Blizzard © Rudolf Sulgan

Main Winner - Blizzard © Rudolf Sulgan

Photographer name: Rudolf Sulgan

From: New York City

Photo titleBlizzard

Photo location: Brooklyn Bridge, Manhatten, New York City

Date photo taken: Winter 2018

Story behind the photo:  Global warming is the primary cause of the current sea level rise. As a result, hundreds of millions of people living in coastal areas will become increasingly vulnerable to flooding. Higher sea levels would force them to abandon their homes and relocate.

To combat this change in global temperature rise, we can reduce emissions and ensure communities have the resources they need to withstand the effects of climate change. Today’s choices will determine how high sea levels rise, how fast it occurs, and how much time we have to protect our communities.

I made this image in 2018, during a strong blizzard as El Nino’s periodic warming of water often disrupts normal weather patterns. My main concern and inspiration is that my images hopefully do a small part in combating climate change.

Weather caption: In America, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm with wind speeds greater than 35mph and enough snow to reduce visibilities below ¼ mile for at least 3 hours. The snow does not always need to be falling during the storm – strong winds can pick up snow that has fallen previously, creating a ground blizzard. Conditions can be life-threatening, especially during a ‘whiteout’ where downdrafts and heavy snowfall combine to obscure the horizon, leading to disorientation. The cold temperatures can also cause frostbite or hypothermia in some cases.

What were the technical challenges?

Changes of light