40 Funniest Photos In The 2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Wildlife photographers are some of the most patient creatures on Earth. They can wait hours and hours on end in one position or even stay in one location for days just to get that beautiful picture of animals in their natural habitat.
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Because of them, we all get these amazing glimpses of animals simply living their lives without our interruption. Aside from those wonderful moments, however, wildlife photographers also put in all that effort to capture the lighter side of things in the animal kingdom, a.k.a. the photo goofs.
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A competition has even been dedicated to these goofy pictures: The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. It was founded way back in 2015 by professional photographers Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks.
The pair wanted to create a competition that focused on the lighter and more comedic side of wildlife photography. In addition to that, they also wanted to use humor to promote wildlife conservation.
This year, the competition is supporting the 'Save Wild Orangutans' charity, which keeps wild orangutans in and around Gunung Palung National Park in Borneo safe.
They have also just announced their finalists, and well, all the photos are just fantastic, so the judges are definitely going to have a hard time judging. Keep scrolling to check out these hilarious and adorable creatures.
1. No one's getting out of swimming lessons today, young man
A smooth-coated otter "bit" its baby otter to bring it back and forth for swimming lessons.
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2. The entire disappointment in this picture that summer's over speaks to our souls
I was taking pictures of pigeons in flight when this leaf landed on a bird's face.
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3. "Wanna fight me, you big bird? Come on then, fight me. FIGHT ME!"
When this Bald Eagle missed its attempt to grab this prairie dog, the prairie dog jumped towards the eagle and startled it long enough to escape to a nearby burrow. A real David vs. Goliath story!
4. "Uhm, excuse me? Did I give you permission to take a picture of this gloriousness?"
I followed this Ruby-Crowned Kinglet for about 15 minutes as it hopped from one branch to another in quick succession. I think it knew I was following it because, all of a sudden, it just stopped and stared at me for all of about 3 seconds!
5. Peekaboo!
I was photographing a group of goslings for a while when one broke away from the pack. It hid behind the leg of a bench for a few seconds before poking its little head out to say hello.
6. Our mood every Monday freaking morning
I took this shot while photographing a group of Pied Starlings perched in a tree at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa. It perfectly sums up my mood on most Monday mornings :)
7. The perfect photo to accompany a "Don't worry. Be happy!" campaign
A dragonfly early in the morning on a flower looks into my camera, and it seems as if it is laughing. The year 2020/2021 was very hard for everybody because of COVID-19. But when you go outside and watch carefully the beauty of our nature, then problems seem to get less for me. So if I have a bad day, this image makes me smile back.
8. These little creatures are in quarantine as well
Isolated inside with your family, eager to get out and explore the world? These eastern raccoon kits are too. Just when you think there's no more room in the tree hollow, mother raccoon appears and displays just how compact the space is. The babies clambered all over their mom and each other, struggling to take a look at the exact same time. This photo was taken in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. After exploring a particular area with numerous tree hollows, I identified it as a hotspot for raccoon families. Since raccoons will move from den to den, often not spending more than one night at a time in a particular den, locating an area with numerous options is key to finding the animals. I stumbled across this family and immediately worked on leveling the camera with the hole to prevent an upward angle. When the camera and tripod were ready, the baby raccoons were extremely curious (and cooperative), sticking their heads out for a closer look!
9. Don't be shy. Show off that beautiful smile!
A grey seal pup appears to be giggling. I loved the expression captured; it looks so human-like. I was lying on a rocky beach for hours, as motionlessly as possible, patiently waiting for seal life to unfold around me. This seal pup came onto the shore for a bit of rest and ended up sleeping on its chosen rock for hours before the incoming tide forced it to move further inland. Occasionally, it would stretch and yawn, and it was one of the yawns that led to this expression, looking as if the seal was giggling.
10. Care to join me for a bath here?
This young Kodiak brown bear sauntered down the riverbed and stopped across from me. She proceeded to start making herself a bear bed, pulling back the sand with her gigantic claws. Once she had her bed just how she wanted it, she laid down, rolled over on her back, and started smiling at me! And she didn't stop smiling! I would have to say she was the most provocative bear I had ever seen!
11. Doing the opera while flying high
12. This is the bald eagle, a majestic and graceful creature that is the king of the skies
Bald eagles will use the same nest for years, even decades, adding new material to it at the beginning and throughout the nesting season. Normally, they are highly skilled at snapping branches off of trees while in flight. Possibly tired from working nonstop all morning on a new nest, this particular bald eagle wasn't showing its best form. Yes, sometimes they miss. Although this looks painful, and it might very well be, the eagle recovers with just a few sweeping wing strokes and chooses to rest a bit before making another lumber run.
13. Gotta warm up for that opera performance tonight
The kangaroo looked like he was singing 'The hills are alive, with the sound of music' in the field.
14. It's a dancing away to glory kind of day
A young langur sways its body to give the impression that it's dancing.
15. Before and after a jug of coffee on a Monday morning
A baby great horned owl shows a human-like reaction as one wakes up before coffee and after having a cup. I was avidly watching the two cute owlets in the nest, hoping one would wake up and move. It took a pretty long time, as both babies were too sleepy and were nuzzling each other, sleeping with their mouths open. When one finally started to stir, this is what I saw. It is too precious, half opening both eyes, opening one, and finally both eyes looking like it was startled.
