Full Breakdown
Mark Meth-Cohn Wins Top Prize at 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
12/11/2025, 12:06:19 AM
Record-Breaking Competition Highlights
The 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards culminated in a vibrant ceremony in London, where British photographer Mark Meth-Cohn was awarded the top prize for his humorous photograph titled "High Five." This year’s competition attracted over 10,000 entries from 109 countries, marking the highest participation in the contest's eleven-year history. Meth-Cohn's winning image features a young male gorilla displaying playful acrobatics in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, which he captured during a four-day trek in search of gorilla families.
The Winning Photograph and Its Significance
Meth-Cohn described the experience of photographing the Amahoro family of gorillas, noting the joy he felt while capturing the young male's antics: “One young male was especially keen to show off his acrobatic flair: pirouetting, tumbling, and high kicking. Watching his performance was pure joy, and I’m thrilled to have captured his playful spirit in this image.” His photograph not only won the overall award but also secured the Mammals Category Award.
Other Notable Winners
The competition also recognized several other talented photographers. Grayson Bell, a 13-year-old from the United States, won the Nikon Young Photographer Award and the Reptile, Amphibian, and Insect Category for his image "Baptism of an unwilling convert," which depicts two frogs wrestling in water. Paula Rustemeier from Germany claimed the Nikon Junior Category award with her playful fox photograph titled "Hit the dance floor." Additionally, Tatjana Epp, also from Germany, won the Video Category for her captivating clip of a surfing heron.
Official Statements and Responses
Stefan Maier, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe, expressed pride in the competition's ability to showcase creativity and talent: “All of our category winners use joy, skills, and imagination to capture the natural world, and Mark’s winning image perfectly represents the playful spirit of wildlife.” Meth-Cohn, reflecting on his victory, stated, “Doing well in any competition shows that the images you are producing are working.”
Exhibition and Public Engagement
The winning photographs, along with other finalists, are currently on display at the gallery@oxo in London until December 14, 2025. The public is also invited to participate in the People’s Choice Award, with voting open until March 1, 2026. The winner of this award will be announced on March 14, 2026.
Conclusion
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards not only celebrate humor in wildlife photography but also emphasize the importance of conservation and environmental awareness. Meth-Cohn's triumph, alongside the achievements of other young photographers, highlights the competition's commitment to nurturing the next generation of wildlife storytellers.
