The Comedy Pet Photo Awards has revealed the winners of this year’s competition. The OVERALL COMPETITION WINNER is Michel Zoghzoghi with the fabulous image called ‘A life Changing Experience’ of his two rescue kittens, Max and Alex.
The annual photo competition, in its 4th consecutive year, calls on all pet and animal lovers to submit hilarious images and videos of their funny furry friends for a chance of winning the prestigious title of Comedy Pet Photographer of the Year.
Michel, whose winning photo also picked up the Best Cat Category, is a professional wildlife photographer from Beirut, Lebanon and has travelled the world taking photos of much bigger and much scarier cats. Or so you’d think…when talking about his two cheeky kittens at home, he said:
“Max and Alex form a lethally cute duo. I had more fun and surprises taking photos of these two characters, than during my most adventurous wildlife photography trips.”
Hilarious
Talking about the competition, the OVERALL WINNER Michel Zoghzoghi said
“As a wildlife photographer I never really considered sending photos to a pet competition until I discovered Comedy Pets. It’s witty, it’s fun and the photos are hilarious. I am extremely happy and proud to have won it as all the finalists were really outstanding and some of them made me laugh to tears. Pets are a very, very important part of our families and should be celebrated.”
As winner of the top prize, Michel received a cash prize of £500, a fantastic camera bag from ThinkTank and a beautiful bespoke trophy. As usual, the judges had a brilliant time deciding the winners with so many funny pet images entered from all over the world, including the ‘All Other Creatures Category Winner’ – Darya Zelentsova (originally from Kyiv, Ukraine) with a photo of her beloved ferret Boudicca called The First Outdoor Walk
“I’m so happy to see my lovely Boudicca among the winners’ says Darya ‘Ferrets almost never win anything in major international photo contests, and I’m glad to promote them as amazing pets and models. They are intelligent, cheerful, social little creatures with great personalities and overloading cuteness – when you have a ferret, you literally never stop smiling!
I’m also thrilled to become the first Ukrainian representing the US in this wonderful photo contest. The world indeed needs more joyful and peaceful moments, and funny pet photographs are a great source of positive vibes, kindness, and love.”
People’s Choice
Chris Porsz from the UK won a resounding victory in The People’s Choice Award, voted for by the public with his hilarious and hugely popular snap of a dog leaping in front of surprised onlookers in a park in New York. Aptly entitled ‘Barking’ this shot also took the top prize in the Dog Category.
Commenting on his win, Chris said:
“As an amateur street photographer, I have walked many, many miles and this is still my best and favourite photograph. And it was one I nearly didn’t take. But by some fluke, just as the owner of the dog threw the ball, I instinctively raised my camera and fired away. The dog was looking at the owner and then launched itself and flipped in mid-air to catch the ball. Out of the five images taken this was the magic shot which fortunately was in focus!
It is a great privilege to have been awarded this prestigious accolade amongst so many other great pictures. Thank you to the judges and to all those who voted in the people’s choice.”
The Awards were created by Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, to highlight the positive and vital role that pets have in our lives and to encourage engagement around animal welfare.
Tom Sullam, Co-founder of the Comedy Pet Photo Awards said: “This is still a very young competition in the whole scheme of things, but within a few short years we are already receiving some of the most uplifting, life affirming hilarious images of pets in the world! We couldn’t be more excited to share these with you all. Pets have played a fundamental role during the covid years, and to be able to laugh out loud with these loveable creatures is the reason this competition exists!”
2023 Grand Category Winners:
- OVERALL WINNER & Cat Category: Michel Zoghzoghi with ‘A life changing experience’
- Dog Category & People’s Choice Award: Chris Porsz with Barking
- All Other Creatures Category: Darya Zelentsova with The First Outdoor Walk
- Pets Who Look Most Like Their Owner’s Category: Klaus-Peter Selzer with The Three Greys
- Junior Category: Monyque Macedo Dos Santos ‘Is it a seal or is it a dog?’
- Video Category: Won by Emma Hay from the UK, with her video showing of her two pointers called NotFrank and WalterTHC performing a classic cool catch.
As well as the category winners – 6 photographers were recognised as Highly Commended for their entries: Kazutoshi Ono, Karl Goldhamer, Gill Woodcock, Sophie Boynton and two images from Kenichi Morinaga, who was the 2023 competition winner.
The expert judging panel includes TV presenter, writer and animal lover Kate Humble, comedian, novelist and TV presenter Mel Geidroyc, Vet and animal welfare champion Emma Milne and super talented professional pet photographer- Elke Vogelsang.
The 2024 competition will be open for entries next year via the website. www.comedypetphoto.com
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