“It’s fu cold” by © Tammo Zelle / Comedy Pets
“Our dog had a lot of fun in the snow, but unfortunately ice crystals always stick to his paws.”

Most pet owners will tell you how silly their animals can be. Now, thanks to the Comedy Pet Photography Awards, everyone can enjoy the humor that these animal companions bring to their families’ lives. The contest has just revealed the top 30 finalists, and the results are as amusing as you can imagine.

The photos tell the stories of these funny pets, from acrobatic canines to cats stuck in unusual places. The shortlisted photos were selected not only for their comedic value but also for their technical quality. The funny pet photo competition was created by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam to celebrate the positive and vital role that pets have in our lives and to encourage engagement around animal welfare. 

All 30 finalists will be under heavy scrutiny by the expert judging panel, which includes professional photographers, conservationists, animal lovers, and former competition winner Elke Vogelsang. The public will also have their say thanks to the People’s Choice Award. You have until June 2 to vote for your favorite and be entered into a draw to win a £100 cash prize.

Scroll down to see some of our favorite finalists, and stay tuned for the winner’s announcement, which is set for early June.

Here are some of the finalists of the 2024 Comedy Pet Photography Awards.

“Cat in a trap. Like Super Mario” by © Kenichi Morinaga / Comedy Pets
“Cat in a trap it looks like video game Super Mario world.”

“Not just for cats” by © Sarah Haskell / Comedy Pets
“Hector saw the cat do it…so thought he would give it a try ….and this is about as far as he got before reversing out the way he came. But the cat made it look so easy……”

“Tired Donkey” by © Charlotte Kitchen / Comedy Pets
“After sprinting around with Noah and completing some training, Benji was exhausted almost wanting an afternoon nap!”

“Sun lover” by © Alina Vogel / Comedy Pets
“This is Freddie, he was my first Hamster and probably the most photogenic ever. Freddie died recently and that’s the last honor I want to pay my little friend.”

“It’s time to get up” by © Lock Lui / Comedy Pets
“Every morning, my dog wakes me up by lying on my chest until I open my eyes”

“Tarzan” by © Kazutoshi Ono / Comedy Pets
“It’s like being in the jungle.”

“Dancing Queen” by © Vera Faupel. / Comedy Pets
“What can I say. This dog loves to jump! Pepper the pointer.”

All of the finalists are eligible to win the People’s Choice Award, which is open for voting until June 2.

“Peekaboo” by © Bernard Sim / Comedy Pets
“Look ma, no eyes!”

“Curls in the Wind” by © Julia Illig / Comedy Pets
“Good looking curly couple having a good time at the windy beach.”

“The proud pup and his best friend” by © Darya Zelentsova / Comedy Pets
“Ludo von Lickenface, the sweetest 16-year-old rescue pup, strikes a pose alongside his beloved guardian, David.”

“Kitty in the kitchen” by © Atsuyuki Ohshima / Comedy Pets
“He stayed at there as if one of a kitchen tool.”

“Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting” by © Sylvia Michel / Comedy Pets
“I made this picture in Toggenburg.I threw a few snowballs and my dog jumped after them with great enthusiasm. That’s how this picture came about.”

“I think I saw a mouse” by © Debby Thomas / Comedy Pets
“This beautiful and athletic gelding loves to try to fly off the ground! This is one of the series of leaps he performs.”

“Grumpy Dog” by © Luiza Ribeiro / Comedy Pets
“Meet Nick Barry, a 5-year-old yorkie with a special talent for hilarius expressions. This may not be his most flattering photo, but that frown is undeniably captivating – a true portrait of a dog who doesn’t need smiles to win our hearts.”

“New Rose” by © Jonathan Casey / Comedy Pets
“Edgar loves to eat flowers, and her favorites are dandelions for spring, snapdragons for summer and here she can be seen gobbling as whole Gertrude Jekyll rose last September. We grow them for her and as she is elderly we handfeed her, sometimes snapping her in between bites as you can see…”

“It’s behind you” by © Philippa Huber / Comedy Pets
“Shelby, my sister’s Cockapoo, absolutely loves chasing bubbles…she doesn’t always get their location right, but she still jumps all over the place for them!”

“I believe I can fly” by © Julie Smith / Comedy Pets
“Flying poodle.”

“Peek a boo” by © Sylvia Michel / Comedy Pets
“I took this great picture in deep snow in Grindelwald. My dog Raasta, spontaneously hid so that only his ears were sticking out of the snow.”

Comedy Pet Photography Awards: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Comedy Pet Photography Awards.

