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Our 2018 Image of the Year Award has come to a close.
Have a look below to see the beautiful images we received this year.
Stay tuned for our Image of the Year 2019!
Image of the Year 2018 – The Winners
1st prize
This year’s winning image was taken by Håkan Kvarnström.
The stunning fluorescence image shows the shell of a marine snail covered in algae and cyanobacteria.
See the image in high resolution here (JPG, 2.1 MB).
Read the interview here (PDF, 2.5 MB).
2nd prize
Karl Gaff’s image won second prize.
This mesmerizing image was captured using polarized light, giving little droplets of solidified dopamine their beautiful colors.
See this image in high resolution here (JPG, 3.0 MB).
Read the interview here (PDF, 4.4 MB).
3rd prize
Third prize was awarded to Johann Swanepoel.
This remarkable image shows the intricate ‘mouth brushes’ of a mosquito larva in great detail thanks to differential interference contrast microscopy.
See this image in high resolution here (JPG, 5.1 MB).
Read the interview here (PDF, 3.3 MB).
Download the newest Image of the Year 2018 images
Are you tired of the same wallpapers on your computer? Download the Image of the Year 2018 wallpaper package now for free and beautify your screen! The package includes the three winning images + seven of the most beautiful participant images. Click here (ZIP, 59.4 MB) to download.
Prizes
CX23 Microscope with WiFi Camera and iPad
Win our most reliable microscope with our new WiFi camera and an iPad.
CX23 Microscope
• Diverse, User-Friendly Design
• Outstanding Optical Performance
• Long lifetime LED illumination
WiFi Camera
• Fast images directly to a monitor or tablet
• Hassle-free wireless connection
• No need for a computer
Click here to read more about the first prize.
OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Win the high end system camera E-M5 Mark II including 14-42mm objective.
• Most powerful image stabilization
• OM‑D movie quality in your hand
• Most compact size in class
• Dust, splash & freeze‑proof
Click here to read more about the second prize.
Pen E-PL8
Win the beautiful PEN E-PL8 camera in black: The fashion icon of photography.
• The IT piece among cameras
• The perfect camera for selfies
• Art Filters that expand creativity
Click here to read more about the third prize.
Jury
Sylvia Hebisch, Artist, Free Painter, Designer
Sylvia Hebisch, born and raised in Altona, Hamburg, studied illustratiion and painting at the College for Design in Hamburg. Additionally, she learned experimental painting from Stephan von Huene. Parallel to her education she worked as an independent designer and illustrator for children´s books. Since 1989, she has been working as a lecture, teaching nude drawing and free painting at the HTK Academy of design. In October 2002 she also founded her own art school, "Kunstschule am Wohlerspark", in Hamburg.
www.kunstschulehamburg-kaw.de
Urs Ziegler, Head of Facility, Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, UZH
Urs Ziegler entered the field of microscopy in 1990 while investigating attachment and movement of nematocytes in Hydra. He continued to use various microscopy techniques in his research to investigate cell adhesion in neurite outgrowth as well as host-pathogen interactions. In 2007, he joined the Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis at the University of Zurich as head. He is involved in many research collaborations, supporting microscopy-related questions and developing applications in the fields of light and electron microscopy, sample preparation, 3D and automated microscopy as well as correlative microscopy approaches.
Wolfgang Hempell, Section Manager Imaging & Microscopy at Olympus Europa
Wolfgang Hempell studied photoengineering at the Cologne University of Applied Science, with a particular interest in microscopy and the development of sensors for quality control of optical lenses. He joined Olympus Europa in 2001 and has spent the last decade working on the development and marketing of innovative microscopy systems for the life sciences. He is currently section manager at Olympus Europa responsible for marketing of life science imaging and microscopy products.
Stefan Terjung, Operational Manager of the ALMF at EMBL Heidelberg
Stefan Terjung studied biology and chemistry at the University of Heidelberg (DE). At the beginning of his studies he discovered his passion for microscopy techniques. For his thesis at the Institute of Cell Biology he investigated biological applications of two-photon microscopy. He obtained his PhD in botany at the Heidelberg Institute for Plant Sciences (HIP) in 2004. Stefan joined the Advanced Light Microscopy Facility (ALMF) at EMBL Heidelberg in 2003. Since 2016 he is Operational Manager of the ALMF.
In this position he is regulary involved in organizing and teaching courses on light microscopy techniques.
Image of the Year 2017 – The Winners
1st prize
The winning image was composed by Dr. Steve Lowry.
This fascinating image shows the skin of a sea-cucumber in polarization - perfectly reflecting the beauty that can be found in the details of life.
See this image in high resolution here (PNG, 2.0 MB).
Read the interview with Dr. Steve Lowry here (PDF, 165 KB).
2nd prize
The second prize went to Dr. David Maitland.
His phase contrast image of a glass sponge is not only really interesting, but also extraordinarily beautiful.
See this image in high resolution here (PNG, 2.0 MB).
Read the interview with Dr. David Maitland here (PDF, 188 KB).
3rd prize
Dr. Bob Asselbergh won the third prize.
He used overlaying on this fluorescence image of a sciatic mouse nerve. The result is a remarkable combination of science and art.
See this image in high resolution here (PNG, 2.1 MB).
Read the interview with Dr. Bob Asselbergh here (PDF, 203 KB).
Download the top 10 images as wallpapers for your screen
Are you tired of the same wallpapers on your computer? Download the Image of the Year 2017 wallpaper package now for free and beautify your screen! Click here (ZIP, 56.1 MB) to download the best images.
Competition Rules
You can upload your images between 01.04.18 and 31.10.18. The winners will be notified in November 2018.
Anyone over the age of 18 with a residency in EMEA can participate. Olympus employees, their families, the judges, their families, and individuals engaged in the manufacturing or sales of microscopes are excluded from participation.
You can upload up to 3 images. All images must be JPEG or TIFF and have a maximum file size of 10MB.
After participating in the competition your image might also be depicted in Olympus campaigns worldwide and you grant us the corresponding rights of use. You will be credited as the image creator so please be aware that you have to be the originator of the uploaded images and that images have to be free from any third party rights. Please find the full details in the terms and conditions.
Our jury will judge the submitted images on artistic and visual aspects, scientific impact and microscope proficiency.