Australian High School Teacher Wins Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition For Close-Up Shot Of Bee’s Eye

Nikon Instruments Inc. announced on Wednesday the winners for its annual photo contest called Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition. For this year, a masterpiece from an Australian high school teacher bagged the first place of the competition.

Ralph Grimm reveals that he has been joining the annual photo contest for more than 16 years already. The high school teacher from Queensland was previously named as an honorable mention in the competition, CNN noted on Thursday.

"It's quite amazing, I was overwhelmed," Grimm says after winning Nikon's annual photo contest.

Reports have revealed that it took Grimm almost five hours of thorough preparation before he was able to capture the bee's eye. He also says the subject "was dear to his heart" as he was previously a beekeeper.

The Australian teacher worries about the decline of bee's population amid the changes of the environment.

"We are changing this planet at a very rapid rate. Bees are very sensitive creatures and they're responding to changes in the environment," Grimm says.

He goes on, "My great fear is that the decline in the bee population could signify the beginning of something a lot more dramatic to come."

On its official website, Nikon Small World noted on Wednesday that they have also given recognitions to 77 other winners, which include Top 20, Honorable Mentions and 56 Images of Distinction.

"Each year we are blown away by the incredible quality and quantity of microscopic images submitted from all over the world, from scientists, artists, and photomicrographers of all levels and backgrounds," says Nikon Instruments communications manager Eric Flem. "This year was certainly no exception."

"Judges had their work cut out for them in narrowing down from such a rich pool of applicants, and we are so pleased with the results. Each of these winning images exhibits the exemplary technique, scientific discipline and artistry for which Nikon Small World is known," Flem adds.

Nikon Small World competition started in 1974. The photo contest has awarded the top prize to a total of 38 photomicrographers, including Grimm. His entry titled "Eye of a honey bee (Apis mellifera) covered in dandelion pollen" was among the 2000 entries submitted for Nikon's photo contest.