In a sense, the FEI Owner Image Contest provides the venue for microbiologists to express themselves artistically by snapping photos of infinitesimally small subjects like silicon chips, bacteria and blood cells.
Every year, the FEI Owner Image Contest injects an annual booster shot of science into the artistic community, and this year especially. Photography isn't simply about composition and color; it's also about bringing attention to the unnoticed, ignored or even invisible things in life.
This year's winning photo was taken by Martina Dienstlede of the Graz University of Technology, using an electron microscope -- the subject is a metal shard which, due to stress testing, bent into the shape of the Grand Canyon. Although it may only stretch a few nanometers, this Micro Canyon may be as awe-inspiring as the real thing!
Photon-Sized Photographs
The FEI Owner Image Contest Finds the Best Microscopic Photos of 2011
Trend Themes
1. Microscopic Photography - The FEI Owner Image Contest showcases the growing trend of capturing artistic and visually captivating photos of microscopic subjects.
2. Technology-enhanced Photography - The use of electron microscopes and other advanced technologies highlights the trend of using innovative tools to capture stunning images of infinitesimally small subjects.
3. Unveiling the Unseen - The integration of science and art in the FEI Owner Image Contest reveals the trend of bringing attention to the unnoticed, ignored, or invisible aspects of life through photography.
Industry Implications
1. Microbiology - The field of microbiology can leverage the trend of microscopic photography to explore and document the complexities of microorganisms and their behavior.
2. Photography - The photography industry can embrace the trend of technology-enhanced photography to offer innovative tools and techniques for capturing unique and mesmerizing images.
3. Science Communication - The trend of unveiling the unseen through photography presents opportunities for the science communication industry to visually communicate complex scientific concepts and discoveries to a broader audience.