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Microphotography opens up an invisible world, one that goes undetected by the naked eye. Nikon’s Small World is a leading forum for microphotography and their annual photomicrography competition highlights the best images in the genre. This year’s winners were recently announced after scientists, photographers, and hobbyists from 70 countries submitted more than 2,000 entries. For this 42nd edition, Dr. Oscar Ruiz was victorious for his photography of a 4-day-old zebrafish embryo. Based in Texas, Ruiz uses the zebrafish to study genetic mutations that lead to facial abnormalities such as cleft lip and palate in humans. His image was the perfect balance of artistic quality and scientific research that the competition’s judges look for. Ruiz created his photograph by developing innovative techniques to capture time-lapse images of the evolving zebrafish face.

Not all the winning images depict living organisms, though. Second place winner Douglas L. Moore, Emeritus Curator at the Museum of Natural History at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, has long been fascinated by agate. His image is a colorfully composed shot of a polished slab of Teepee Canyon agate. “That such beauty and detail could be locked in a 273-million-year-old rock amazes me,” he shares. From wildflower stamens to espresso bean crystals, the winning entries artfully capture the world in miniature.

“Whether an image provides a rare glimpse into cutting-edge medical research as we saw from our first place winner, or reveals a fun ‘too-close-for-comfort’ look into the eyes of a spider like one of our Images of Distinction, each evokes a powerful reaction from our judges. Every year we’re looking for that image that makes people lean forward in their seats, sparks their curiosity and leads them to ask new questions,” explains Eric Flem, Communications Manager, Nikon Instruments. “Nearly 100 years of microscopy has paved the way for the evolving technology and innovative techniques that continue to raise the bar of this competition.”  

Top images from the competition will be available in a full-color calendar and as part of a traveling museum exhibition. See more of the winners on the Nikon Small world website.

Above image: 1st Place. Dr. Oscar Ruiz. Four-day-old zebrafish embryo. 10x.

Image of Distinction. Yousef Al Habshi. Eyes of a jumping spider (Hasarius adansoni). 9x.

2nd Place. Douglas L. Moore. Polished slab of Teepee Canyon agate. 90x.

3rd Place. Rebecca Nutbrown. Culture of neurons (stained green) derived from human skin cells, and Schwann cells, a second type of brain cell (stained red). 20x.

4th Place. Jochen Schroeder. Butterfly proboscis. 6.3x.

5th Place. Dr. Igor Siwanowicz. Front foot (tarsus) of a male diving beetle. 100x.

6th Place. Marek Mis. Air bubbles formed from melted ascorbic acid crystals. 50x.

7th Place. Dr. David Maitland. Leaves of Selaginella (lesser club moss). 40x.

8th Place. Samuel Silberman. Wildflower stamens. 40x.

9th Place. Vin Kitayama and Sanae Kitayama. Espresso coffee crystals.

10th Place. Rogelio Moreno Gill. Frontonia (showing ingested food, cilia, mouth and trichocysts). 200x.

11th Place. Francis Sneyers. Scales of a butterfly wing underside (Vanessa atalanta). 10x.

11th Place. Dr. Dylan Burnette. Human HeLa cell undergoing cell division (cytokinesis). DNA (yellow), myosin II (blue) and actin filaments (red). 9x.

13th Place. Walter Piorkowski. Poison fangs of a centipede (Litius erythrocephalus). 16x.

14th Place. Dr. Keunyoung Kim. Mouse retinal ganglion cells. 40x.

15th Place. Geir Drange. Head section of an orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata). 10x.

Nikon Small World: Website | Facebook | Instagram

In the unbreakable bond between an animal and their human, the two are sometimes so close that they can start to look alike. When Topher Brophy met the adorable Aussiedoodle dog Rosenberg, they became fast friends. As Brophy explained to The Dodo, “Rosenberg has a temperament unlike any dog I’ve ever met. He has an almost regal sense of tranquility, confidence and inner wisdom.” This perfect pairing was made even better by a remarkable coincidence—Brophy and Rosenberg look oddly similar.

