Ole Bielfeldt, a 25-year-old experimental photographer from Germany, has won the 2026 Nikon Small World photomicrography competition. His winning entry, a striking image of inkjet printer droplets being deposited on paper, defeated 1,802 other submissions from 69 countries.
Bielfeldt discovered photomicrography during the COVID-19 lockdowns. He found an old microscope in his parents' attic. He taught himself the technique through trial and error, constructing a custom adaptor from a tube and wood to connect the microscope to his father's camera. His work is documented through behind-the-scenes videos on macrofying, his photography and videography brand.
Capturing the rapid deposition of ink presented a technical hurdle. The droplets moved faster than the camera's standard shutter speed. Bielfeldt solved this by deconstructing the printer to move the paper beneath a stationary printhead. He then photographed the scene in a dark room, using a flash to freeze the ink drops mid-air. This method allowed him to capture the action without relying on expensive equipment.
Bielfeldt stated that he does not use artificial intelligence in his images, preferring to rely on traditional techniques for his work.