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Charming Finalists of the 2023 Comedy Pet Photography Awards

Cute Winning Photos from the 2023 Comedy Pet Photography Awards

Kangaroo Strumming an Air Guitar Wins Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards

These Funny Animal Photos Are the Winners of the 2022 Comedy Pet Photography Awards

Anyone who attends concerts regularly will likely encounter a concert photographer at some point. Before cell phone cameras became ubiquitous, concert photographers were among the few people able to capture images of the performance. These days, concert images show up in real-time on social media, and some fans even broadcast live videos.

Photographers must follow a process to obtain a photo pass. While it varies slightly from venue to venue, it usually involves contacting the band’s publicist directly or through a contact at the venue. An increasing number of approvals don’t come until less than 48 hours before the performance, making it challenging to plan for coverage.

A lot of this is pretty mundane, but since the photographer and the reviewer’s traditional role is that of the concertgoer’s eyes and ears, the visual element is crucial in telling the story, and yet it has become increasingly difficult to cover shows.

I have always been a writer, first and foremost, and I became a de facto concert photographer for practical and economic reasons. Nevertheless, I can understand why the photographic community has been increasingly frustrated with covering shows.

The standard policy for most shows is “first three, no flash.” In simplest terms, photographers are typically allotted the first three songs from a designated area and are not allowed to use a flash.

There is no definitive proof that that policy originated, but the few sources I have located state that Bruce Springsteen instituted it in the 1970s after a show in which many photographers were firing off flash bulbs during an entire Springsteen performance.

Most concert photographers I speak with think the policy needs to be updated. Most concerts these days have two or three photographers shooting the show, so if they can be courteous and not block sight lines, it would make sense for them to be able to photograph more of the show, especially at outdoor venues where the sun becomes a factor. Not only can the sun create less-than-ideal backlighting, but nighttime photos tend to be more aesthetically pleasing.

The sad reality of concert photography is that there is a tiny market for it, so most photographers are hobbyists. Even in my case, I rarely get compensated for my photos; they are usually an add-on to my written work. Unless something has changed dramatically, most nights, the majority of the photographers are shooting to bolster their personal portfolios, provide content for personal websites, or get a free concert ticket.

That makes signing photo releases complex because an increasing number of artists are requiring photographers to give up the rights to their work or requiring pre-approval of images for publication. This may seem small, especially if the photographer is a hobbyist. Still, it has stirred up some debate amongst concert photographers, especially as it relates to what a reasonable agreement is.

A few weeks ago, a photographer contacted me to say he refused to sign one of the artist’s agreements. The agreement stipulated that the artist gets copies of the photos and can use them with attribution. I didn’t have an issue with it and signed the agreement, but my friend was adamantly against it.

Ultimately, though, many photographers feel that it is not worth the hassle. From my perspective, if an artist grants you the opportunity to photograph them, you have to play by their rules, even if it doesn’t always feel like a quid pro quo arrangement.

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Previously unseen photographs of the royal family will go on display as part of a major new exhibition at Buckingham Palace setting out one hundred years’ of notable portraits of the monarchy.

The oldest-surviving colour photographic print of a royal family member and an image marking Princess Kate’s 40th birthday are among those set to be displayed in the new exhibition.

Due to open at Buckingham Palace on Friday, Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography at the King’s Gallery will also contain works by the likes of Dorothy Wilding, Cecil Beaton, Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey, Andy Warhol and Rankin.

In one never-before-seen image, the late Queen, Princess Margaret, Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra were all photographed together in 1964 as a gift for their maternity doctor – after the four royals each gave birth within two months of each other.

Also on show is fashion photographer Paolo Roversi’s portrait taken to mark the milestone 40th birthday of the Princess of Wales – herself a keen photographer who sparked a furore with the editing of a Mother’s Day picture, and who has stepped away from the public spotlight while undergoing cancer treatment.

Kate Middleton’s dress and sideways pose are described by the Royal Collection Trust as bearing a “striking visual resemblance” to an 1864 painting of Alexandra, Princess of Wales – who later became Queen Alexandra – by Franz Xaver Winterhalter.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to compare the two images, with the historic 19th century depiction of Alexandra hanging near the black and white image of Kate.

The exhibition also sheds light on behind-the-scenes processes, from contact sheets and photographers’ handwritten annotations to correspondence with members of the royal family and their staff.

Warhol’s 1985 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was sprinkled with diamond dust to make it sparkle in the light, while Rankin’s 2001 photograph of the smiling Queen was superimposed against the union flag and Polly Borland’s Golden Jubilee portrait of the Queen was set on a glittering gold backdrop.

They are the among the examples of experimentation and playfulness from the 1980s onwards.

