An imaging apparatus comprises: (i) an illumination waveguide configured to propagate light by total internal reflection, wherein an evanescent field illuminates an object in close relation to the illumination waveguide; (ii) an array of light-sensitive areas arranged on a common substrate with the illumination waveguide for detecting light from the object; and (iii) a controller configured to control forming of an interference pattern in the illumination waveguide, wherein the interference pattern comprises at least one element of constructive interference for selectively illuminating a portion of the object, the at least one element having a dimension with a size in a range of 100 nm-10 μm; wherein the controller is configured to sequentially change the interference pattern in relation to the object such that different portions are illuminated and light from different portions is sequentially detected.