality.

Step 3: Check the Duration

Make sure each video is 60 seconds or shorter.

Step 4: Verify the File Format

Save each sub