Gerd Günther, of Germany, was named the EMEA winner in Evident’s sixth annual Image of the Year contest for his captivating image of a chicory (Cichorium intybus) stigma with pollen grains.
A self-employed farmer and photomicrographer, Gerd collected the sample from his own garden and captured the image using an upright microscope with a digital camera. In recognition of his winning image, he’ll receive an Evident CX23 upright microscope.
Uncovering the Fascinating Treasures of the Natural World One Image at a Time
For Gerd, there’s far more to nature than what can be seen with the naked eye. Microscopy is a reminder that we don’t have to travel far to discover the extraordinary—often invisible—shapes, structures, and life forms that surround us.
Driven by his endless curiosity, Gerd uses microscopy to uncover the fascinating treasures hidden within the natural world. Gerd shares insights on how he created this fascinating microscope image that brings nature’s hidden beauty to light.
Gerd Günther, EMEA winner of Evident’s 6th Annual Image of the Year contest
Gerd, congratulations on being named the Image of the Year EMEA winner! What do you find personally exciting about this image?
I am particularly fascinated by its basic spiral shape, which appears in nature in many different forms. Almost all individual flowers of the Asteraceae family have pistils shaped like this.
Evident Image of the Year Award 2025: EMEA Winner. Stigma of chicory with pollen grains by Gerd Günther, Germany.
How did you create the image?
It’s a relatively simple preparation. The stigma, with the attached pollen, was mounted in water and covered with a cover slip. When illuminated with UV light, the specimen revealed wonderful colors.
How did you find the chicory stigma sample you used to create this image?
I have several chicory plants in my garden.
Macro image of a chicory plant bloom from Gerd's garden. Captured by Gerd Günther.
Did you face any challenges when creating this image?
Not really. It did take several attempts to prepare a specimen in which the pollen grains were nicely distributed.
Why did you choose this image as your entry for the Image of the Year competition?
It depicts the fundamental forms of nature that appeal to our senses, as well as the delicate structures found in even the smallest details—in this case, pollen grains.
Is there a message inspired by this image?
“Always observe nature closely and walk through it with your eyes wide open.”
— Gerd Günther, EMEA winner of Evident’s sixth Annual Image of the Year contest
When did you first learn to use a microscope?
Immediately following my experiences at school and my first microphotographs—still taken on black and white film at the time—I became fascinated by these strangely unfamiliar yet familiar structures and grew to appreciate their aesthetic qualities.
I have been creating art with a microscope since the turn of the millennium (1999-2000), following the advent of digital camera systems.
What do you find most fascinating about microscopy?
The opportunity to discover new structures, shapes, life forms, and colors without having to travel far. This fascination stems from my never-ending curiosity about nature and the often invisible treasures it has to offer.
What kind of experience do you have with Evident microscopes?
I use an Evident BX51 upright microscope for the field of materials science. I’m impressed by its extremely modular design and expandability.
Gerd Günther uses an Evident BX51 upright microscope and observes many pollen grains floating around. The UV excitation with the light blue fluorescence of the grain surfaces makes it easy to examine the complex structure of the pollen grains.
Explore More Hidden Treasures Under the Lens
To see more compelling microscope artwork, check out Gerd’s image of human hair knotted onto horsehair, which won last year’s materials science category. You can also explore more award-winning images that illuminated the unseen in our Image of the Year Gallery.
Stay tuned for more winner stories and future Image of the Year opportunities—follow Evident on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest news and updates!
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