The two chose to embrace their similarities—eye color, long hair, and untamed beards—by wearing matching outfits. Their sartorial choices range from practical, everyday attire like plaid shirts and vests as well as more playful costumes such as hippies, sailors, and cowboys. Miraculously, Brophy always manages to find Rosenberg the exact same clothes, just in a much smaller size. And when it comes to posing, the two are on the same wave-length—their facial expressions parallel one another in a seemingly effortless way.

The endearing and amusing arrangement just makes sense to Brophy. “We look so much alike physically, and do everything together, so dressing the same just feels natural for us.” See what they’re rocking next by following Brophy’s Instagram.

Tropher Brophy: Instagram
Rosenberg the Dog: Instagram
via [The Dodo]

Barcelona-based artist David Moreno pairs sketching with sculpture to create inventive installations that play with space and experiment with dimensionality. He describes his artistic process as “trying to draw sculptures”—an approach that is particularly apparent in his sketch-like, architecture-inspired series of avant-garde works.

Each piece is first conceptualized as a line drawing composed of quick strokes and seemingly out-of-control contours. Moreno then uses the raw drawing to render a three-dimensional interpretation of the design. He employs steel rods, piano wire (strong steel cables used as piano strings), and paint to compose each piece. Each structure is shaped using a cross-hatch technique, which suggests pencil-produced shading and a sense of depth through a range of tones.

Though abstract portraits and reimagined chairs often appear in Moreno’s sculptural oeuvre, homes—often simplistically conveyed as squares topped with sloping roofs—comprise his signature subject matter. His architectural interpretations vary in composition; some are studies of single houses, while others resemble towns or villages. Since the works are either hung on the wall or situated on delicate stilts, Moreno refers to them as “floating sculptures”—an otherworldly title that emphasizes their fragile nature and conveys the artist’s imaginative approach to his work.

You can see more of Moreno’s distinctive drawings-come-to-life on Instagram.

David Moreno: Instagram | Behance
via [Colossal]

All images via David Moreno.

Meet Willamina (aka Williecute), the furry faced pup with dozens of stylish hairdos.

With her long locks and fashion-forward style, the fetching San Diego-based Yorkshire Terrier is quickly becoming Instagram’s next top dog. Styled by her owner, Laura, the trendy terrier dons adorable ensembles and shows off her blond tresses with an assortment of hairstyles, from braids and top-knots to pig-tails and side parts. The mini model also loves to accessorize with knit beanies, head wraps, and flower crowns, which she always wears with a smile. 

Though the glamorous Williecute fashion shoots are often planned and posed, Laura also shoots cute canine candids—often when Willamina is lounging around and sporting some seriously adorable bedhead. “I try to have my camera easily accessible in case Willie is doing something super cute so I can capture those special moments,” she told Fetchlight. “We enjoy sharing her photos on IG and our hope is that they bring a smile to your face.”

In addition to showcasing Willamina’s quirky coif, Laura also uses the popular account as a platform for an important cause: animal rescue. As you scroll through the fashionable feed, you may notice a couple of unfamiliar faces. These two little dogs are Shay and Brewster, and they are from Second Chance Dog Rescue. Laura has opted to foster the pair of shelter dogs in order to take care of them in preparation for adoption. While sweet Brewster has since found his forever home, Laura is still fostering Shay, a lovable Chihuahua currently up for adoption. You can find her and other adoptable, soon-to-be-Insta-famous dogs and puppies on the shelter’s site.

Williecute: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
via [Design You Trust]

All images via Williecute.

Two years ago architectural photographer Mike Kelley, long fascinated with aviation, decided to test a new concept—photographing airplanes taking off at LAX and compositing them into one image. When those initial images went viral, Kelley packed his bags and over the course of two years travelled 74,545 air miles in order to capture some of the most iconic airports around the globe, a project dubbed Airportraits.

