Ready for my close-up: beetles and bacteria in Nikon Small World photomicrography 2022 – in pictures

Nikon Small World is widely regarded as the leading forum for recognising the art, proficiency and photographic excellence involved in photomicrography, or the art of photography through a light microscope. Each year, the competition attracts hundreds of vivid pictures revealing details of a world unseen by the naked eye. Founded in 1975, this year's entries numbered almost 1,300 and were drawn from 72 countries

• Whimsy, Covid and a self-portrait in drag': the 2022 small sculpture prize - in pictures