Ink droplets in motion snag top prize in Nikon Small World contest

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA photo of a printer printing has won the Nikon Small World photomicrography contest, Ars Technica reports.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOne student, a student in Cologne, Germany, captured microscopic nozzles firing ink droplets one-tenth the width of a human hair onto paper.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo he photographed the one thing in the office that works only when nobody is watching it.

4. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI'd call it a candid portrait of a hardworking appliance at the peak of its output.

5. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe trick was a flash in a darkened room, which froze the droplets in midair. The flash did the job of the shutter.

6. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd he reverse-engineered the printer so the paper moves under a stationary printhead. That's the printer rethinking its own workflow.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe took it apart and made it work backwards.

8. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHe said, after many failed attempts, he thought he'd need expensive equipment, but he already had everything he needed.

9. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSecond place went to a jumping spider with pollen.

10. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTwenty winners this year, and an inkjet beat a spider. The printer has been making masterpieces for years. It just jams before anyone looks.