Gallery: Help Choose the Year's Best Microscope Photos
01silver-wattle-tree-anther
Every year the [Nikon Small World](http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/) competition draws thousands of extreme close-up photos from scientists and photomicrographers around the world. These amazing images, made with the help of microscopes, let us see things we can otherwise only imagine, in detail that we couldn't otherwise access. This year's competition looks to be at least as interesting as [last year's contest](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/top-20-microscope-photos-2010/) and features some of the [most beautiful submissions in the contest's 37-year history](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/10/photomicrography/). A panel of judges will decide the winners, but you can help decide the popular vote winner. We've got a sampling of the contenders in this gallery, and you can view the more than 100 finalists and [choose your favorites by Oct. 31](http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/vote). Check back here for some more featured selections in the coming weeks and the judge's picks on Oct. 4. __Above:__ Silver Wattle Tree Anther ------------------------- Photomicrographer: Marta Guervos, University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain Specimen: *Acacia dealbata* (Silver wattle tree) anther Technique: Confocal, autofluorescence *Image: Courtesy of Nikon Small World*
David Maitland02velvet-mite
Velvet Mite ----------- Photomicrographer: [David Maitland](www.davidmaitland.com), Feltwell, UK Specimen: *Eutrombidium rostratus* (velvet mite) Technique: Reflected (episcopic), diffuse illumination *Image: Courtesy of Nikon Small World*
03rat-kangaroo-kidney-cell
Rat Kangaroo Kidney Cell ------------------------ Photomicrographer: Lynne Chang, Harvard Medical School Specimen: Cytoplasmic and nuclear intermediate filaments in rat kangaroo kidney epithelial cell Technique: Confocal *Image: Courtesy of Nikon Small World*
04cow-cells
Cow Cells --------- Photomicrographer: Torsten Wittmann, University of California, San Francisco Specimen: Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial (BPAE) cells fixed and stained for actin, mitochondria, and DNA Technique: Epi-fluorescence; multi-image stitching *Image: Courtesy of Nikon Small World*
TitosG1205bladderwort
Bladderwort ----------- Photomicrographer: Jose R. Almodovar, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus Specimen: *Utricularia gibba* (bladderwort) bladder Technique: Darkfield *Image: Courtesy of Nikon Small World*
06filaria-worms
Filaria Worms ------------- Photomicrographer: Witold Kilarski, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland Specimen: *Litomosoides sigmodontis* (filaria worms) inside lymphatic vessels of the mouse ear Technique: Fluorescent confocal microscopy *Image: Courtesy of Nikon Small World*
