Dramatic storms, frozen vistas and incredible sunsets are among the shortlisted images for the Royal Meteorological Society's annual award, Weather Photographer of the Year. As are photos that depict the effects of climate change on the natural world.
Photographers from 119 countries have put forward their best weather photos from across the world, showcasing unique perspectives of the planet and sharing the stories behind them, in a bid to win the coveted prize.
Two of those shortlisted hail from India, highlighting West Bengal. Using a drone, Shibasish Saha, from Kolkata, captured the monsoon season in the wetlands for Waterlily Harvesting, with people collecting the flowers to sell at the local market.
For In Search of Water, Barun Rajgaria put the focus on extreme heat in Purulia. He said: ”Drought, the women and children of the village have to make deep pits in the dry river, in which the frozen water quenches the thirst of the people here".
Scroll through the gallery above to see more of the finalists’ work
A judging panel has narrowed down the finalists and now the public can vote for their favourite via the website before the winners are announced on October 6.
Voting opens on Thursday from 10am British Summer Time and closes on September 21 at midnight.
“I am always amazed by something new, something I haven’t seen before, or a new angle that reignites my passion for discussing the weather,” said professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society.
“As the competition has grown over the past seven years, it has allowed us to create a platform where more stories can be told about the majesty and awe of the world’s weather and witness scenes of the impacts of climate change, which can help to prompt action.”
Contest judge and retired AccuWeather chief meteorologist, Elliot Abrams, said: “Together, the entrants illustrated their keen eye and passion for weather and provided us with a greater window into this most fascinating, stirring and ever-changing phenomenon.”
The finalists' work will be featured in a calendar that will go on sale online later this year, and the winners will receive cash prizes.
52 winning images at iPhone Photography Awards, including 'The Kid of Mosul' — in pictures
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Photographer of the Year, Grand Prize winner, 'The Kid of Mosul', shot by Antonio Denti from Italy, in Mosul, Iraq, on iPhone 11. Photo: Antonio Denti / IPPAWARDS -
Photographer of the Year, First Place, 'Anti-Social Distancing', shot by Rachel Sela in Handen, Sweden, on iPhone 12 Pro. Photo: Rachel Sela / IPPAWARDS -
Photographer of the Year, Second Place, 'Girl with the Violin', shot by Kelly Dallas in Denver, Colorado, on iPhone 13 Pro. Photo: Kelly Dallas / IPPAWARDS -
Photographer of the Year, Third Place, 'Wasted', shot by Glenn Homann in Queensland, Australia, on iPhone 11 Pro. Photo: Glenn Homann / IPPAWARDS -
Abstract, First Place, 'Bird Cage', shot by Marcello Raggini in Italy on iPhone 11. Photo: Marcello Raggini / IPPAWARDS -
Abstract, Second Place, shot by George Allen in Canada on iPhone 12 Pro. Photo: George Allen / IPPAWARDS -
Abstract, Third Place, shot by William Ainger from Australia on iPhone XR. Photo: William Ainger / IPPAWARDS -
Animals, First Place, shot by Pier Luigi Dodi from Italy on iPhone 11 Pro Max. Photo: Pier Luigi Dodi / IPPAWARDS -
Animals, Second Place, shot by Sanjay Chauhan from Canada on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Sanjay Chauhan / IPPAWARDS -
Animals, Third Place, 'Megaptera Novaeangliae', shot by Tran Hieu in San Francisco on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Tran Hieu / IPPAWARDS -
Architecture, First Place, 'Shadows of History', shot by Kaustav Sarkar from India in New York on iPhone 12 Pro. Photo: Kaustav Sarkar / IPPAWARDS -
Architecture, Second Place, 'Echo', shot in Taipei, Taiwan by Chien Jay Sheu on iPhone 12 Pro. Photo: ChienJay Sheu / IPPAWARDS -
Architecture, Third Place, 'Hoover Dam', shot in Arizona, US, by Judith Lopez on iPhone 13 Pro. Photo: Judith Lopez / IPPAWARDS -
Children, First Place, shot by by Huapeng-Zhao in Sichuan, China, on iPhone 13 Pro Max. Photo: Huapeng-Zhao / IPPAWARDS -
Children, Second Place, shot by Yu Chen in China on iPhone X. Photo: Yu Chen / IPPAWARDS -
Children, Third Place, 'In the Shade of the Stripes', shot in Carnac, France by Anne Ziolo on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Anne Ziolo / IPPAWARDS -
City Life, First Place, 'Over the Overpass', shot in Chongqing, China, by Yongmei Wong on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Yongmei Won / IPPAWARDS -
City Life, Second Place, 'Sunning the Quilts', shot by Wei Dong Ran in Shandong, China, on iPhone 12 Pro. Photo: Wei Dong Ran / IPPAWARDS -
