After an intense but wholesome competition, the judges have made their decisions and chosen the winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards in 2023. And we can’t wait to share the most beloved photos with you this year!
There were a total of 6 winners in different categories, but the overall winner this year was Jason Moore with his fabulously fun photo ‘Air Guitar Roo.’ Moore also won the Creatures of the Land category with his incredible shot. Scroll down to check out this year’s crème de la crème to boost your mood with a little bit of Vitamin C(omedy). Hopefully, these photos will get you inspired about conservation and they might just convince you to head into the great outdoors with your camera!
The team behind the spectacular Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was happy to answer Bored Panda’s questions. You’ll find our interview with them as you read on.
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#1 Junior Category Winner & People’s Choice Winner “Dispute” By Jacek Stankiewicz
“I caught this scene while watching birds in the Bialowieza Forest. Young greenfinch was still fed by parents. However, from time to time birds looked like having argument. My friends interpret this scene in two ways. 1 A young naughty kid is arguing with a parent. 2. One kid is reporting to the parent that its brother did something wrong: look he has broken the glass in the window.”
Image source: © Jacek Stankiewicz / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#2 Highly Commended: “Don’t Look Down” By Brian Matthews
“A puffin does an inverted snoopy impression while watching jelly fish.”
Image source: © Brian Matthews / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#3 Highly Commended: “The Happy Turtle” By Tzahi Finkelstein
“Swamp Turtle Dragonfly, jezreel val the swamp turtle is surprised and smiles at the dragonfly resting on its nose”
Image source: © Tzahi Finkelstein / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#4 Highly Commended: “Snowball” By Jacques Poulard
“This picture was taken in Spitzberg, in a very cold winter, the white grouse is coming to me and looks like a snowball with eyes.”
Image source: © Jacques Poulard / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#5 Underwater Category Winner “Otter Ballerina” By Otter Kwek
“An otter ballerina gracefully dances in an Arabesque position. The otter was leaping while attempting to grasp the overhanging leaves, and during an unusual landing, it ended up in the Arabesque pose. I showed this photo to a ballet teacher, and she commented that the otter is a natural but just needs to tuck in its tummy a bit — precisely what a ballet teacher would advise.”
Image source: © Otter Kwek / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#6 Highly Commended: “Monday Blahs” By John Blumenkamp
“This Great Gray Owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise. But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of ‘is Monday over yet?’ I really like the uniqueness of the Comedy Wildlife Awards, and that they emphasize conservation while taking a fun and special look at wildlife. 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. 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!”
Image source: © John Blumenkamp / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#7 Overall Winner & Creatures Of The Land Winner “Air Guitar Roo” By Jason-Moore
“Firstly, let me start off by identifying the species of Kangaroo – it’s a Western Grey Kangaroo. The animal is a female – evidenced by her size (females are significantly smaller than males) and if you look closely, you can see signs of a pouch in the middle of her belly. The photo was taken in Aug 2021 (late winter in the southern hemisphere), in the outer suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. As you probably know, we have a Mediterranean climate in South Western Australia […] and as a result we are blessed with a beautiful wildflower season in late winter and early spring.
I decided to swing past an area of open bushland that I know of, because there are often a “mob” of Kangaroos feeding and sunning themselves in a field close to the road. […] I ended up shooting about 40 or 50 frames of the Kangaroos with various content. […]
The shoot turned out to be a great session, and I am quite fond of several images that I captured. However, when I saw this animal strike this pose it immediately brought a smile to my face and I knew that I had captured something special. I have also been lucky enough to capture photos of two males having a fight, which can get pretty vicious with their kung fu kicks and judo like wrestling matches.”
Image source: © Jason Moore / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#8 Highly Commended: “One For The Family Album” By Zoe Ashdown
“At RSPB Bempton Cliffs, each year between March and October, around half a million seabirds use the chalk cliffs towering above the North Sea to nest and raise a family.
Gannets mate for life and they return to the same nest year after year to raise their young.
Lying safely at the top of the cliff face I was able to observe the affection shown between the gannets each time one returned to the nest. They have a greeting ritual, they rub beaks and entwine their necks; it’s how they strengthen their bond. But it’s also a brilliant opportunity to catch them in various poses.
I didn’t realise I’d taken this image until I got home, but as soon as I saw it I laughed out loud! They look like proud parents, posing with their baby – definitely one for the family album!”
Image source: © Zoe Ashdown / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#9 Highly Commended: “That Wasn’t Here Yesterday” By Wendy Kaveney
“A white-winged dove appearing to fly head-on into a cholla cactus skeleton.”
Image source: © Wendy Kaveney / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#10 Portfolio Category Winner “I Finally Learned To Fly… Or Not?” By Tímea Ambrus
“The ground squirrel jumped as if he could fly. Unfortunately he has no wings. To his surprise he fell back to the ground.”
Image source: ©Tímea Ambrus / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#11 Highly Commended: “Fox With A Cigar” By Dakota Vaccaro
“While I was working deep in the Virginian woods, a family of grey foxes took up residence under the deck of the abandoned cottage next to my work housing. One day while practicing their hunting skills on bits of moss and branches, one of the kits lunged at a small chunk of wood and started rolling around with his prize. Tired after his hunt the kit lounged on his belly still holding the wood in his mouth which gave the strong resemblance of a cigar. I was very envious of the kit at this moment cause who wouldn’t want to just lay around all day relaxing.”
Image source: © Dakota Vaccaro / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#12 Highly Commended: “The Rainforest Dandy” By Delphine Casimir
“This picture was taken in the monkey forest in Ubud, Bali. This place is a crazy place where monkeys are king! sometimes they give a show, sometimes, they climb on you to look for fleas or steal the piece of biscuit you are trying to eat :-D. Their kingdom, called the rainforest forest has three hindu temples. This forest is special even magical and sacred to the Balinese people. Maybe our dandy is the reacarnation of a divinity?”
Image source: © Delphine Casimir / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#13 Highly Commended: “Boing” By Lara-Mathews
“Taken at Westerfolds Park, a beautiful and surprisingly wild pocket of land in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, famous for its kangaroo population. The mob was enjoying some morning sunshine when this joey decided to get silly and try his hand at boxing.”
Image source: © Lara Mathews / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#14 Creatures Of The Air Winner “Unexpected Plunge” By Vittorio Ricci
“An unusual and almost miserable end of a perfect moment, previously prepared, for a successfull fishing.”
Image source: © Vittorio Ricci / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
#15 Highly Commended: “Look At Right Bro” By Pratick Mondal
“The photo was taken in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India. This park is heaven for nature lovers. The park is full of lush greenery and habitat of mammals & migratory birds. During my trip, I planned for Jackal & Hyena shooting apart from birds. There are plenty of Jackals & Hyenas in the park. Upon reaching the spot, I was waiting for the moment to capture. Even after waiting hours, there was no call from the jackal or Hyena. Still I was waiting. Suddenly a deer in the far distance appeared on the road and stood exactly in the middle of the road and started looking at me. Seeing the arc behind the deer I tried to capture the frame I pre-visualized. Suddenly, a Macaque also came in the middle of the road too and started itching, extending its hand outside which was hilarious. Without further delay, I captured the beautiful and rare moment of ‘Itching Macaque with deer in the background’.”
Image source: © Pratick Mondal / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023
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