Weather with you

Picture credit: Melvin Nicholson/WPOTY

Over 8900 images from 3300 photographers were entered into this year’s Weather Photographer of the Year contest and now it’s time for you to vote for the winner

Storms, rainbows and lightning strikes are just some of the phemonena featured in the short-list of this year’s Royal Meteorological Society Weather and Young Weather Photographer of the Year contests. From the near 9000 entries submitted, a panel of experts choose their three top images in the main category of the contest giving a short-list of 21 images, so check them out online and vote for your favourite. With prizes including £500 for the overall winner, £250 for the runner-up and £500 for the winner of the mobile photo category, there’s much at stake and your vote is important.

This annual competition has gone from strength to strength, attracting photographers from 114 countries and showcasing breathtaking weather photography from a myriad of destinations around the world. This years’ shortlist features a range of images that highlight the volatile nature of the weather, from tumultuous, storm-laden landscapes to serene sunsets and captivating night skies.

Image credit: Stavros Kesedakis/WPOTY

Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, has noted that “Weather and climate is something that we all share, but the drama, as well as the beauty of this force of nature, is something that can be truly unique to specific parts of the world.” The contest also aims to spark discussion amongst weather enthusiasts about the extreme weather that has been observed with increasing frequency around the world in recent years, with thought-provoking submissions that reveal the devastating and dramatic impact of these changes on humans, animals and the environment.

Image credit: Andrew McCaren/WPOTY

The public voting ends 23 September and the winners of the main and mobile phone caetgories of the Weather and Young Weather POTY contests will be announced 16 October. A calendar featuring the winners and finalists will go on sale later in the year.

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