In a delightful display of wildlife humor, a kangaroo from Perth, Australia, has been awarded the top prize in the 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
The winning image, aptly titled “Air Guitar Roo,” was captured by photographer Jason Moore. The photograph features a female western grey kangaroo striking a pose that amusingly resembles a rockstar playing an air guitar.
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Moore’s image was chosen from over 5,300 entries submitted from 85 different countries. The image not only won the overall competition but also the Creatures of the Land category.
Moore recounted his experience of capturing the unique moment, stating that despite being attacked by ticks, the sight of the kangaroo in its air guitar pose brought an immediate smile to his face. The judging panel echoed this sentiment, stating that the image encapsulated a “happy vibe and feel-good factor,” which is the essence of what comedy wildlife is all about.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards aim to highlight the lighter side of wildlife, showcasing images that are sure to elicit laughter and amazement at the wonderful creatures we share our world with. Other notable winners included a graceful dancing otter and a ground squirrel attempting to fly.
“I had been out with my camera photographing some waterfowl at a nearby lake. I had been up at sunrise to take advantage of the ‘golden hour’ light, but it turned out to be a disappointing morning on the water,” Moore said.
“After leaving the lake, somewhat dejected, I decided to swing past an area of open bushland that I know of because there are often a ‘mob’ of Kangaroos feeding and sunning themselves in a field close to the road (it’s on my way to and from work so I drive past it every day).”
“When I arrived, there were a number of Kangaroos in the field. The morning light was still favourable, so I grabbed my camera and headed off to a spot where I could get down to eye level with my subjects amongst the biting ticks (the lengths we go to just to get that perfect image.) I ended up shooting about 40 or 50 frames of the Kangaroos with various content including Mum’s, Joey’s and also some action shots of them bouncing along through the yellow field.”
“The shoot turned out to be a great session, and I am quite fond of several images that I captured. Not many people know that Kangaroos are normally fairly docile and even a bit boring most of the time if I’m honest. However, when I saw this Roo striking the air guitar pose, it immediately brought a smile to my face, and I knew that I had captured something really special.”
This annual competition serves as a reminder of the joy and wonder that wildlife brings, and the importance of conserving these incredible creatures for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. Wildlife photography offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature and capture moments that most people will never get to see in person. It allows photographers to share the beauty and diversity of our planet’s wildlife, raising awareness about the importance of conservation.
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