The slogan for the Nikon Small World competition is "Recognizing Excellence in Photography through the Microscope." Feast your eyes on these images that record a different world so small that it fits into a drop of water! The first Nikon Small World competition was in 1974. Since then, Nikon has recognized the efforts of those who turn microscope photography into art. 2011 is the 37th year for the competition, and around 2,000 photographs were entered. The judges decisions have been made, and the winners will be announced later this fall. However, you can place your votes among the 115 finalists for the Small World Popular Vote Award. It's easy -just click a button to say you like a photograph, or skip to the next one. You can like as many as you like, really, but Nikon asks that you vote on each picture only once. Votes for the Popular Vote Award will be taken until 5PM EDT on October 31st. Nikon was generous enough to give Neatorama readers a special close-up view of some of the entries in this year's competition. This particular collection is called "Lives Within a Drop of Water." It's a chance to marvel at the world of microscopic life we would never be able to see with the naked eye. Other collections will follow in the days ahead. Michael Shribak/ Dr. Irina Arkhipova Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole, Massachusetts Philodina roseola (bdelloid rotifer), live specimen Video-enhanced polychromatic polarized light *

Frank Fox Fachhochschule Trier Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Melosira moniliformis, living specimen (320X) Differential Interference Contrast * Dr. Jan Michels Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel Kiel, Germany Temora longicornis (marine copepod), ventral view (10X) Confocal, Autofluorescence and Congo Red Fluorescence * Joan Röhl Institute for Biochemistry and Biology Potsdam, Germany Daphnia magna (freshwater water flea) (100X) Differential Interference Contrast * Gerd A. Guenther Duesseldorf, Germany Nassula ornata (freshwater ciliate), conjugation, living specimens (630X) Differential Interference Contrast * Charles Krebs Charles Krebs Photography Issaquah, Washington, USA Hydra sp. capturing water flea (40X) Darkfield * Dr. Andrew Gillis University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK Chiloscyllium plagiosum (Whitespotted bamboo shark), embryonic pectoral fin Stereomicroscopy with fiber optic lighting * Dr. John H. Brackenbury University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK Water droplet containing a pair of mosquito larvae Laser-triggered high-speed macrophotography * Wim van Egmond Micropolitan Museum Rotterdam, Netherlands Leptodora kindtii (giant waterflea) eye; living specimen Differential Interference Contrast * Dr. Ralf Wagner Düsseldorf, Germany Daphnia sp. (water flea) and Volvox sp. (green algae) Darkfield, flash * Jonathan Franks University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Algae biofilm Confocal, autofluorescence * Wolfgang Bettighofer Kiel, Germany Closterium lunula (green alga), living specimen from a bog pond Differential Interference Contrast * Dr. Carlos Alberto Muñoz University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Alona sp. (crustacean) mounted in Canada Balsam with crystals and other artifacts Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast * John Gaynes University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 3 day post-fertilization zebrafish embryo Confocal * There are more photographs to be seen at the Nikon Small World site, and don't miss your chance to vote for this year's Popular Choice! Enjoy lots more images from previous Small World competitions in the Small World gallery.