Meanwhile, the earliest surviving photographic print of a member of the royal family produced in colour shows Princess Alice – sister-in-law to King George VI – on her wedding day. It was taken in 1935 by Madame Yevonde, a pioneer of colour photography and champion of women photographers.

The photograph of the four royal mothers and their babies, taken by Margaret’s photographer husband, the late Earl of Snowdon, as a personal token of thanks for royal obstetrician Sir John Peel, is accompanied by a handwritten letter from Margaret to the late Queen.

In the letter, the sister asks her “Darling Lilibet” to sign the print “as a souvenir of an extraordinary two months of delivery” and also suggesting they take a trip to the theatre to see Noel Coward’s “witty” comic play Hay Fever.

She writes: “If you enjoyed ‘Private Lives’ this is just the ticket. Would like to see it? It would be such fun to see if together.”

The exhibition is due to run at the King’s Gallery from 17 May to 6 October. Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the UK’s monarchs since 1837, and today is the administrative headquarters of King Charles, who lives with the Queen at their former residence Clarence House.

Alessandro Nasini, curator of the exhibition, said: “The Royal Collection holds some of the most enduring photographs ever taken of the royal family, captured by the most celebrated portrait photographers of the past hundred years – from Dorothy Wilding and Cecil Beaton to Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey, and Rankin.

“Alongside these beautiful vintage prints, which cannot be on permanent display for conservation reasons, we are excited to share archival correspondence and never-before-seen proofs that will give visitors a behind-the-scenes insight into the process of creating such unforgettable royal portraits.”

Additional reporting by PA

Another week, another fun photography challenge! Are you ready to put your photography skills to the test and refill your creative juices? For the 20th week of their 52-week Photo Challenge, the folks of SlickPic want us to look around for eye-catching Patterns and Textures.

In this challenge, the task is to capture all the lines, shapes, and details that make up interesting patterns and textures. You’ll find them everywhere — in nature and man-made spaces — but be a bit more selective, decisive and experimental. For example, how do the textures translate the objects they represent? Let your eye for detail and composition skills shine in this challenge!

To help inspire you, why not check out our patterns and textures archive for tips, tricks, ideas and inspiration? For starters, we suggest reading Abstract photography turns motion into gorgeous textures, and Creating visual dissonance in outdoor and travel photography. In case you’re just joining, we also encourage you to check out the full info on the 52-week Challenge.

Photography challenge details

• Submissions will be accepted until the end of the day on May 19, 2024. So, if you’re in the mood to flex your creative muscles, there’s still plenty of time to make something nice!
• Submit 3 images by clicking this link
• Please submit images in JPEG format and uploading photos that are at least 2500 on the long side is recommended for the highest quality.

Once you submit your photos, you can review them here: https://52weekchallenge.slickpic.com

As always, you can ask your friends to join the challenge as well by clicking on the Share button for the album and inviting them to join in. Of course, you can also encourage them to Like and Comment on your submissions!

Mastering studio portrait photography requires adapting to controlled environments and understanding how to manipulate lighting and equipment effectively. The transition from outdoor to indoor photography can be challenging, but it offers unique opportunities to refine your skills and produce high-quality images consistently.

Coming to you from Manny Ortiz, this insightful video highlights the key lessons learned from years of studio portrait work. One important point Ortiz makes is that the studio environment can be humbling. While outdoor shoots provide dynamic elements like natural lighting and backgrounds, studio shoots rely heavily on your ability to control every aspect of the scene. This means that success in the studio often hinges on a deep understanding of lighting setups and creative problem-solving.

Another crucial lesson is the relative importance of camera gear in a studio setting. Ortiz explains that in a controlled environment, lighting, composition, and other factors often overshadow the technical specifications of your camera. This is because studio photography allows for precise control over lighting conditions, reducing the reliance on high-end camera features like dynamic range and low-light performance. Ortiz demonstrates this by comparing images taken with his most expensive Sony camera to those taken with a less advanced model, showing that with proper lighting, the differences in final image quality can be minimal.

The video also emphasizes the benefits of using various light modifiers to achieve different effects. Ortiz discusses how different modifiers serve specific purposes, such as using a 1×4 strip box for rim lighting to create a narrow beam of light. He also highlights the importance of larger modifiers for producing soft, flattering light, which is ideal for portraits. 

In addition to lighting techniques, Ortiz covers the practical aspects of maintaining a photography studio. He shares his experience of the financial and logistical challenges involved, such as the costs of studio space, renovations, and utilities. Despite these challenges, he notes that having a dedicated space for photography and video production has been a worthwhile investment, allowing him to experiment, practice, and collaborate more effectively. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Ortiz.

If you would like to continue learning about the art of portraiture, be sure to check out our range of tutorials on the subject in the Fstoppers store.