Struggling Squirrel Secures Victory in 2024 Comedy Wildlife Photography Contest
"Red Squirrel's Quirk" by Milko Marchetti bagged the top prize amidst over 9,000 submissions, setting a new record for the largest number of entries in the competition's decade-long run, according to a statement published on Tuesday.
The contest organizers narrowed down the entries to a shortlist of 45, which were then assessed by a panel of judges who selected the overall winner and nine category winners.
Marchetti's photograph depicts a comic moment as a red squirrel begins to enter its hide in the tree trunk, with its legs at an unusual angle to the trunk.
In the organizers' statement, Marchetti shared his experience, mentioning, "I've captured countless photographs of squirrels in various situations across Italy over the years, but this one had me in stitches due to its peculiar position because it's the exact instant when the squirrel separates its rear legs from the trunk to enter its hide."
He further added, "Every time I present this image during nature workshops at my local photography club, the audience bursts into uncontrollable laughter, so I decided to submit it!"
Maier, Nikon Europe's senior general manager of marketing, expressed his excitement about Marchetti's victory and appreciated the creative capture of the unpredictable moments that bring charm to nature.
Notable mentions included Kingston Tam, winner of the Nikon Young Photographer Award with a close-up shot of a grinning frog, and Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb, the youngest-ever category winner at ten years old, with four images of a rockstar squirrel taking the first place in the Portfolio category.
Kevin Lohman took home the video category prize with his footage of a red fox engaging in "zoomies" on the grass early one frosty morning.
The previous year's winner was an image of a female western gray kangaroo strumming an air guitar, captured by photographer Jason Moore early morning in a wildflower field in the suburbs of Perth, Australia.
After celebrating his win, Milko Marchetti shared that he planned to travel to various locations in Italy to capture more humorous moments with squirrels. The contest's diverse category winners, including Kingston Tam and Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb, showcased their unique talent for capturing the charm and humor in nature, inspiring others to embark on their own travel adventures to capture such moments.
