Kyo Chen – A very pressured spadefish In the waters of Dumaguete, Philippines, a spadefish swims ahead of a giant whale shark.‘This was taken in Oslob, Cebu, on my first diving experience in the Philippines. My friends and I had returned to the same location for four consecutive days to spend time with whale sharks. While waiting for a whale shark one morning, I started photographing a lively group of spadefish. Suddenly, the enormous silhouette of a whale shark appeared directly behind one of them’ Photograph: Kyo Chen/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Lynn Emery – Two birds one vision ‘Two little owls stand side by side during sunset in Dubai’s al-Qudra desert. Whilst one is focused on the sunset, the other is focused on me, creating a weird and wonderful image’ Photograph: Lynn Emery/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Jan Wittmer – Angry bird ‘During my photo trip to the island of Helgoland, Germany, I encountered a goldcrest for the first time – and it was love at first sight. Europe’s smallest bird wandered right in front of me, presumably searching for food. To get a perspective at eye level, I placed my camera on the ground. My heart was pounding and my finger was glued to the shutter as the tiny bird darted back and forth. Suddenly, it came to a stop and looked straight at the camera. That was the exact moment this photo was taken’ Photograph: Jan Wittmer/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Alexander Hormann – Runny nose – portfolio category ‘One August morning in 2025, my sister, my wife and I were getting ready for a kayaking trip across Maligne Lake in Alberta, Canada, when we spotted a large animal swimming through the lake. I followed its movements from the shore until it came out of the water and revealed itself to be a female moose. She stopped in the shallows to dive for aquatic plants and I lay down at the water’s edge, trying to capture the splashing action and the way the moose shook the water from her coat’ Photograph: Alexander Hormann/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Marek Jackowski – Sea gangsters ‘During my expedition to Svalbard archipelago in autumn 2024, I visited Moffen Island. There were a couple of groups of walruses resting on the beach who were very relaxed, lying next to each other, presumably to conserve body heat in the freezing Arctic temperatures. These animals are incredibly social, frequently lounging in large, tightly packed herds. I was enjoying a majestic Arctic sunrise, when the local mafia decided to roll up on me – and spent 10 minutes giving me the ultimate Arctic inspection before swimming off’ Photograph: Marek Jackowski/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Dirk Koster – The different one ‘I took this in 2025 in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, in the Oltepesi area. Three young giraffes were standing side by side on the savanna and looked back at me with great curiosity. Right behind the middle one stood a single umbrella acacia, perfectly lined up with its head and neck. The giraffe seemed to be wearing the tree, like a green hairdo or a fancy hat. Nothing was staged or arranged; it was a matter of being in the right spot at the right moment’ Photograph: Dirk Koster/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Lee Frost – Nature’s window Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) Stoke-on-Trent, UK‘May, 6am, and I was about to head home after photographing insects as they warmed up for the day. This sleepy damselfly had slowly climbed a blade of grass, so I gently placed it on a leaf for one last portrait. Instead of posing politely, it disappeared behind the leaf, popped its head through a readymade window, and as I pressed the shutter ... gave me a cheerful wave. Clearly, someone wanted the last laugh!’ Photograph: Lee Frost/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Andy Rouse – Doris in her hat An Asian water buffalo surfaces from Lake Kumana, Sri Lanka, wearing a bonnet of flowers.‘When this water buffalo lifted her head up, it looked like she had a fancy bonnet on so we called her Doris!’ Photograph: Andy Rouse/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026

Andy Parkinson – Hercules, the baboon An infant olive baboon appears to demonstrate enormous strength by holding an adult above its head in Mara North Conservancy, Kenya Photograph: Andy Parkinson/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026