Nikon has revealed the winners of the funniest photography competition around, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards! Mark Meth-Cohn, an amateur wildlife photographer from the UK won with his hilarious image, ‘High Five’ of a gorilla dancing through a forest clearing, taken in Rwanda earlier this year.
Mark’s comical photograph stood out among a record-breaking 10,000 entries from 109 countries – the highest number in the Awards’ illustrious eleven-year history. From this extraordinary collection, 44 of the very best entries, including videos, were shortlisted for the judging panel to select their favourites. The competition was as fierce as ever; however, Mark’s photograph emerged as a clear favourite among the judges – with the shot also claiming the Mammals Category Award.
Mark Meth-Cohn says: “We spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home. On this particular day, we came across a large family group known as the Amahoro family, they were gathered in a forest clearing where the adults were calmly foraging while the youngsters were enthusiastically playing. One young male was especially keen to show off his acrobatic flair: pirouetting, tumbling, and high kicking. Watching his performance was pure joy, and I’m thrilled to have captured his playful spirit in this image.”
Stefan Maier, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe, says: “We are so thrilled to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity showcased in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. All of our category winners use joy, skills and imagination to capture the natural world, and Mark’s winning image perfectly represents the playful spirit of wildlife. At Nikon, we are incredibly proud to support these visual storytellers and provide them with the tools to share their unique perspectives, inspiring audiences everywhere to connect with and care for our planet’s remarkable wildlife.”
As the overall winner of the competition, Mark Meth-Cohn will enjoy an unforgettable safari experience in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, thanks to Alex Walker’s Serian. He will also receive a stunning handmade trophy crafted by the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania and a premium photography bag from the renowned THINK TANK.
Commenting on the moment he found out he had won the top prize, Mark said, “Doing well in any competition shows that the images you are producing are working. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards are one of the major competitions of the year, easy to enter and fun but with a seriously committed underlying ethos and, after reaching the finals last year, I’m absolutely delighted to have gone one step further and win the competition this year.”
More winners…
Grayson Bell from the USA won the Nikon Young Photographer Award (16 & under) and the Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Category with his striking close-up of two frogs wrestling in the water, and will receive a Nikon Z50II kit as his prize.
Paula Rustemeier from Germany triumphed in the Nikon Junior Category (25 & under) with her playful fox image “Hit the dance floor”, earning a Nikon Z6III kit.
Meanwhile, Tatjana Epp, also from Germany, won the Video Category with a captivating clip of a surfing heron and will receive a Nikon ZR kit.
Vote for your favourite image
Voting is open for the People’s Choice Award, where the public to get to choose their favourite Finalists from 2025. The public can see all finalists and cast their vote at www.comedywildlifephoto.com until March 1st 2026 and the Winner of this Award will be announced on March 14th.
Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards exhibition
- 10 -14th December
- Free entry
- OXO Gallery, London
This year, in collaboration with paper sponsor, Hahnemühle, and printing sponsor, Metro Imaging, the entire Nikon Comedy Wildlife Exhibition has been curated with sustainability at its heart. All the stunning images on display have been printed by Metro on Hahnemühle’s Bamboo paper – the world’s first inkjet paper made from 90% bamboo fibres and 10% cotton, offering a fast growing, environmentally friendly alternative. By choosing materials that minimise environmental impact, the exhibition’s strong conservation message is reflected not only in the imagery but also in every aspect of its presentation.
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