Kelley transferred his skills in photographing architecture—which requires not only a fair amount of Photoshop, but attention to shape and form—into a striking series of photographs that go well beyond an exercise in compositing. Kelley carefully selected his locations based both on the size of the airport—Dubai is the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic—and iconic locations—Tokyo’s Haneda Airport affords a view of Mt. Fuji in the distance. Patience proved to be a virtue on his shoot, as Kelley wound up waiting hours on end for planes to take off or land. 

The more you look at the images, the more you realize they go well beyond the initial novelty of the planes in flight, which resemble a flock of birds. Kelley has cleverly composed his shots to capture the spirit of each location. Amsterdam’s airport shows planes flying over a stream, a person next to their bike along the banks, while Sydney’s planes take off over a sandy beach. In London an iconic double decker bus rolls down the highway, while the lush Swiss hills by Zurich’s airport are dotted with cows.

“What I love about these images is that they can mean so many different things to so many different people. Whether it’s a love of aviation, a love of travel and far-off destinations, an interest in globalization and commerce, the environmental and social impacts of aviation, there is really so much that can be gleaned from these images,” Kelley tells us in an email. “My personal interest comes from showing people something that they take for granted in an entirely new way. I’ve taken something that is linear and more or less invisible and turned it into something a bit more easily understandable, which I think people really enjoy.”

Above image: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport 

London Heathrow Airport

Zurich Airport

Frankfurt Airport

Munich Airport

Dubai International Airport

Tokyo Haneda Airport

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport

Auckland International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport

 Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Munich Airport

São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nA0iy5feQU?rel=0&w=750&h=422]

Mike Kelley: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Mike Kelley.

There’s someone for everyone, even in the world of felted creatures. Crafter Hannah Dovhan produces adorable foodies from wool that have the same type of sweet personalities you’d find in real people. The happy characters don big smiles and even silly mustaches, linking arms (or stems) as a way to symbolize the unbreakable bonds of friendship and love.

Dovhan’s handiwork—and her recurring theme of companionship—is best exemplified in the avocado and egg creations. Here, she’s halved the foods, allowing them to be displayed in a couple of ways: you can separate them to show their bright-eyed faces, or fit them together to make the pieces whole. Either way, it’s incredibly cute.

Dovhan sells her felted sculptures through her Etsy shop.

Hannah Dovhan: Tumblr | Etsy
via [Lost At E Minor]

It’s not too late to enter the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The categories for this annual competition are Landscape, Environmental Issues, Action, and Animal Portraits, and so far, the contest has received incredible submissions in each group. As the contest website indicates, photographs can be “a powerful wildlife shot, a stunning landscape, or a look at a complicated environmental issue—whatever nature means to you.” Photographers have certainly taken advantage of this conceptual freedom to capture the vibrant, unrestrained beauty of our world.

As always, there are great awards for the winners of the contest. The top prize will receive a 10-day trip for two at the Galápagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions, along with two 15 minute portfolio reviews with the photo editors at National Geographic. Each of the four categories will also award first, second, and third place winners with corresponding prizes, and the winning photographs will be published on National Geographic’s website.

Below are some of the spectacular submissions that have been entered into the competition. You can view more entries online and even submit your own photos—but be quick, the deadline for entries is November 4, 2016!

Above photo: Bubbles by Brett Monroe Garner, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
A green sea turtle at the surface off the coast of Oahu.

Shira-Ito-no-taki by Masai Okeda, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Shirato no Taki, Fujinomiya,Shizuoka, Japan

Adelie Penguin Jumping Between Ice Floes by Nick Dale, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
I saw these Adelie penguins jumping into the water at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula. By the time I sat down on the beach to take a picture, they’d starting jumping to the next ice floe. Paul Goldstein says the Holy Trinity of wildlife photography is ‘dust, air and spume’, and this shot captures the ‘air’ bit!

