Photography

The 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photo winners – naturally, they're a hoot

The 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photo winners – naturally, they're a hoot
"Monday Blahs", John Blumenkamp (US). "This Great Gray Owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise," says the photographer. "But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of, 'Is Monday over yet?'"
"Monday Blahs", John Blumenkamp (US). "This Great Gray Owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise," says the photographer. "But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of, 'Is Monday over yet?'"
View 14 Images
"Monday Blahs", John Blumenkamp (US). "This Great Gray Owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise," says the photographer. "But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of, 'Is Monday over yet?'"
1/14
"Monday Blahs", John Blumenkamp (US). "This Great Gray Owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise," says the photographer. "But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of, 'Is Monday over yet?'"
"Air Guitar Roo", Jason Moore (Australia)
2/14
"Air Guitar Roo", Jason Moore (Australia)
Creatures Under the Sea Award: "Otter Ballerina", Otter Kwek (Singapore). "The otter was leaping while attempting to grasp the overhanging leaves, and during an unusual landing, it ended up in the Arabesque pose," said the photographer
3/14
Creatures Under the Sea Award: "Otter Ballerina", Otter Kwek (Singapore). "The otter was leaping while attempting to grasp the overhanging leaves, and during an unusual landing, it ended up in the Arabesque pose," said the photographer
People's Choice Award: "Dispute", Jacek Stankiewicz (Poland)
4/14
People's Choice Award: "Dispute", Jacek Stankiewicz (Poland)

Spectrum Photo Creatures in the Air Award: "Unexpected Plunge", Vittorio Ricci (Italy)
5/14
Spectrum Photo Creatures in the Air Award: "Unexpected Plunge", Vittorio Ricci (Italy)

"Snowball", Jacques Poulard (France)
6/14
"Snowball", Jacques Poulard (France)

"The Happy Turtle", Tzahi Finkelstein (Israel)
7/14
"The Happy Turtle", Tzahi Finkelstein (Israel)
Highly Commended: "Look At Right Bro", Pratick Mondal (India)
8/14
Highly Commended: "Look At Right Bro", Pratick Mondal (India)
"That Wasn't Here Yesterday", Wendy Kaveney (India)
9/14
"That Wasn't Here Yesterday", Wendy Kaveney (India)
"Excuse Me Sir But I think You're a Little Too Young To Be Smoking", Dakota Vaccaro (US)
10/14
"Excuse Me Sir But I think You're a Little Too Young To Be Smoking", Dakota Vaccaro (US)
Highly Commended: "Boing", Lara Mathews (Australia). "The mob was enjoying some morning sunshine when this joey decided to get silly and try his hand at boxing," said Mathews of her image taken at Westerfolds Park, Melbourne
11/14
Highly Commended: "Boing", Lara Mathews (Australia). "The mob was enjoying some morning sunshine when this joey decided to get silly and try his hand at boxing," said Mathews of her image taken at Westerfolds Park, Melbourne
Highly Commended: "Don't Look Down", Brian Matthews (UK). “A puffin does an inverted snoopy impression while watching jellyfish," said Matthews
12/14
Highly Commended: "Don't Look Down", Brian Matthews (UK). “A puffin does an inverted snoopy impression while watching jellyfish," said Matthews

Highly Commended: "One For The Family Album", Zoe Ashdown (UK). "Gannets mate for life and they return to the same nest year after year to raise their young," said Ashdown, who took this snap at Bempton Cliffs. "As soon as I saw it I laughed out loud! They look like proud parents, posing with their baby."
13/14
Highly Commended: "One For The Family Album", Zoe Ashdown (UK). "Gannets mate for life and they return to the same nest year after year to raise their young," said Ashdown, who took this snap at Bempton Cliffs. "As soon as I saw it I laughed out loud! They look like proud parents, posing with their baby."


Amazing Internet Portfolio Award: "I Finally Learned to Fly Or – Or Maybe Not", Tímea Ambrus (Hungary)
14/14
Amazing Internet Portfolio Award: "I Finally Learned to Fly Or – Or Maybe Not", Tímea Ambrus (Hungary)


View gallery - 14 images

It's that wonderful time of year: The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards panel has judged and the results are in. Taking out top prize is a kangaroo seemingly rocking out on air guitar, while the other winners and finalists were dominated by two perennial favorites – clumsy and expressive birds.

Best of all, this lighthearted competition that's treasured by millions provides some respite from the doom and gloom that's often captured in wildlife photography. And through this, its creators, Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, hope to get more people involved in the plights of the animals behind their candid poses.

“Through the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, we aim to widen understanding and engagement of a sustainable world – and wildlife conservation specifically – for the preservation of biodiversity and the health and enrichment of everyone on Earth," they note.

John Blumenkamp, who received a Highly Commended prize for his great gray owl image titled "Monday Blahs", said that the awards bring just as much joy to the people behind the cameras.

"They emphasize conservation while taking a fun and special look at wildlife," he said. "While out shooting I often find myself smiling or laughing with some of the behaviors of various species, and this annual event is a great way to bring that fun element of nature to others.

"While photographing the great gray owl shown in my image, I had been busy working to capture that majestic looking pose," he added. "As the owl preened and then sat still for a short while, it stretched once more and for a quick moment gave the pose shown. As it did, I grinned and thought, 'Now that’s funny!.”

"Air Guitar Roo", Jason Moore (Australia)
"Air Guitar Roo", Jason Moore (Australia)

Australian Jason Moore took out the top spot with his perfectly timed snap of a male western grey kangaroo scratching, though looking more like he's belting out AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" riff. Titled "Air Guitar Roo", the image also won the Creatures of the Land category.

“I was driving past a mob of western grey kangaroos feeding in an open field that was filled with attractive yellow flowers," said Moore of his 2021 snap. "I had my camera with me, so I stopped to grab a few photos. I suddenly noticed this individual adopt a humorous pose – to me it looks like he's practicing strumming on his air guitar.”

It was also one of two kangaroo images that made the final cut this year, in a competition that received 5,300 entries from 85 countries.

"The Happy Turtle", Tzahi Finkelstein (Israel)
"The Happy Turtle", Tzahi Finkelstein (Israel)

One of the standout images from the Highly Commended winners was "The Happy Turtle" by Tzahi Finkelstein. What it lacks in laugh-out-loud comedy, it makes up for in pure warm and fuzzies, with the swamp turtle appearing to be looking at wonder at its new dragonfly buddy.

“The swamp turtle is surprised and smiles at the dragonfly resting on its nose," said the Israeli snapper who captured this serotonin-serving stunner.

"Snowball", Jacques Poulard (France)
"Snowball", Jacques Poulard (France)

Jacques Poulard from France forgot he was photographing wildlife, and instead submitted a picture of sentient snowball. This Highly Commended photo is not just hilarious but gets bonus points for difficulty.

"These pictures was taken in Spitzberg, by a very cold winter, the white grouse is coming to me and look like a snowball with eyes," Poulard said.

In 2023/24, 10% of the organization's profits will be donated to the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity that supports conservation leaders at home in the Global South. The region has some of the most incredible species on the planet, but also the greatest poverty and wildlife habitat loss.

The Comedy Photography Awards competition is open to photographers of all skill levels, as it's as much about the moment captured as how it is taken. So if you'd like to enter for 2024, check out the details here.

You can view more winners and highly commended images in our gallery.

If that's not enough, revisit finalists from 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Source: Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

View gallery - 14 images
No comments
0 comments
There are no comments. Be the first!