Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards organizers release finalist images
- The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards organizers have released more than 40 finalist images for their international photography competition, which uses humor to promote environmental conservation.
- Among the finalist images is a photograph titled This is my best side, which captures two beavers in shallow water.
- Other selected images feature a caiman with a tuft of black vegetation resembling a wig in a photo titled Elvis, and a praying mantis behind a leaf in...
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards organizers have released more than 40 finalist images for their international photography competition, which uses humor to promote environmental conservation.
Finalist Photographs Feature Animal Antics
Among the finalist images is a photograph titled This is my best side,
which captures two beavers in shallow water. One beaver looks toward the camera with a gentle smile while the other tilts its head back to show its large orange teeth, according to the competition materials.
Other selected images feature a caiman with a tuft of black vegetation resembling a wig in a photo titled Elvis,
and a praying mantis behind a leaf in a beach-relaxation pose titled Sexy mantis.
Additional finalist photographs include a grumpy-looking simple wren titled Angry bird,
an adult elephant throwing dirt at a baby elephant’s face in a shot called Lessons,
and a brown bear sitting on its hindquarters with its legs lifted and arms waved in Morning calisthenics.
The collection also includes two frogs in shallow water where one splashes while the other jumps and falls face-first. Another snapshot titled Adjusting the hairstyle before the family photo
shows one meerkat appearing to pet another’s head as a third watches. A photo named Squirrel war
captures a red squirrel mid-jump with a nut in its mouth, and Oh, such tickles!
portrays two elephant seals during courtship.
Conservation Through Humor
East African wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks launched the awards in 2015 after reviewing his own photos and finding several amusing snapshots. Organizers noted that the competition deliberately avoids distressing imagery of suffering animals to encourage public action.
Our world is extraordinarily beautiful and interconnected, but humanity strives to overexploit and damage it. Wildlife conservation and sustainability issues are gaining global momentum, but messages and images are usually negative, depressing, and exhausting.
Paul Joynson-Hicks
Organizers stated in a Facebook post that the photographs are designed to generate smiles and lift moods, helping build empathy toward animals that can motivate positive behavioral changes. The public can also vote for their favorite images via the Comedy Wildlife website for the Sterna People’s Choice Award, with one randomly selected voter receiving approximately $660.
London Awards Ceremony Scheduled for December
A panel of judges will select the winners across multiple animal and age categories. The results will be announced on Dec. 8 at an awards ceremony in London, United Kingdom, as reported by CNN.