The Springfield Museums presents The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, on view June 7 through September 14 at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum. Sixty light-hearted photographs showcase the comedic sides of creatures great and small, including winners and finalists from the international competition. In addition to providing carefree fun, the images transcend culture and language to communicate the importance of environmental sustainability and the protection of endangered species.
A smiling fish, a laidback chimp, a kangaroo ready to rock out: it is this side of nature – quirky, cheeky, charming, and cute – that the photographers featured in The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards show us. The photographs and animals represented also emphasize the extraordinary beauty and diversity of life on our planet and the danger these species face due to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and changing precipitation patterns.
“We are thrilled to present these beautiful and amusing photographs,” says Curator of Art Kris Ludwig. “Visitors will find both levity and a renewed sense of connection to the diverse animals and creatures that inhabit our planet.”
The Comedy Wildlife photography prize was created by Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks in 2015. With their shared experience living and working on the African continent, the two wildlife photographers sought to bring attention to environmental conservation in a unique way: through humor. Since then, the project has grown to become a world-renowned competition, open to amateurs and professionals, seen by millions of people every year, whether online or in exhibitions that bring together the winning photographs.
The exhibition is organized by the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, in association with Terra Esplendida.
RELATED EXHIBITIONS
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Habitat
This outdoor installation invites visitors to learn more about topics related to the natural homes of animals and plants, their importance to life, and what we can do to help preserve them. Sections on topics such as fungi, dead wood, nests and insects explore the critical role that many organisms play in creating and sustaining habitats, and how people can best protect them. Developed by Smithsonian Gardens and is made available by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. (Ongoing)
MassMutual is the season supporter of the Springfield Museums.