Walking in Silence by M. Engelmann, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
A typical african evening. Nothing special in Nxai Pan, Kalahari, Botswana.

Harvest by Laura Barnett, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
I loved the half-unfurled sunflower on a friend’s porch. As I leaned in to take a photo, a bee flew in for some pollen.

Life and Death by Vadim Balakin, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
These polar bear remains have been discovered at one of the islands of Northern Svalbard. Unfortunately we do not know definitely wether the bear died from starving or aging, but more likely if we see the good teeth status – from starving . They say nowadays such remains to be founded very often – global warming and ice situation influence the polar bear population a lot. Svalbard, Norway, august 2014.

Curiosity by John Pennell, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
A bald eagle and a river otter check each other out on a hollow log in Potter Marsh outside Anchorage, Alaska.  The otter was one of a trio that continued to investigate the raptor for more than an hour before losing interest and leaving to chase fish.

On Top of the World by Eugene Kitsios, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year  
A pair of Atlantic puffins enjoy the last bit of sunlight over the cliffs of L·trabjarg in Iceland.

Ijen Volcano by Heidi Ouyang, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
The sulfur mine in the early morning. The long pipe has been installed into the fumaroles to collect the hot, liquid sulfur which drips out and solidifies as it cools. The sulfur dioxide gas at the mine site is very strong.

Stare Into My Eyes by Octoyura Bamahry, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
This picture is taken in Bandung while this animal shows it’s beautiful Symmetrical feather while I’m taking a picture of it using my Leica. it seems that he wants to mate, but… hmn, than he dance, shaking it’s feather. I love it’s natural hypnotizing color. The green peacock is one endangered bird from Indonesia. Usually, their feather are taken for house decoration. With photography, everyone can enjoy it’s beauty without endangering it. Just Print it or save it on your desktop computer.

Laguna Tuyajto by Victor Lima, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Located in the Atacama Desert, Chile, this place is a spectacle of nature. The pond floor is formed by salt. The small formations are due to action of microorganisms that for thousands of years feed on the nutrients present there.

Alien Lights by Russell Wiltshire, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Auroral beams dance over the Bass Strait, on the southern coastline of mainland Australia. The auroral light reflects off the calm seas, and starlight reflects from the rock pools on the sea shore.

The Big One by Giacomo Marchione, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Beautiful whale shark swims to the surface in search of plankton but it is completely wrapped of remores.

The One That Got Away by Steve Grodin, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Brown bear chasing a salmon.

Dancing in the Rain by Vladislav Kamenski, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Fox caught in action under the rain.

National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year: Website | Your Shot
National Geographic: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos and captions by National Geographic.

While most dogs happily chomp on crunchy kibble and typical canine treats, Popeye—a starving stray turned furry foodie—drools over LA’s trendiest chow.

Ivy Diep found the homeless pup wandering the streets in January 2014. Matted, skinny, and alone, Diep decided to take Popeye home with her, where he instantly hit it off with her husband and other canine companions.

One day, she allowed the now 3-4 year old pooch to tag-along on one of her “Instagram dates”—outings in which she and a friend try new restaurants and document their meals on the social media site—and realized that Popeye makes a surprisingly polite dinner date. “I would bring Popeye to any of the pet-friendly places, and we realized how good he was around food,” she told ABC News. ”He would sit still for photos.”

Popeye then began making regular appearances in Diep’s restaurant snapshots, prompting her to create Popeye the Foodie Dog, an Instagram account dedicated to his culinary adventures. The page features photographs of Popeye—often clad in adorable themed costumes—patiently posing with plates of food, from steak and sushi to fast food and donuts. While he may look like he’s about to sink his teeth into each delicious meal, Diep confesses that is not quite the case: “We’ll give him nibbles of anything that’s safe for him,” she explains. “We always carry a bag of his favorite treats as well. He’s usually not really into the food anyway. He just likes to be out and about—people watching and to bark at any other dog that walks by.”

