Image credit: Shayne McGuire / 2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
It’s not an April Fool’s joke, the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are open for entries. Last year’s edition of the popular wildlife photo contest had a record number of entries. If you missed the winners, check out our slideshow. The winning photos aren’t just hilarious, they’re also great wildlife images.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards were co-founded in 2015 by Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, a pair of professional photographers. They wanted a contest to celebrate the lighter side of wildlife photography. The competition also places a large emphasis on wildlife conservation. Each year, the contest supports a sustainable conservation organization. The 2022 contest supports the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), a UK charity that supports conservation leaders across the Global South. In the past 29 years, WFN has channeled £19 million ($24.9M) to more than 200 conservationists in 80 countries.
An unseen entry from last year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. ‘The Ministry of Silly Walks’ by Nicolas Reusens.
WFN also hands out its own flagship prizes, the Whitley Awards, which are often referred to as ‘Green Oscars.’ Applicants are assessed each year and winners are provided critical project funding and training. To learn more about WFN’s awards, click here.
This year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards remain free to enter. The top shot will win a safari in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The winner will also receive a handmade trophy from The Wonder Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Plus, of course, the title of ‘2022 Comedy Wildlife Photographer of the Year.’ Winners in each category will receive a Think Tank camera bag and a certificate. The competition’s sponsors include Alex Walker’s Serian, Spectrum Photo, Amazing Internet, Think Tank and Affinity Photo. This year’s competition categories include:
Creatures of the Air
Creatures of the Land
Underwater
Video
Junior
Portfolio
If you’d like to enter the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, click here. Entries are open until September 1, 2022. The shortlist will be announced in October, with winners announced in December.