Weather Photographer of the Year 2022

The ever-popular Weather Photographer of the Year competition from the Royal Meteorology Society has announced its winners, and they’re pretty immense

In association with AccuWeather, Christopher Ison’s dramatic photo ‘Storm Eunice’ was vicorious! Taken in Newhaven, UK last year, the photo led a celebration of talented photographers of all ages from all around the world. The task was to capture weather and climate in their most vivid forms.

A shortlist of 22 impressive images was compiled, hailing from 119 countries, but ‘Storm Eunice’ wiped out the competition for a panel of esteemed judges.

Christopher said:

“When the storm was predicted, and it was carrying the first ever red warning for the south coast, I knew I had to find a spot to record it – this was going to be big! I got there reasonably early to find many photographers already drenched in rain and seawater, standing very close to the harbour wall. I decided to head to high ground and slightly further away with my back to the weather. I was rewarded with a set of images I’m very proud of.”

The judges loved the power of nature, reminding us how small and insignificant we are as it conveys the dramatic movement and force of the sea together with the resistance offered by a man-made building. The detail in the giant wave with face-like structures penetrating from the water gives it an almost mystical feel.

Young Weather Photographer of the Year
– supported by The Week Junior Science and Nature

Eris Pil from Pennsylvania came out on top for the Young Photographer of the Year who turned 17 this week!

His photo entitled ‘Mammatus Sunset’ was taken on an iPhone, and Eris said:

“the sky was completely lit up in a way I had never seen before, like these beautiful backlit watercolour clouds, displaying these spectacular mammatus clouds overhead. I love mammatus clouds; this was my first time ever witnessing them. I hope I have the opportunity to see them again, and I’m excited to share what they look like with others”.

The judges were in awe of the rare and magnificent meteorological phenomenon that can prove difficult to capture. The shapes of the cords are illuminated in the fading light of the sunset, as the lighting of the whole photograph is outstanding – the clouds resemble pearl barely floating in the sky. The judges, unanimous in their decision, chose these Mammatus clouds in a sea of others.

The Public Favourite

The shortlisted images were put to a public vote, with almost 5,500 votes cast for the 22 finalists representing 15 countries. Jamie Russell from the Isle of Wight won this category with his photo ‘Departing Storm Over Bembridge Lifeboat Station’.

Jamie has been chasing showers and storms from west to east across the island in an attempt to capture some of the incredible rainbows. He reaches Bembridge as the final shower departed, and in a furore, waded into waist-deep water – fully dressed! – just to shoot this scene. Remarkable commitment to the cause.

Weather Photographer of the Year 2022 (Mobile Phone)

The outstanding quality of entries meant that the judges decided to combine the top images with the main category to form the public vote. However, the judges were left with no doubt that the mobile phone winner would be Aung Chan Thar from Myanmar with ‘Sunset’.

On an overcast and rainy evening the sun appeared through the clouds and mist just in time to be captured in this stunning photo. Aung said, “due to the sun the pagoda become brighter”.

The judges commented that the quality of light that affects the atmosphere is lovely, and the metallic golds and yellows are carried on into the sky beautifully. The rising mists enhance the atmosphere around the road and the golden globe structure in the foreground. The sun disappearing behind the clouds also seems to form an interesting planetary relationship with the globe that adds to this late evening scene.

Weather Photographer of the Year – Other Winners

• 2^nd Place: Zhenhuan Zhou from Toronto, Canada – Frozen
• 3^rd Place: Emili Vilamala Benito from Barcelona, Spain – Ghost Under the Cliff   

Young Weather Photographer of the Year

• Runner up: Shreya Nair (age 14) from India – Tyndall Effect

Weather Photographer of the Year (Mobile Phone)

• Runner up: Vince Campbell from Penrith, UK – Scotch Mist   

Prizes

All winners receive one year’s free membership of the Royal Meteorological Society

Weather Photographer of the Year 2022

• Title of ‘Weather Photographer of the Year 2022’
• £500 cash for the winner, £250 for 2nd place and £100 for 3rd place
• Canon SELPHY CP1300 printer and media pack for the winner
• Weather – A Force of Nature: Spectacular images from Weather Photographer of the Year
• Smart Photos. Jo Bradford (signed copy) for public vote winner (decided from joint shortlist with Mobile Phone opportunity)

Mobile Phone – Weather Photographer of the Year 2022

• Title of ‘Weather Photographer of the Year 2022 – Mobile Phone Category
• £500 cash for the winner, £250 for the runner-up
• Canon SELPHY CP1300 printer and media pack for the winner
• Smart Photos. Jo Bradford (signed copy) for title winner and public vote winner (decided from joint shortlist with the Main opportunity)

Young Weather Photographer of the Year 2022

• Title of ‘Young Weather Photographer of the Year 2022’
• Canon SELPHY CP1300 printer and media pack for the title winner
• Weather – A Force of Nature: Spectacular images from Weather Photographer of the Year for the title winner
• Smart Photos. Jo Bradford (signed copy) for runner-up
• One year’s free subscription to The Week Junior Science+Nature for the title winner
• The Week Junior Science+Nature will feature the winning photo across a double page in the magazine’s October issue.

The winners were announced on Thursday, 6 October at 6 pm (BST) on the Royal Meteorological Society’s Instagram channel (rmets_).

All the winners and finalists can now be seen on the RMetS website: www.rmets.org/photography

The calendar featuring all the winners and finalists of Weather Photographer of the Year 2022 is now on pre-sale via the RMetS online shop.