The world’s most prestigious weather and climate photography competition

© Graham Niven

Prizes

Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year

The Weather Photographer of the Year category offers a £5,000 cash prize to the best overall photograph showcasing the beauty and power of weather, open to photographers worldwide.

Standard Chartered Smartphone Weather Photographer of the Year

Smartphone Weather Photographer of the Year offers a cash prize of £2,500 to the winner, and is for photographs taken on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Standard Chartered Young Weather Photographer of the Year

Young Weather Photographer of the Year offers a cash prize of £750 and is open to anyone under the age of 18 years old to submit their weather and climate-related photographs.

Standard Chartered Climate Award

The Climate Award offers a prize of £1,000 to the photograph that best tells a compelling story about climate change and its impacts. The winning photo will be selected from the three main categories of the competition and must contain a visual representation of weather and climate change.

©Tina Wright

Rules

If you're thinking of entering a photograph into the Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year competition, please read the following rules:

1.
The competition is free to enter and open to individuals of all abilities.
2.
Photographs submitted for the competition must have been taken between the 18 June 2019 and 18 June 2024.
3.
The Standard Chartered Young Weather Photographer category is open to anyone under the age of 18 on 18 June 2024. Please note that if you are under the age of 13, entries must be submitted by an adult on your behalf.
4.
If eligible, photographers are allowed to submit a maximum of five images per category.
5.
When submitting a photograph, please provide the highest possible resolution available and provide further detail to tell us more about you and your photograph. We cannot accept entries by email or post.
6.
The Climate Award does not have a separate category, but will be selected from the Main, Smartphone and Young categories. Please enter the category that best suits your age or type of camera. Your photograph will be considered for both the category you've entered and the Climate Award.
7.
Full terms and conditions for the competition can be found on the Zealous submissions platform, and in the Competition Checklist section below.

The Judges

  • Professor Liz Bentley

    Liz became the Chief Executive at the Royal Meteorological Society in 2013 and has been a judge on the competition since it began. Liz has had a successful career in meteorology working with the Met Office, BBC Weather Centre and the Ministry of Defence after studying a PhD in mathematics at the University of Manchester.

  • Kevin Thomas

    Kevin is a former meteorologist and weather forecaster, having recently retired from the BBC following 12 years as a radio weather presenter covering Devon and Cornwall. A long career preceded this as a forecaster and oceanographer in the Royal Navy and Royal Navy Reserve. Serving at sea around the globe with a keen eye on weather led to a deep respect for the natural world and its power.

  • Jo Bradford

    Jo offers tuition and group workshops in smartphone photography and image editing. She has authored four books and runs Green Island Studios, a bespoke photographic studio and colour darkroom where she is passionate about making photography sustainable. Jo is an Associate Lecturer on the Marine and Natural History Photography BA (Hons) at Falmouth University and a regular public speaker on photography.

  • Dan Green

    Dan is the editor of The Week Junior Science+Nature, the award-winning monthly magazine for smart and curious 8-15 year-olds. He was the winner of the British Society of Magazine Editor’s Launch Editor of the Year (2019). Dan is passionate about science communication and bringing STEM subjects to life for young readers. He is also a writer of bestselling non-fiction books, with over 50 titles to his name.

  • ITV Weather

    As some of the UK’s foremost experts in meteorology with years of experience in forecasting and reporting weather, ITV Weather understand the intricate details and nuances that make a weather photograph truly exceptional. As a trusted authority in weather analysis, the team at ITV Weather ensure that the judging process is comprehensive, and the winning photos capture the essence of meteorological beauty.

  • Fiona Wachera

    Wachera is a media strategist and photo editor, currently writing Postcolonial Perspectives, a photography column for the VII Foundation. Their work blends design for documentary photography, editorial direction, and interactive design. Wachera has collaborated with The Everyday Projects, Pulitzer Center, Black Women Photographers, and the 2024 World Press Photo Contest.

  • Aisha Owusu

    Aisha is the Assistant Dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographical Sciences at the University of Oklahoma. She has carried out research at Columbia University in Climate and Public Health, and Climate Services. She serves on the African Meteorological Society’s Diasporic Committee and has delivered a TED Talk on the critical importance of access to climate and weather data globally.

  • ASM Rezaur Rahman

    Reza is the Curator and General Manager of Drik, an independent media organisation in Bangladesh. He is also the Executive Director for Chobi Mela, International Festival of Photography. An Arthink South Asia Fellow, Reza teaches ‘Curatorial Practice’ at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Dhaka. Recently he has been the Contest Coordinator for the Asia Jury at the World Press Photo Contest 2024.

  • Wilf Matos

    Wilf is a former science teacher who took his love of science, passion for communication and interest in photography into the picture world. With a 24-year career across both sides of the industry, he is currently the Associate Picture Editor on The Week Junior Science+Nature, the award-winning monthly magazine for smart and curious 8-15 year-olds.

  • Jamie McBean

    Standard Chartered Young Weather Photographer winner 2023, Jamie, has developed an impressive knowledge of forecasting and a keen eye for weather photography, since picking up a camera at age 10. Jamie is currently applying to study Meteorology at the University of Reading where he hopes to pursue his passion for weather and climate.

Our Supporters

We are thrilled to have the support of our sponsor, Standard Chartered and our media partners, who share our passion for capturing the beauty and impact of weather and climate through the lens.

Standard Chartered

The Royal Meteorological Society joined forces with Standard Chartered to increase the global reach and profile of the competition to tell the climate story that sits behind every photo submitted. Weather Photographer is so much more than just the competition, RMetS and Standard Chartered are united in the mission to raise awareness globally of the impact of our changing climate and the threat posed by extreme weather events.

The Week Junior Science+Nature

We are proud that ‘The Week Junior Science+Nature’ will continue supporting the youth category as a media partner this year. The Week Junior Science+Nature takes 8-15 year-olds on amazing voyages of discovery around the world.

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Fun Kids

We're delighted to welcome Fun Kids as a media partner this year. Fun Kids is a radio station that's perfect for families! It's packed full of songs, stories and tonnes of silliness and there are loads of ways to listen! Get Fun Kids on your DAB radio, via the free Fun Kids mobile app, online, on your smart speaker – just say 'play Fun Kids' – and on your TV too. They've also got a radio station for little ones called Fun Kids Junior and over eight other themed radio stations from Fun Kids Sleep Sounds to Classical and more.

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ITV Weather

ITV Weather brings its knowledge and expertise to the judging panel of this competition. As some of the UK's foremost experts in meteorology, garnering years of experience in forecasting and reporting weather, ITV Weather understands the intricate details and nuances that make a weather photograph truly exceptional. As a trusted authority in weather analysis, the team at ITV Weather provide valuable insights, ensuring that the judging process is comprehensive, and the winning photographs capture the essence of meteorological beauty.

FIND OUT MORE

Competition Checklist

Ready to dive in? Check out our handy list of next steps below:

  • Have a look at our blogs to get some hints and tips
  • Read full Terms and Conditions
  • When you are ready to enter, chose one of our three categories above (Weather Photographer of the Year, Smartphone Weather Photographer of the Year or Young Weather Photographer of the Year)
  • Follow us for the results announced on 30 October: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn 
  • Vote for your favourite photo when our public vote opens
  • Subscribe to the Weather Photographer of the Year newsletter for competition updates, weather photography tips, and stunning imagery (sign up form at the bottom of home page)

Spread the word with friends, family and your community, including any photographers who you think would love to take part!