16. Give us that sass!
Males of this species of lizard choose higher elevations to monitor their territory and display. I caught this particular male roosting on the twig of a bush during the high heat of summer.
17. Youchie!
A golden silk monkey in Yunnan, China—this is actually a show of aggression; however, in the position that the monkey is in, it looks quite painful!
18. You can't strut with us!
I was lying on the beach during a stretch of fair weather at Volunteer Point in East Falkland, just waiting to capture a Gentoo penguin jumping out of the surf to land on the beach. To my delight, a trio emerged from the water and walked straight in my direction. I really enjoyed photographing this moment as it seems to capture some sassy personality displayed by these individuals.
19. What can you not love about baby elephants?
An elephant expresses his joy in taking a mud bath against the dead trees on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on a hot afternoon.
20. Can somebody please open this freaking window?
This raccoon spends his time trying to get into houses out of curiosity and perhaps also to steal food.
21. Prepping for that barbecue deer dinner
I have been following the family of a tigress called Paaro in India's Jim Corbett National Park for many years. This is her daughter, who has stood on her hind limbs to be able to scratch her face with a log. But it appears as if she is carrying the log on her shoulders.
22. This smiling rope
Vine snakes are very commonly seen in the Western Ghats of India. When approached, they show aggression by opening their mouths wide. There's nothing to be scared of with this beautiful, harmless vine snake. I was happy to find it and smiling, and it looks like he was smiling back at me.
23. Let's do the samba!
Two Kamchatka bear cubs square up for a celebratory play fight after successfully navigating a raging torrent (small stream!).
24. Those kids are going to get some ass-whooping from grandfather here
25. Can't get it all to fit
There is a great big pine tree with a small to medium-sized hole in it near my house where a young raccoon has called this home for the past year. Well, this year it appears that the little raccoon has outgrown its tiny home as it barely fits!
26. It's time to go home, mister
Two Gentoo penguins having a discussion after coming out of the surf.
27. Praying his brother doesn't end up crying so mom won't get mad
I spent my days in my usual "gopher place," and yet again, these funny little animals haven't belied their true nature.
28. Perfect selfies!
While trying to take proper pictures with flash, I visited two groups of wild horses for two years. Every now and then, they didn't try to eat my flashes or run over the stands, and they posed for me.
29. Had to call a giraffe Uber after that party last night
During a game drive, we found a group of monkeys playing around with each other, jumping up and down from a bare branch. It was a joy to watch. After a while, I saw a giraffe coming from the right. By the time the giraffe passed the branch, one of the monkeys was on his post to ride the giraffe :-)
30. I love this tree with all my life
This Proboscis monkey could be just scratching its nose on the rough bark, or it could be kissing it. Trees play a big role in the lives of monkeys. Who are we to judge...
31. "I'm so done with this day, and it hurts."
Burrowing owl youngsters are so amusing to watch. This burrowing owl caught my eye because he looked like he had a hangover.
32. Gotta get that perfect scratch
A young cub decides to use his patient mother as a leaning post, with the birds in the trees requiring closer inspection.
33. There's that one person in every family
A polar bear mom and her cubs frolicked in the icy waters of the Arctic. They kept dipping under the water and once came up together with this amusing pose. A tender moment is shared by mom and one cub while the other photo-bombs with a wave to the onlookers. Or, it sure looked like a wave.....
34. Got on top of the world!
A frog climbed a flower from a plant, and when he made it to the end, he laughed, celebrating his success.
35. He's just a little bit shy
I was photographing a group of goslings for a while when one broke away from the pack. It hid behind the leg of a bench for a few seconds before poking its little head out to say hello.
36. If you're happy and you know it...
Ever seen a grizzly bear square dance? Just need a jug, some spoons, and a banjo. Gets 'em every time.
37. Sweet lips waiting for that perfect kiss
This picture was taken at Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean. Usually, box fishes are difficult to photograph since they do not have a problem with a diver coming close, but if you show interest, they always turn their back and not their face to you. That's why I tried to swim 0.5m above the fish, showing no interest at all. At the same time, I had my camera not in front of me, but below at my chest, pointing to the bottom. When the right moment came, I turned the camera 90 degrees to the front and just pointed and shot, hoping to have the fish in focus. I never expected to have its beautiful lips that close!
38. Have a great trip wherever you go
A red damselfly welcomes us into the world of macro nature. It was so amazing to see it climb up the straw and pause at the intersection to say hi! :)
39. Just checking if it's still there
A male vervet monkey was hanging around a bridge over the Luangwa River in South Luangwa National Park, looking for some action (handouts from passersby).
40. Missed!
Two Western Grey Kangaroos were fighting and one missed kicking him in the stomach.
These animals are definitely making the day of a lot of people out there and we're really thankful for all the photographers who captured these glorious moments. They might not be pictures that people put on huge picture frames but these are the photos we're definitely going to keep going back to when our day sucks.
What was your favorite photo?
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