Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2020 finalists revealed

12 September 2020

The finalists of this year's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced, each one showing the power of anthropomorphism.

News image — Smiley, by Arthur Telle Thiemann. A Sparisoma cretense in El Hierro, Canary Islands

Arthur Telle Thiemann A fish appearing to smile at the camera — Smiley, by Arthur Telle Thiemann. A Sparisoma cretense in El Hierro, Canary Islands

A fish that appears to smile, a bear giving a friendly wave from afar and a very grumpy sea turtle - this year's finalists show animals in relatable comedy moments.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards were founded by Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, both professional photographers and passionate conservationists.

In addition to providing some light-hearted relief, the competition aims to highlight the extremely important message of wildlife conservation in an engaging and positive way, working with competition partner The Born Free Foundation.

The winners will be announced at an online awards ceremony on 22 October.

In the meantime, here are a few finalists' entries that might give you a chortle.

Brigitte Alcalay Marcon A giraffe looking sideways into the photographic frame of another giraffe — Crashing into the picture, by Brigitte Alcalay Marcon. Giraffes in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Eric Fisher A bear holding up its paw and looking up at the camera — Hi Y'all, by Eric Fisher. A brown bear in Alaska

Daniele D'Ermo A bird ruffling its wings — Tern tuning its wings, by Daniele D'Ermo, Florida

Mark Fitzpatrick A turtle appearing to be gesticulating at the camera — Terry the Turtle flipping the bird, by Mark Fitzpatrick, Lady Elliot Island, Queensland, Australia

Petr Sochman A parrot holding up its foot to another parrot — Social distance please, by Petr Sochman. Rose-ringed parakeets in Kaudulla national park, Sri Lanka

Marcus Westberg A gorilla looking bored — Boredom, by Marcus Westberg. A mountain gorilla in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda

Yarin Klein Two bears, one playing around and one looking grumpy — We all have that friend, by Yarin Klein. Brown bears at Kuril Lake, Kamchatka, Russia

Ayala Fishaimer A young fox looking down at a rodent — Tough Negotiations, by Ayala Fishaimer. A fox and a rodent in Israel

Christina Holfelder A group of penguins walking on a beach with one of them throwing up — I could puke, by Christina Holfelder. Gentoo penguins in the Falkland Islands

Martin Grace A monkey scratching its bottom — Socially Uninhibited, by Martin Grace. A chacma baboon near River Chobe, Botswana

Asaf Sereth Four mongoose looking up with wide eyes — Surprise Smiles, by Asaf Sereth. Dwarf mongoose at Lake Bogoria, Kenya

Gail Bisson A bird with wet spiky feathers — Covid Hair, by Gail Bisson. A Reddish egret in Fort Desoto, Florida

Ken Crossan A large seal lying on a rock appearing to laugh — Having a Laugh, by Ken Crossan. A common seal in Caithness, Scotland

Sally Lloyd Jones A kingfisher on a "no fishing" sign with a fish in its mouth — It's a Mocking Bird, by Sally Lloyd Jones. A kingfisher in Kirkcudbright, Scotland

Wei Ping Peng A monkey in water looking shocked at the temperature of the water — So hot, by Wei Ping Peng. A snow monkey in Japan

Vicki Jauron A bird with its wings outstretched behind another bird — Abracadabra, by Vicki Jauron. Brown pelicans in Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Femke-van-Willigen A red squirrel appearing to be chortling — The inside joke, by Femke-van-Willigen. A Eurasian red squirrel in Espelo, the Netherlands

Charlie Davidson A raccoon with its legs sticking out of a hole in a tree — Almost time to get up, by Charlie Davidson. A raccoon in Newport News, Virginia

Thomas Vijayan A monkey swinging on the tails of two other monkeys — Fun For All Ages, by Thomas Vijayan. Langurs in Kabini, India