Do you want to have a good time watching the funniest images of the animal kingdom? Then you can’t miss the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards, awards that recognize the work of animal photographic ‘hunters’ who seek to capture the everyday and funniest scenes of tigers, lions, penguins, beavers, and many more. A few days ago, the organizers of the contest announced the list of finalists for its 2024 edition. And we have been able to enjoy offering a collection of images and videos that not only capture unusual moments of wildlife, but do so with great touch of humor And as an example, we wanted to show you the 40 images that are competing for the award: a week’s safari in the Maasai Mara reserve with Alex Walker’s Serian.
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Participation record
This year, the contest has broken participation records, with almost 9,000 materials from 98 countries. And among the finalist images, a cheetah playing hide-and-seek behind a tree, a pair of bears in what appears to be an affectionate embrace, a fish chasing an eagle through the skyand even a tiny flying squirrel in a pose reminiscent of a mafia boss. Each of these images is a clear example of nature’s ability to surprise us and make us laugh.
With the publication of the finalistsvoting has also been opened for the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Affinity Photowhich gives the public the opportunity to vote for their favorite image and participate in a draw with a prize of £500 (almost 600 euros). The deadline to vote ends on October 31, 2024.
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Award for talent and claim for the conservation of the planet
“These awards showcase the incredible talent and creativity of photographers around the world,” said Stefan Maier, general manager of marketing at Nikon Europe. They capture not only the humor and charm of wildlifebut they also highlight the iimportance of conservation in a way that connects with people of all ages and backgrounds. At Nikon, we are proud to be part of a contest that brings so much joy as awareness about the preservation of our natural environment”.
The contest, which began in 2015 with the help of professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullamhas established itself as a unique fusion of high-level photography and humor, with the aim of promoting the conservation of crucial species and habitats.
In addition, the contest collaborates annually with a sustainable conservation organization. In this edition, Comedy Wildlife returns to work with Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN)a UK charity supporting conservation leaders in the Global South. Over the last 30 years, the foundation has allocated more than £20 million (23 million euros) to projects in 90 countries, and this year the competition hopes to continue highlighting the work of these conservation heroes.
He jury’s decision will be announced on December 10 at a gala in London, followed by a free week-long exhibition at Gallery@Oxo, where all the shortlisted images will be shown. It is a unique opportunity to closely appreciate the talent of photographers and the most unusual moments that wildlife offers.
– Read: The most curious images of wildlife