Forget cute baby pictures. Right now, it’s all about the hilarious wildlife photos, thanks to photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks’ Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Founded just this year, the contest (it’s closed now) was open to any photographer, professional or no. Be warned, though: the competition is stiff. The winning photos — in addition to being absolutely hilarious — also happen to look great. Something to keep in mind if you want to compete in next year’s contest.
The prizes, by the way, are great. (Shiny trophy. One-week photographic safari in Tanzania. Nikon D750.) And Joynson-Hicks, like the contest he founded, has a sense of humor—his rules and regulations for the contest are actually fun to read. Take this gem: “No Pets, domestic, farm or captive animals please! Sorry, I know your hound is hilarious but this is a wildlife photography competition and that means no domestic animals and no animals that live in zoos or other captive environments.”
Or the stipulation that potential winners must think “Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written.
Enough talk, though. Check out the highlights from this year’s contest below. They’re just begging to be captioned and/or compared to candid shots of celebrities.
This little guy was the winner of the contest. He’s flying cats 2.0.
Pictures like this are why it’s so easy to anthropomorphize animals.
D’oh Cheetah. That’s his name.
Tai chi lemur.
Hey… I get it.
