WINNER, Standard Chartered Smartphone Weather Photographer of the Year

Would you surf a scene like this? Photographer Les Irwig captured a surfer’s contemplation of brooding weather conditions on one of Australia’s beaches in Sydney.

“One wonders what was on his mind as he stands in readiness.”

The early morning light of the sunrise illuminates heavy convective clouds, as they rain off in the distance. Sunrises have such warm hues, since the sun’s rays travel a long distance through the atmosphere, and the bluer frequencies of light get scattered away en route through “Rayleigh scattering”.

Convective clouds form as warm, moist air rises in the lower atmosphere. And they’re not just dramatic to look at. These clouds are associated with heavy downpours and lightning. Perhaps that explains why the surfer seems so pensive!

Photo location: Sydney, Australia 

Photographer based: Sydney, Australia

Camera: Samsung S23