Imagine capturing a rainbow that defies everything you thought you knew about these fleeting wonders of nature— a perfect, unbroken circle suspended over a serene lake. That's the jaw-dropping magic behind this year's Weather Photographer of the Year winners, and it's got us all rethinking the raw power and beauty of our planet's atmosphere.
The Royal Meteorological Society recently revealed the standout victors in their annual Weather Photographer of the Year event, a celebration that's been captivating audiences for a full decade now. Backed by the global financial powerhouse Standard Chartered, this competition draws in talent from every corner of the world, proving that weather's drama knows no borders.
From a staggering pool of more than 4,000 submissions snapped by hobbyists and pros alike across 84 nations, an elite group of judges—experts in meteorology, climate science, photography, and even journalism—sifted through to select the top entries. It's a process that highlights how diverse perspectives can illuminate the same stormy skies or sunny spectacles.
"A massive round of applause to every winner and honorable mention—the quality of these shots this year was off the charts," shared Professor Liz Bentley, the society's top executive. "These pictures don't just document weather; they immerse us in its stunning elegance and fierce energy, reminding us why our atmosphere is endlessly fascinating."
Taking home the top honor was a duo of talented shooters from China, whose mesmerizing capture of a full, unbroken rainbow stole the show. For those new to photography or meteorology, let's break this down: rainbows might seem like everyday magic after a shower, but seeing one in its complete circular form is like spotting a unicorn in the wild.
"A light drizzle was falling over Lugu Lake in China's Yunnan Province," recounts Geshuang Chen, an engineer and avid astronomy enthusiast who wielded the drone. "I launched it up to about 500 meters, navigating through the misty veil of rain, pointing the camera away from the sun's glare, and there it was—a flawless ring of color encircling the scene."
To help beginners grasp this, think of rainbows as nature's light show: sunlight hits a raindrop and gets refracted, or bent, like light through a prism in your science class. It bounces inside the drop, reflects off the inner wall, and bends once more on the way out, splitting into the vibrant spectrum we adore—reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, indigos, and violets. This creates an arc centered on the 'antisolar point,' the imaginary spot directly opposite the sun from where you're standing. And here's a fun fact: because everyone's viewpoint tweaks the light's angle just a bit, no two people ever see exactly the same rainbow. It's personal, almost poetic.
What elevates this photo to legendary status? It's not only the rarity of viewing the full circle—usually, from ground level, the bottom half dips below the horizon, out of sight—but the impeccable timing. A tiny island sits dead center in the frame, like the universe conspired for this shot. But here's where it gets controversial: is relying on drones to chase these moments enhancing our appreciation of nature, or are we losing the thrill of the chase on foot? We'll circle back to that.
In the primary category's runner-up spot, Jadwiga Piasecka earned her acclaim with a heart-pounding shot from Newhaven on England's southern shore. She braved a safe overlook during Storm Eunice, when gusts howled past 80 miles per hour, turning the sea into a battlefield.
"From my spot, I gazed at these massive waves slamming into the seawall, hurling towering plumes of spray skyward—it really drove home the storm's overwhelming rage," she described. "I've been hooked on wild waves and tempests since childhood; the ocean's raw force and vitality have always pulled me in. So when Eunice barreled through, I had to be there to feel its pulse up close."
Piasecka's image freezes that chaos in time, a reminder of how storms can both terrify and inspire. For newcomers to weather photography, it's a great example of finding beauty in danger—positioning yourself safely to capture the elements' fury without getting swept away.
Meanwhile, third place—and the crowd favorite via public vote—went to Lukáš Gallo for his spontaneous roadside masterpiece near Vodňany in South Bohemia's Czech countryside. Spotting an otherworldly formation of clouds rolling in, he slammed on the brakes, hopped a fence into a nearby field, and fired off shots of what turned out to be Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds.
"This wasn't on my agenda; it hit me out of nowhere. And honestly, that's what makes a photo truly alive," Gallo reflected with a grin.
And this is the part most people miss: these undulating 'fluctus' or wave clouds aren't your typical fluffy cumulus—they emerge from a clash in the atmosphere, where winds at different altitudes shear against each other, much like gusts sculpting breakers on a beach. For beginners, picture ocean waves frozen in the sky: the faster upper air slides over slower lower layers, rolling them into these dramatic, curling crests. They're not just pretty; they're a heads-up for pilots about potential bumpy rides ahead, blending aesthetics with practical meteorology.
Framed against a tranquil backdrop of rolling green hills dotted with hay bales, these sky waves pop like a surreal overlay on a pastoral painting, turning an ordinary drive into a brush with the extraordinary.
Over in the mobile phone division, a traveler en route to Inle Lake in Myanmar clinched the win with a pulse-racing snapshot of two fishermen enduring a flash monsoon downpour. No fancy gear needed—just a smartphone seizing the urgency of the moment.
The image pulses with tension: one fisherman paddles furiously through inky waters, while his partner frantically scoops out the rising flood in their vessel. Their vivid orange and blue attire cuts through the gloom, echoed by the silvery trails of rain slashing diagonally across the lens. Motion blur from the downpour and their efforts pulls you right into the fray, as if you're dodging the deluge yourself. Sheets of water hammer down, rippling the lake's surface and pooling at the boat's floor—a vivid testament to tropical weather's swift and unforgiving shifts.
These photos aren't just pretty pictures; they're windows into how weather shapes our world, from serene spectacles to survival stories. But let's stir the pot a bit: in an era of climate change, are these captures documenting beauty or subtly warning us of intensifying extremes? Do you agree that drone tech is revolutionizing nature photography, or does it feel like cheating the adventure? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let's debate what these images mean for our future skies. And hey, why not share these awe-inspiring snaps with fellow nature lovers to spread the wonder?