Be sure to follow Popeye’s adorable dog-blogging adventures on his Instagram—a perfect place for food connoisseurs and dog lovers alike!

Popeye the Foodie Dog: Instagram  
via [The Dodo]

All images via Popeye the Foodie Dog.

Photographer Shinya Arimoto likes to show a different side of Japan—the one he sees on the streets, filled with eccentric characters. Born in Osaka, Arimoto is currently a professor of photography at the Tokyo School of Visual Arts, as well as the director of the Totem Pole Photo Gallery. When he’s not at work, Arimoto can be found roaming the streets, interacting with his subjects.

Arimoto holds his subjects in high regard, taking care to speak with them and gain their permission before shooting. In this way his work is less about society and more about individuals, which reflects in the respectful way he captures each of them. Narrowing in on a specific sector of the population, Arimoto opens a window for us to see parts of Japanese society outside the stereotypes. Meticulous about his work, he estimates that he can shoot up to 10 rolls of film a day, arriving at his location around noon and staying until sunset. With individual contact so fundamental to his work, it’s essential that he mingle with as many people as possible in order to increase his chances for a good image.

He shoots mainly in a square format, a conscious choice used to balance the distribution of space between the subject and the background. Arimoto spent ten years in Tibet photographing individuals in all types of circumstances. The same philosophy he had about shooting in Tibet carries through to the streets of Tokyo. “I believe that the human organism is of the city and it’s all part of one ecosystem. I create these photographs which formulate that the environment and habitat of man is the city.” he shared in a 2013 interview. “Now I photograph people struggling against but again also benefiting from their environment here in Tokyo. I think that among the two, I’m interested in finding common denominators as human beings.”   

Shinya Arimoto: Website | Flickr
via [Juxtapoz, Japan Exposures]

All images via Shinya Arimoto.

Photographer Jess Findlay has a knack for nature. Born and raised in British Columbia, an area rich with biodiversity, Findlay—an avid adventurer who enjoys hiking and bird-watching—turned to photography as a way to document and share his love of the natural world. Compositionally, he focuses equally on landscape and on wildlife, combining stunning shots of the environment with unique views of magnificent animals. His undeniable skill is especially evident in his recent shot of an awe-inspiring fiery-throated hummingbird.

The teeny hummingbirds—who measure only four inches long and weigh less than six grams—are native to the mountains of Costa Rica and parts of Panama. The beautiful birds are renowned for their distinctive coloring: a bright blue crown and chest, a lustrous green body, and a patch of kaleidoscopic, “fiery” feathers on their throats.  

Given their tiny stature and tremendously quick movements, capturing a photo of any hummingbird is a tricky task, and shooting the fiery-throated hummingbird is even more difficult, as the full spectrum of their spectacular colors is only discernible from particular angles and when the lighting is just right. Findlay’s successful shot was a product of luck, determination, and the right camera lens. He explains to Colossal: “Several of these hummingbirds were visiting a nectar feeder. As they fed hungrily, often quarreling with one another, occasionally one would get displaced onto a nearby branch. I waited by the branch for a couple hours, staying very still. I used a telephoto lens with a special attachment that allowed me to focus on close subjects.”

With his undeniable skill and unmistakable passion, it is no surprise that, at just twenty-three years of age, Findlay has seen tremendous success; in 2011, he won the International Youth Photographer of the Year award from Nature’s Best Photography, and, since then, his work has been presented at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the London Natural History Museum, and the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, Canada.

Scroll down to see some more brilliantly-colored birds captured by Findlay, and check out his Instagram page for other expertly-shot images of nature.

Here are some more photos taken by Findlay of birds with iridescent plumage:

Jess Findlay: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Flickr
via [Colossal]

All images via Jess Findlay.