The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards are celebrating their tenth anniversary and once again proving that wildlife photography can make us smile while also awakening our consciences. Founded in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson Hicks and Tom Sullam, this unique competition has attracted nearly 10,000 entries from 108 countries for its 2025 edition. Its goal is simple but ambitious: capture the beauty of living creatures at their funniest, without tricks or heavy editing.
Among the 41 selected finalists are scenes as unlikely as they are heart warming: dancing monkeys, playful foxes and monitor lizards locked in battle. Three portfolios and ten videos complete the line up, which was unveiled on 23 October.
On the road to the winners’ list
The grand winner will be announced on 9 December in London, ahead of a free exhibition at the Oxo Gallery from 10 to 14 December. Each photograph tells, in its own way, the story of an unexpected encounter between technique, patience and luck – proof that in wildlife photography, the art of perfect timing still reigns supreme.
Behind the laughter, a serious message
‘These images combine wit and wonder,’ says Stefan Maier, marketing director at Nikon Europe. ‘They remind us why our wild world deserves to be protected.’ Because behind the laughter, the commitment is very real: 10% of the profits from each edition are donated to the Whitley Fund for Nature, an organisation that supports conservation projects in more than 80 countries.
These photographs are, in the end, moments of pure spontaneity, where humour and amazement come together to celebrate wildlife in the most joyful way possible.
Cécile Breton
Journalist
Since childhood, books, photography, and travel have been part of my world. Fascinated by life, by the stars, by landscapes that tell stories without a single word, I quickly realized that I needed to express what I saw and felt.
Passionate about the world around me, I first pursued a degree in History at university, driven by my fascination with the stories of the past and the great civilizations that shaped our world. But over the years, another truth became clear: I didn’t want to spend my life in archives or research. I wanted to be out in the field, behind a camera or in front of a microphone, sharing what I learned.
So, I took a new path. I chose journalism, to learn how to tell stories differently—with rigor and clarity. I learned how to write, to interview, to edit, to capture both attention and emotion.
Giving meaning and sharing what matters
Since then, I’ve worked across different media: print, web, radio, television, and video. All of this has allowed me to bring to life topics that matter deeply to me: nature, animals, space, and the major environmental and human issues of our time.
Today, I continue my journey as a journalist at Futura. As part of the editorial team, I strive to share knowledge with curiosity, clarity, and passion. My guiding thread? To make visible what deserves to be seen, understood, and shared—and to keep my sense of wonder alive.
