Nikon Comedy Wildlife Award Winner for 2024
Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Award has announced the winners of its annual competition. For 2024, the contest received over 9,000 entries from photographers around the world, which the judges narrowed down to 10 category winners and 10 Highly Commended winners. Top winners received prizes ranging from Kenyan safaris to Nikon gear including cameras and lenses.
Overall Winner and Mammal Category Winner
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Photographer: Milko Marchetti (Italy)
Topic: trapped squirrel
Place: Parco Podere Pantaleone, Italy
caption: This photo was taken in the “Podere Pantaleone” park in Bagnacavallo, Ravenna, Italy. It is a park that is open to the public and schools, but from October to March, it is closed to visitors, and I was asked (in exchange for photographs for educational and promotional purposes) to photograph passersby, woodpeckers, and a Use of certain photographic skins is allowed. Hawks, and even 3-4 squirrels, who come to view the photographic set featuring a small lake and surrounding vegetation. Generally, in Italy, especially in the area where I live, in the Po Delta Regional Park, it is very difficult to see and photograph squirrels (they are very rare), but here in the park, they are quite assured. .
A few meters from the hiding place, there is a hole (an old woodpecker’s nest) in an old felled tree, and here, squirrels (two years ago, there were four specimens) sometimes visit the old hollow tree. They come out of curiosity. I have taken many photographs of squirrels in a variety of situations, but the shot I chose to participate in the Nikon Comedy Wildlife immediately made me realize the awkward position assumed by the squirrel, which appears to be half stuck in a hole in the tree , but in reality, this is the moment when he is separating from the support on his hind legs and entering the hole.
This photo made an impact on me and brought a huge smile to my face when I pressed the button, and during my evening slide shows and nature videos, which I often organize in photography clubs and theaters, the audience always bursts with energetic laughter. They light up when I show them this photo. I knew I had to make it into the competition.
© Milko Marchetti / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Insect Category Winner
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Photographer: Jose Miguel Gallego Molina (Spain)
Topic: Mantis Flamenca
Place: Onda, Spain
caption: While returning from my photo walk in a swamp near my town (Pentano el Sitjar), I suddenly stopped my car on the road when I saw someone ordering me to stop. This was when I saw my friend the Flemish Mantis for the first time. You can imagine the faces of other cars passing by, a car stopped on the side of the road with its indicators on and the door open, and a crazy person lying on the ground with a camera in his hand.
© Jose Miguel Gallego Molina/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Reptile Category Winner
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Photographer: Eberhard Ehmke (Germany)
Topic: frog in balloon
Place: Burgwinkel, Germany
caption: During a photo shoot at the pond, I found this frog with its head in a bubble. It looks like a tree bell.
© Eberhard Ehmke / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Bird Category Winner
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Photographer: Damian Petkov (Bulgaria)
Topic: Whiskered turn crash on landing
Place: Svishtov, Bulgaria
caption: Whiskered Tern’s head hits rock while attempting to land
© Demian Petkov / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Fish and Other Aquatic Life Category Winner
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Photographer: Przemysław Jakubczyk (Poland)
Topic: unexpected role swap
Place: Szczecin Lagoon, Poland
caption: Every stressed and tired fish will have to relieve its stress by hunting the bald eagle
© Przemysław Jakubczyk / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Nikon Junior Category Winner (16 and under)
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Photographer: Sarthak Ranganadhan (India)
Topic: smooching owl
Place: Gurgaon, India
caption: Our parents always find some way to embarrass us; I think this is also true of the spotted owl. It was indeed a strange sight to see two owls trying to get some privacy as their little offspring stood next to them with smiles and eyes closed.
© Sarthak Ranganadhan/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Nikon Young Photographer Category Winner (25 and under)
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Photographer: Kingston Tam (Hong Kong)
Topic: funny smiley frog
Place: Queensland, Australia
caption: In 2022, I moved from Hong Kong to Australia to study wildlife science, and my friends got me into ‘herping’ (looking for reptiles and amphibians in the wild) and through this, I met a group of amazing photographers. Found someone who was expert in taking photographs. Of these creatures, and I started doing the same. And that’s how I ended up photographing creatures.
My goal for my images is to draw attention to our scaly or cuddly friends, showing that not only furry animals can be cute and beautiful. Ultimately, I want my work to bring more conservation awareness to these amazing reptiles and amphibians, and that’s my motivation to continue doing what I’m doing.
© Kingston Tam / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
People’s Choice Category Winner
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Photographer: Tapani Linnanmäki (Finland)
Topic: Shake Ruffle Rattle and Roll
Place: kustavi finland
caption: In the picture a white-tailed eagle is flapping its wings. The photo was taken with the Nikon Z9’s auto-capture feature. The camera is placed above a bag of nuts at snow level above the sea ice. When I saw this picture I couldn’t believe my eyes. The photo series featured more than ten funny poses and expressions.
