Stunning Images Shine at Weather Photo Awards

Quick Smiles:

• Royal Meteorological Society reveals winners of global weather photography contest.
• Rare full-circle rainbow and dramatic storm scenes take top honors.
• Amazing moments captured from across the world inspire wonder.

The Royal Meteorological Society celebrated the 10th annual Weather Photographer of the Year Competition, drawing more than 4,000 breathtaking entries from 84 countries.

Winning images were chosen by an international expert panel, showcasing the beauty and power of weather captured by talented photographers around the globe.

Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, shared,

“A huge congratulations to all our winners and runners-up—the standard of the photographs submitted this year were incredibly high. The images showcase the weather and climate in its pure beauty and intensity extremely well.”

Geshuang Chen, the grand prize winner from China, soared 500 meters above Lugu Lake with a drone and photographed a complete circular rainbow, a rare and stunning phenomenon almost never seen from the ground.

Chen explained,

“It was drizzling on Lugu Lake. I flew my drone to a height of 500 meters, passed through the rain curtain, with my lens facing away from the Sun, and captured a complete circular rainbow.”

The image offered a perfect moment of alignment, framing a tiny island within the rainbow’s full circle, making it an extraordinary sight.

The runner-up, Jadwiga Piasecka, watched from shelter as Storm Eunice’s fierce waves pounded the UK’s south coast, capturing a scene of dramatic sprays and the sea’s immense energy.

She shared,

“From my vantage point, I watched enormous waves battling against the sea wall, sending dramatic sprays of water high into the air… highlighting just how immense the storm’s fury truly was.”

Piasecka added,

“I’ve loved big waves and storms since I was a kid—the power and energy of the sea have always fascinated me. So, when Storm Eunice rolled in, I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity to witness it firsthand.”

Lukáš Gallo from Czechia won third prize and the public vote by spontaneously stopping his car when rare Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds appeared overhead, capturing their striking curls above peaceful fields.

He recalled,

“I didn’t plan this; it was all of a sudden. But I think that’s the best kind of photograph.”

The mobile category winner snapped a dramatic scene on Myanmar’s Inle Lake as fishermen battled heavy rain, their colorful clothing and swift actions vivid against the downpour.

Each winning snapshot reminds us how awe-inspiring and beautiful our planet’s weather can be, and how moments of wonder can appear at any time to lift our spirits.

See more inspiring stories and share these uplifting moments with friends who love nature and photography!

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