Update 27 October 2020
Mark Fitzpatrick has just been announced as the winner of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2020.
The image was shot when the Australian photographer was swimming off Lady Elliot Island in Queensland, Australia. He wins a once-in-a-lifetime Kenyan safari, a trophy, a Think Tank bag, and a Nikon camera.
The gallery of other category winners can be seen at the Comedy Wildlife Photograpyhy Awards website.
Original story - 10 September 2020
If you thought about it long and hard enough, it's likely that you'd find plenty to frown about in today's world. This is why we like to enjoy a good laugh whenever we can. Thankfully, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has delivered this opportunity in spades.
This year they include a fox in heavy negotiations with a mouse, some serious monkey business, a grinning fish, and other animal magic that is bound to bring a smile to your face, or a tear to your eye.
The competition, founded by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, is a global, free-to-enter photo competition, showcasing seriously funny images of the earth’s wildlife.
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In addition to providing some light-hearted relief, the competition aims to highlight the extremely important message of wildlife conservation in an engaging and positive way, working with the main competition partner – The Born Free Foundation.
The judging panel included TV presenter Kate Humble, comedian Hugh Dennis, and award-wi photographer Will Burrard-Lucas,
The public also get the chance to choose a winnerPeople’s Choice Award, sponsored by Affinity Photo. For more details on how to vote for your favorite funny pic and to be in with a chance of winning a brand new iPad – go to The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website to view all 44 shortlisted images.
The winners will be announced on 22 October 22 with the top image winning an incredible one-week safari with Alex Walker's Serian in the Masai Mara, Kenya as well as a unique handmade trophy from the Art Garage in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
As in previous years, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards hope that the competition will encourage everyone to do their bit towards conservations. And this year have come up with a four-step plan for people who want to be more involved:
1 SHOP LOCALLY AND RESPONSIBLY
With the recent lockdown, we have all got used to doing things slightly differently, including shopping closer to home, so why not carry on? It helps in all sorts of ways from supporting small, local businesses to shrinking your carbon footprint and is way more fun! And if you can avoid buying un-recyclable products and one-use plastics/packaging, even better!
2 PUT PLANT BOXES ON YOUR WINDOWSILLS
One of the easiest things to do... put a plant box on your windowsill, grow some flowers, and give the bees somewhere to go. We've all heard of the importance of bees, and this little nod towards their daily requirements is already a huge step in the right direction. Imagine if every windowsill had a flower box! It would be an absolute miracle, so let’s start that process!
3 ONLY FLY LONG HAUL IF YOU REALLY HAVE TO
Something else lockdown has taught us is how amazing the internet is at keeping us in touch with each other! We’re all Zoom experts now! Let’s embrace this new whizz technology and only take those flights if there is really no other way.
4 BECOME A “WILD INFLUENCER”
This is a special person who may be not a mega activist, but really, really cares about the environment and wants to do something to help.
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