Terrifying close up of ant’s face wins photography distinction

(Image credit: Dr. Eugenijus Kavaliauskas/ Nikon Small World)

A super-magnified image of an ant, giving an impression of monstrous proportions, has spooked social media users.

The photo was one of the many striking images from Nikon's 2022 Photomicrography Competition. The contest recognises the best photos taken through microscopes.

The ant, a miniscule creature, can induce terror when magnified under a microscope five times, as Dr. Eugenijus Kavaliauskas' photo has shown.

The insect appeared in the photo with violet-coloured eyes and golden fangs, seemingly bearing a sinister expression.

This hellish-looking thing is real, and you've actually seen it before: This is what an ant looks like up close. This shot by photographer Eugenijus Kavaliauskas was magnified five times under a microscope.

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: Eugenijus Kavaliauskas/Nikon Small World pic.twitter.com/aNCTO2mbg2

— WIRED (@WIRED) October 20, 2022

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"The ant's face is giving me nightmares," a Twitter user wrote. "

This ant’s face is giving me nightmares.

It’s a magnified view of an ant's face which was honored as an image of distinction in Nikon's 2022 Small World photo contest.

Source: Eugenijus Kavaliauskas/Nikon Small World pic.twitter.com/BgGnQJ7a9N

— Natasha Tynes (@NatashaTynes) October 19, 2022

Another comment described the photo as intriguing and terrifying.

"Nikon's 2022 Photomicrography Competition yielded some pretty phenomenal shots but this one stood out for obvious reasons," a third user said.

This is an ants face. Nikon's 2022 Photomicrography Competition yielded some pretty phenomenal shots but this one stood out for obvious reasons...https://t.co/PmIUyXRe5X pic.twitter.com/oWi5SBtAG4

— Sarah Katilyn (@Sarah_Katilyn) October 19, 2022

While it was certainly striking, the ant photo did not win the prize. The top honour went to a picture of a Madagascar gecko's embryonic hand.

(Image credit: Grigorii Timin and Dr. Michel Milinkovitch/Nikon Small World)

Nikon Small World Competition was launched in 1975 to acknowledge photography done through the light microscope. Since then, the competition has become a leading platform for photomicrographers  across scientific disciplines.

Anyone can enter the contest, that has a history of rewarding photography enthusiasts as well as as professionals.