© Tapani Linnanmäki / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Portfolio Category Winner
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The Portfolio category was presented to a photographer for a set of images. The photo above is from a series of photos of a squirrel in a variety of comical poses.
Photographer: Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb (British, age 10)
Topic: rock guitar
Place: southampton, uk
caption: I first heard about the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards when my mom showed me last year’s winner, a kangaroo playing air guitar. I thought it was quite funny. I got into photography when my mom gave me her Nikon D3000 camera when I was 5 years old. I have been using Nikon cameras since then.
I love taking pictures of all kinds of animals: birds, foxes, spiders, butterflies, squirrels. Anything that catches my eyes. Whatever is beautiful. When I was 6 years old with my Perching Seagull, I won my first prize by coming third in the Bird Photography of the Year (BPOTY) competition for the under eight category. I won the RSPCA Mobile Phone in the Under 12 category in 2023 with my Weaving Spider.
© Flynn Thaitanunde-Laub/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Artur Stankiewicz (Poland)
Topic: i’m too sexy for my love
Place: Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
caption: On a ‘lazy’ morning, we decided to stop by the pools with the hippos at Mana Pools NP. My idea was to try to catch the fighting hippos, yet they were all quite peaceful. I stood on the shore safely away from the potential charge and waited. Some of them raised their heads out of curiosity or when the proximity to other people became too much. Then I got the idea to paint her with water plants decorating her head; It looked like the guy had just come out of the hairdresser with a big smile on his face 🙂
© Artur Stankiewicz / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Randy Herman (USA)
Topic: you are not my mother
Place: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio, USA
caption: This female Red-bellied Woodpecker had been investigating this Screech Owl nest for a few days; Maybe last year it was her nest? This little owl was definitely startled and didn’t know what to do with this intruder. The woodpecker moved on, and about an hour later the owl ran away with its two siblings.
© Randy Herman/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Ralph Robinson (British)
Topic: gang of four
Place: Pebble Island, Falkland Islands
caption: On Penguin Highway, these rockhoppers are headed to town, and the town isn’t big enough for them all! I set up my camera a short distance from this ridge, where rockhopper penguins were returning from feeding in the southern Atlantic Ocean in the Falkland Islands. The long lens captured them in the frame without interrupting their return to the nest on the hill. I love taking photos of penguins after they’ve been in the water, because they’re clean! These birds look like they’re ready to kill a penguin!
© Ralph Robinson/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Takashi Kubo (Japan)
Topic: mafia boss
Place: hokkaido japan
caption: He looked like he was smoking a cigar, and he looked like a mafia boss.
© Takashi Kubo/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Leslie MacLeod (Canada)
Topic: hide and seek
Place: Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
caption: We were on safari in Kenya and we met this beautiful woman who was looking for a partner. A group of topi were also keeping a very close eye on her as she was leaving messages for her potential mates on various trees. This shot makes me think that the cheetah is about to yell, “Ready or not, here I come!”
© Leslie MacLeod / Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Arvind Mohandas (Germany)
Topic: reflective chimpanzee
Place: uganda
caption: A group of about 50 chimpanzees were shot while being chased through the forests of Uganda. This was clearly an important issue to be considered on the day of the realization and confirmation of how close chimpanzees are to humans!
© Arvind Mohandas/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Jan Piecha (Germany)
Topic: let me tell you a secret
Place: Germany
caption: A little raccoon whispers into his mother’s ear, telling her a secret.
©Jan Piecha/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Marty Phillips (USA)
Topic: Are you kidding?
Place: Cape Cross Seal Reserve, Namibia
caption: two cape fur seals laughing
© Marty Phillips/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Sanjay Patil (India)
Topic: The Rock Star
Place: Maharashtra state, India
caption: Fan-throated lizards are found only in the Indian subcontinent, where they evolved under the influence of changing climate. These lizards are colorful and come in the category of reptiles. Female lizards do not show fans because they do not have fans. During the summer season, male lizards inflate their attractive neck sacs to attract females. Here the female lizard is standing straight to escape the heat.
© Sanjay Patil/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
highly commended winner
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Photographer: Andy Rouse (British)
Topic: Okay, buddy, back off – it’s my bird
Place: south georgia
caption: This image was taken in South Georgia; It actually shows a male king penguin trying to make a move on a female who has already paired up with her male. The body position and wing posture make the message clear – “Back off!”
© Andy Rouse/Nikon Comedy Wildlife
