Unveiling the Sky's Splendor: A Photographer's Journey to the Weather Photographer of the Year Title
The Royal Meteorological Society has unveiled the winners of the 10th annual Weather Photographer of the Year Competition, a celebration of the breathtaking beauty of our atmosphere. Sponsored by Standard Chartered, this prestigious contest attracted over 4,000 entries from amateur and professional photographers worldwide, spanning 84 countries.
The judges, an international panel of weather, climate, photography, and journalism experts, were impressed by the caliber of submissions. Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, praised the entries, stating, "The standard of photographs this year was incredibly high. These images showcase the weather and climate in its pure beauty and intensity."
The grand prize went to a duo of photographers from China, who captured a rare and awe-inspiring sight: a complete circular rainbow.
Geshuang Chen, an engineer and astronomy photographer, shared the story behind the image: "It was drizzling on Lugu Lake in China’s Yunnan Province. I flew my drone to a height of 500 meters, passed through the rain curtain, with my lens facing away from the Sun, and captured a complete circular rainbow."
Rainbows, while familiar, are rarely seen in their full circular form. From the ground, the lower half of the circle is often hidden below the horizon. However, from a high vantage point with the Sun behind and rainfall ahead, the entire circle becomes visible. This phenomenon occurs when sunlight enters raindrops, is bent (refracted), reflected, and bent again as it exits, creating a spectrum of colors forming a circle around the antisolar point.
Chen's photograph is particularly special due to the perfect alignment of the small island at the center of the rainbow, adding to its uniqueness.
The runner-up in the main category was taken by Jadwiga Piasecka, who braved Storm Eunice in Newhaven, UK. Her image captured the immense power of the storm, with enormous waves battling against the sea wall.
Lukáš Gallo, another talented photographer, won third place and the public vote for capturing a stunning set of Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds near Vodňany in South Bohemia, Czechia. These rare clouds, resembling breaking ocean waves, are formed by a sharp difference in wind speed or direction between two layers of air.
The mobile category was won by a photographer who captured the urgency of a sudden downpour at Inle Lake in Myanmar. The photo depicts two fishermen working quickly, their bright orange and blue clothes standing out against the dark water and heavy raindrops.
These remarkable images remind us of the beauty and power of nature, inviting us to appreciate the wonders that surround us in the sky.
