Many folks may be familiar with Nikon's semifamous contest for microphotography, the Small World competition. But an upcoming technical conference of a more esoteric nature has a micrograph contest of its own. The Electron, Ion, and Photon Beam Technology and Fabrication (EIPBN) conference takes place May 30 through June 2 in Baltimore. Since the mid-1990s, it has had its own micrograph contest. Categories range from the obvious grand prize to more light-hearted prizes, such as one for the most bizarre image and the M.C. Escher award.

Check out the images below, winners of last year's most bizarre and Escher categories in the EIPBN contest. Details of what the heck you're looking at can be found at the EIPBN micrograph contest link highlighted above.