Story highlights Microscopic photography contest enters its 41st year

More than 2,000 submissions were received from 83 countries

Winning photo of bee should act as a warning to us, photographer says

(CNN) A photo that brings viewers face-to-face with a honey bee has won a prestigious international photography contest that celebrates microscopic imagery in a blend of art and science.

Australian Ralph Grimm took the top prize in the annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition , for his incredible close-up image of a bee eye covered in dandelion pollen.

"It's quite amazing, I was overwhelmed," Grimm said of winning the competition, which he has been entering for more than 16 years.

"Each year we are blown away by the incredible quality and quantity of microscopic images submitted from all over the world," said Nikon's Eric Flem.

Now in its 41st year, the Nikon Small World competition was founded in 1974 to recognize excellence in photography through the microscope.

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