City Life, Third Place, 'Other Side of the World', shot by YuePeng Mai in Guangdong, China, on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: YuePeng Mai / IPPAWARDS -
Environment, First Place, 'Cotton Candy', shot by Yang Li in Heilongjiang Province, China, on iPhone 11 Pro Max. Photo: Yang Li / IPPAWARDS -
Environment, Second Place, shot by George Allen in Western Australia on iPhone 12 Pro. Photo: George Allen / IPPAWARDS -
Environment, Third Place, 'The Shape of Blue', shot by Shou Li in Qinghai Province, China, on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Shou Li / IPPAWARDS -
Landscape, First Place, 'Fog on Fall Path', shot by Linda Repasky in Massachusetts, US, on iPhone 13 Pro. Photo: Linda Repasky / IPPAWARDS -
Landscape, Second Place, 'Painted Vista', shot by Joshua Hollander in Arizona, US, on iPhone 12 Pro. Photo: Joshua Hollander / IPPAWARDS -
Landscape, Third Place, 'Embrace', shot by Wenqin Hu from China in Italy on iPhone 6s Plus. Photo: Wenqin Hu / IPPAWARDS -
Lifestyle, First Place, 'Dip in the Sea', shot by by Laila Bakker from Netherlands in Villajoyosa, Spain on iPhone 11 Pro Max. Photo: Laila Bakker / IPPAWARDS -
Lifestyle, Second Place, 'Morning', shot by Kui Ying from China in India on iPhone 6s Plus. Photo: Kui Ying / IPPAWARDS -
Lifestyle, Third Place, 'Cycle of Life', shot by Dimpy Bhalotia in West Bengal, India, on iPhone 13 Pro Max. Photo: Dimpy Bhalotia / IPPAWARDS -
Nature, First Place, 'Moose in Aspen', shot by Andrea Buchanan in Utah, US, on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Andrea Buchanan / IPPAWARDS -
Nature, Second Place, 'Midnight Succulent', shot by Charlotte Mason Mottram in Arizona, UK, on iPhone 7 Plus. Photo: Charlotte Mason Mottram / IPPAWARDS -
Nature, Third Place, 'Lotus', shot by Chuan Mu in Chongqing, China, on iPhone 12. Photo: Chuan Mu / IPPAWARDS -
Other, First Place, shot by Yingya Liu in China on iPhone 11. Photo: Yingya Liu / IPPAWARDS -
Other, Second Place, '50 Nuances de Verts', shot by Becky Ashway in Baltimore, US, on iPhone XS. Photo: Becky Ashway / IPPAWARDS -
Other, Third Place, 'Pink Cadillac', shot by Clay Peres from the US in New Mexico on iPhone XS Max. Photo: Clay Peres / IPPAWARDS -
People, First Place, 'Swimsuit', shot by Patricia Cancado in Bahia, Brazil, on iPhone XR. Photo: / IPPAWARDS -
People, Second Place, 'The Artist', shot by Alina Li in New Jersey, US, on iPhone 13 Pro Max. Photo: Alina Li / IPPAWARDS -
People, Third Place, 'Waiting to Dance', shot by Clay Peres from the US in Mexico on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Clay Peres / IPPAWARDS -
Portrait, First Place, 'Untitled', shot by Arevik Martirosyan in California, US, on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Arevik Martirosyan / IPPAWARDS -
Portrait, Second Place. 'Line of Light', shot by Erin Brooks in Texas, US, on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Erin Brooks / IPPAWARDS -
Portrait, Third Place, 'Old Mate', shot by Glenn Homann in Queensland, Australia, on iPhone 11 Pro. Photo: Glenn Homann / IPPAWARDS -
Series, First Place, 'Abandoned Blues', shot by Rich Lemonie in New Jersey, US, on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Rich Lemonie / IPPAWARDS -
Series, Second Place, 'Fish Sellers at Komarovsky Market', shot by Julia Shatun from Poland in Minsk, Belarus, on iPhone 12. Photo: Julia Shatun / IPPAWARDS -
Series, Third Place, 'Pure Joy', shot by Iakovos Draculis in Nea Styra, Greece, on iPhone 11 Pro. Photo: Iakovos Draculis / IPPAWARDS -
Still Life, First Place, 'Waking Up in Hotel Rooms', shot by Ayaka Takine in Kyushu Island, Japan, on iPhone XR. Photo: Ayaka Takine / IPPAWARDS -
Still Life, Second Place, 'Late for Breakfast', shot by Robin Robertis in California, US, on iPhone 11 Pro Max. Photo: Robin Robertis / IPPAWARDS -
Still Life, Third Place, 'Old Soul', shot by Reem Borhan in Egypt on iPhone 11 Pro. Photo: Reem Borhan / IPPAWARDS -
Sunset, First Place, 'Floating on Fire', shot by Leping Cheng in Xiamen, China, on iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Leping Cheng / IPPAWARDS -
Sunset, Second Place, 'Sela Firini', shot by Julia Shatun from Poland in Turkiye on iPhone 12 Mini. Photo: Julia Shatun / IPPAWARDS -
Sunset, Third Place, 'Shinrin-Yokul', shot by Robin Robertis from the US in Hawaii on iPhone 13 Pro Max. Photo: Robin Robertis / IPPAWARDS -
Travel, First Place, 'Untitled', shot by by Marina Klutse from the US in Colombia on iPhone 11 Pro. Photo: Marina Klutse / IPPAWARDS -
Travel, Second Place, 'Varanasi in Winter', shot by Kuanglong Zhang from China in India on iPhone 7. Photo: Kuanglong Zhang / IPPAWARDS -
Travel, Third Place, 'Walk Your Way', shot by Karolina AlamaMaruta from Poland in Bolivia on iPhone X. Photo: Karolina AlamaMaruta / IPPAWARDS
