• Gesang Jimei captured this colourful cloud over the Sanding Temple in Tibet.
    Gesang Jimei captured this colourful cloud over the Sanding Temple in Tibet.
  • At an altitude of 4,800 metres, Jiming Zhang took this beautiful image of Sapu Mountain in Tibet.
    At an altitude of 4,800 metres, Jiming Zhang took this beautiful image of Sapu Mountain in Tibet.
  • Dani Agus Purnomo took this photo of a rainbow among tea fields in Tangerang Selatang, Indonesia.
    Dani Agus Purnomo took this photo of a rainbow among tea fields in Tangerang Selatang, Indonesia.
  • Giulio Montini had to be quick to capture this image on a foggy autumn day in the town of Airuno, Italy.
    Giulio Montini had to be quick to capture this image on a foggy autumn day in the town of Airuno, Italy.
  • Almost every May, Stavros Kesedakis takes a trip to the US to chase storms. One year, he captured these two beautifully shaped clouds.
    Almost every May, Stavros Kesedakis takes a trip to the US to chase storms. One year, he captured these two beautifully shaped clouds.
  • On October 31, 2020, Andrew McCaren, keen to show the effects of flooding, headed to York in the UK after seeing the level of the River Ouse had risen dangerously high.
    On October 31, 2020, Andrew McCaren, keen to show the effects of flooding, headed to York in the UK after seeing the level of the River Ouse had risen dangerously high.
  • Angela Lambourn spotted these glorious lenticular clouds above the mountains on the Costa del Sol.
    Angela Lambourn spotted these glorious lenticular clouds above the mountains on the Costa del Sol.
  • Melvin Nicholson captured this magnificent fogbow in Scotland.
    Melvin Nicholson captured this magnificent fogbow in Scotland.
  • Ian Wade captured these amazing shapes in some ice in his pond, reminding him of a galaxy bursting with millions of stars and planets.
    Ian Wade captured these amazing shapes in some ice in his pond, reminding him of a galaxy bursting with millions of stars and planets.
  • Craig Boehm captured this supercell – a powerful thunderstorm capable of producing tornadoes, large hail, damaging wind gusts and torrential rain.
    Craig Boehm captured this supercell – a powerful thunderstorm capable of producing tornadoes, large hail, damaging wind gusts and torrential rain.
  • Evgeny Borisov took this self-portrait using a Quadcopter at Lake Kok-Kol in Russia.
    Evgeny Borisov took this self-portrait using a Quadcopter at Lake Kok-Kol in Russia.
  • Calvin Downes captured a rainbow of colours shining directly onto a sheep on the Isle of Skye in October 2019.
    Calvin Downes captured a rainbow of colours shining directly onto a sheep on the Isle of Skye in October 2019.
  • Itay Kaplan waited for a number of years to take this shot of fog surrounding the Newport Transporter Bridge in Newport, Wales.
    Itay Kaplan waited for a number of years to take this shot of fog surrounding the Newport Transporter Bridge in Newport, Wales.
  • Serge Zaka captured this thunderstorm as a full moon shone over the famous Bay of Cannes in the south of France.
    Serge Zaka captured this thunderstorm as a full moon shone over the famous Bay of Cannes in the south of France.
  • Danijel Palčić took this picture of a storm over mainland Croatia.
    Danijel Palčić took this picture of a storm over mainland Croatia.
  • Muhammad Amdad Hossain captured the joy of children enjoying the rainy season in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
    Muhammad Amdad Hossain captured the joy of children enjoying the rainy season in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Maja Kraljik took this image of a shelf cloud as it approached Umag, Croatia.
    Maja Kraljik took this image of a shelf cloud as it approached Umag, Croatia.
  • Sachin Jagtap captured this ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse on June 10 from the New Jersey shoreline.
    Sachin Jagtap captured this ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse on June 10 from the New Jersey shoreline.
  • Kevin Förster spotted this exceptional halo phenomenon at the Boží Dar border checkpoint between Germany and the Czech Republic.
    Kevin Förster spotted this exceptional halo phenomenon at the Boží Dar border checkpoint between Germany and the Czech Republic.
  • Glastonbury in Somerset, UK on a cold winter's morning, as captured by Michelle Cowbourne.
    Glastonbury in Somerset, UK on a cold winter's morning, as captured by Michelle Cowbourne.
  • Nathan Myrhvold took a photo of these magnificent red jellyfish sprites near Lake DeSmet in Wyoming, the US.
    Nathan Myrhvold took a photo of these magnificent red jellyfish sprites near Lake DeSmet in Wyoming, the US.

Culture

Art

21 dramatic images shortlisted for Weather Photographer of the Year 2021 competition

The finalists for the annual photography competition have been selected, with the public able to vote for their favourites

Sophie Prideaux
Sophie Prideaux

August 26, 2021

  • English
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From dramatic clouds to majestic rainbows, some of nature’s most impressive moments have been captured by this year’s finalists for the Weather Photographer of the Year 2021 competition.

The 21 finalists for the annual award, held by the UK’s Royal Meteorological Society, have been selected from more than 8,900 entries, submitted by more than 3,300 photographers from 114 countries.

From 11am on Thursday, the public are invited to vote for their favourite images. Voting closes on September 23, with the winners announced in a ceremony held on October 16.

Among the shortlisted entries are a striking image of a rainbow-coloured cloud captured over the Sanding Temple in Tibet, as well as a shot of dramatic fog on an autumn day in the town of Airuno in Italy.

Some of the images also capture the effects of extreme weather. One picture, taken in York in the UK, shows the effects of flooding after the River Ouse rose to dangerously high levels.

New for this year is also a mobile phone category, which attracted more than 3,250 entries.

Scroll through the gallery above to see all 21 of the shortlisted images

Muhammad Amdad Hossain captured the joy of children enjoying the rainy season in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Photo: Royal Meteorological Society
Muhammad Amdad Hossain captured the joy of children enjoying the rainy season in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Photo: Royal Meteorological Society

“This is our sixth year of the competition and it never fails to amaze me the quality and breadth of images that we receive,” said Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society. “Weather and climate is something that we all share, but the drama, as well as the beauty of this force of nature, is something that can be truly unique to specific parts of the world.

“It’s a privilege to be able to share in those moments as we look through the entries. Many of the photographers capture it so beautifully that you almost feel as if you were there.”

The winners of the main and mobile categories for Weather Photographer of the Year 2021, Young Weather Photographer of the Year 2021, Public Favourite and the runners up from each award will be announced in an online event, WeatherLive: From One Extreme to Another. The event will also explore a range of weather extremes that have occurred over the past year, from extreme heat, wildfires and drought to flooding and storms.

The winning images will be made into a calendar, which will go on sale later this year.

Updated: August 26, 2021, 3:18 AM