The Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards has published the shortlisted images and videos from its 2023 competition, with some cracking ocean-themed and underwater images up for the prize.
Voting is now open for the competition’s People’s Choice Award – sponsored by Affinity Photo – so here are some of the best water-based entries that could make it to the top of the list. Voting also enters the voter into a free prize draw to win £500.
This year’s final shortlist of 41 standalone photographs, 3 videos and 3 Portfolio entries includes a seal making a good attempt to take off, a group of surgeonfish giving way to a passing blacktip reef shark, and a batfish that appears to have grown human legs.
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The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam who wanted to create a competition focused on the lighter, humorous side of wildlife photography but also had an important role in promoting wildlife conservation at its heart.
Each year the competition supports a sustainable conservation organisation, which this year is the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) a UK charity that supports conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the WFN has channelled £20 million to more than 200 conservationists in 80 countries.
The awards will be judged by a panel of experts including TV presenter Kate Humble; actor and comedian Hugh Dennis; world-renowned wildlife photographers Daisy Gilardini and Will Burrard-Lucas; wildlife expert and co-founder of The Born Free Foundation Will Travers OBE; Ashley Hewson, the Managing Director of Serif, makers of Affinity Photo; Celina Dunlop, picture editor extraordinaire; underwater film and diving aficionado Luke Inman; and Bella Lack, a young, passionate conservationist.
To cast a vote in the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award, and be in with the chance of winning a cash prize of £500, head to the competition’s website and click the People’s Choice link.
The Overall Winner, Category and Highly Commended Winners will be announced on 23 November 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.
