Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year 2024 Winners Announced
Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year 2024 Winners Announced
The Royal Meteorological Society has announced the winners of this year’s Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year Competition.
An international panel of experts in meteorology, photography, and journalism, including members of the ITV Weather team, chose the judges’ winners from a shortlist of 25 images received by entrants from 84 countries.
In addition, the public voted for their favourite on the Royal Meteorological Society website. View the Winners’ Gallery on the Royal Meteorological Society website.
The Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year 2024 Title Prize Winner is Wang Xin of Shanghai, China, with the photo ‘Sprites Dancing in the Dark Night’. As multiple thunderstorms raged around Shanghai, Xin travelled to the Chongming District, and after a few hours, a “faint red figure” flashed in their eyes, and this remarkable image was captured. The judges commented that seeing an image with this extent and number of sprites is rare.
Photographer Wang Xin had to be extremely patient to capture this magnificent example of red sprite lightning in the Chongming District of Shanghai. Like the ethereal, fairy-like sprites of folklore, red sprites are particularly difficult to see or photograph. Our judging panel commented that seeing an image with this extent and number of sprites is rare.
As multiple thunderstorms raged around Shanghai, Xin travelled to the Chongming District and adopted a trial-and-error approach by setting up the camera and waiting. After a few hours, a “faint red figure” flashed in Xin’s eyes, and this remarkable image was captured. The elusive sprites only last a few milliseconds, so Xin used a four-second exposure to achieve this photo.
Sprites occur due to electrical discharge, but unlike ordinary lightning, they appear well above cumulonimbus clouds, approximately 50 miles (80km) above the ground, in a layer of the atmosphere known as the mesosphere. Due to their fleeting nature, sprites are still poorly understood, but they have been observed to occur after a robust and positive lightning bolt between the cloud and the ground. The red colour comes from changes in the energy of the electrons of nitrogen atoms high in the atmosphere.
To capture a sprite, you must be far enough away from the storm to see its top. Like Xin, you must also be patient, as it is estimated that only 1 in 200 lightning strikes are accompanied by sprites, although that number could increase. As our atmosphere warms under climate change, the amount of moisture it can hold increases. That leads to stronger thunderstorms and more lightning and could mean sprites become more common.
Social media: Instagram @a18917431985wx
Camera: Canon EOS 6D + TAMRON SP 35mm F1.4
Preferred pronouns: They/them
Main Title Runner up, Andy Gray of Matlock, UK, whose photo ‘Hoarfrost Heaven’ depicts a spectacular display of hoar frost over the Derwent Valley, UK. Judges loved the colours and light in Andy’s photo and the sense of layers provided by the rolling hills, the different types of trees and the thin layers of mist. As one judge said, “The more you stare at it, the more you see.”
This image shows “a spectacular display of hoar frost over the Derwent Valley”. Our judging panel loved the colours and light in this photo and the sense of layers provided by the rolling hills, the different types of trees and the thin layers of mist. As one judge said, “The more you stare at it, the more you see.”
Photographer Andy Gray was especially pleased to have captured this image as he feels hoar frost has become rarer in the Peak District. In Old English, the word ‘hoar’ is related to old age, so this frost gets its name from its resemblance to white hair. Hoar frost differs from ground frost because it occurs when the surface is already below freezing. The water vapour immediately freezes on contact with the object rather than first condensing as liquid water and then freezing.
The image was taken during high pressure that led to freezing weather. Within high-pressure systems (or anticyclones), air is generally sinking, leading to cloudless skies. The lack of clouds at night means more heat is lost to space rather than being reflected to the Earth’s surface. Winter nights can become very cold, encouraging the formation of frost and mist that can last well after the sun has risen.
Social media: Instagram @andygrayphotographer
Camera: Sony a7r3, Sigma 100-400 mm lens, tripod
Preferred pronouns: He/him
Main Title Third Place goes to Jamie Russell of Isle of Wight, UK, who took advantage of sea and air to capture the photo ‘Evening Shower Over the Needles’. Jamie reports, “Some large showers started developing 20 miles to our north-northwest. Realising they could cross The Needles with rainbow potential, we jumped in our rib at Colwell Bay and positioned ourselves with the camera.” This photograph also came second in the vote for the Public Favourite.
Photographer Jamie Russell took advantage of sea and air to capture this image: “Some large showers started developing 20 miles to our north-northwest. Realising they could cross The Needles with rainbow potential, we jumped in our rib at Colwell Bay and positioned ourselves with the camera. However, the composition was awkward, and the choppy sea was a challenge, so I sent up the drone, knowing the view would likely be much more impressive.” His instinct certainly paid off as he captured two British icons: the white chalk stacks of The Needles and a downpour! To top this image off, the Isle of Wight is perfectly crowned with a rainbow.
Although rainbows are a common optical phenomenon, the correct ingredients must come together to see one. Firstly, the sun must be behind you, and it must be low in the sky. Secondly, an array of airborne water droplets must be ahead of you. When light travels through a water droplet, it slows down and changes direction because a water droplet is denser than air—this is known as refraction. The amount that light is refracted depends on its colour, so sunlight (consisting of a mix of all colours) is split into the rainbow spectrum when refracted. This spreading of the light into the different colours is called dispersion. When the light reaches the back of the water droplet, it is reflected and passes back through the droplet, again being refracted and further dispersed as it leaves the droplet.
As with all optical phenomena, rainbows are unique to the observer, so no two people will have ever seen the same rainbow (unless someone like Jamie has been on hand to document it!).
Social media: Facebook @Island.visions.photography
Camera: DJI Mini 3
Preferred pronouns: He/him
The Standard Chartered Smartphone Weather Photographer of the Year Winner is Nur Syaireen Natasya Binti Azaharin of Selangor, Malaysia, who had gone out with the expectation of capturing a sunrise but was instead rewarded with this glorious view of smoking volcanoes in East Java, Indonesia.
Photographer Nur Syaireen Natasya Binti Azaharin had gone out expecting to capture a sunrise but was rewarded with this glorious view of smoking volcanoes in East Java, Indonesia. Sitting above the low-level stratus clouds, she was afforded a tranquil view of the peaks in the early morning light and snapped the scene with her Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4. The judging panel praised the subtlety of the shot, appreciating the combination of the curves of the landscape and the curves of the tree in the foreground with the basin of clouds and the blue sky above.
A small pyrocumulus cloud (also known as flammagenitus) sits atop Mount Semeru (central peak in the background), and small plumes of smoke and steam are emitted from the crater of Mount Bromo (front left). Pyrocumulus clouds form above volcanoes and heat sources such as forest fires and power station cooling towers, which cause air to rise. Moisture in the air will condense to create a cloud once the air has risen to a cool enough altitude.
Volcanoes emit small particles into the air, providing additional surfaces onto which the water vapour can condense. Therefore, pyrocumulus clouds can appear more dense than other clouds, being formed of many tiny droplets. If the heat source is large enough, deep rising currents of air may form, allowing the pyrocumulus to evolve into a pyrocumulonimbus which, like a cumulonimbus cloud, may be associated with thunder and lightning.
Social media: Instagram @nr.s.n
Camera: Samsung Z Flip 4
Preferred pronouns: She/her
The judging panel praised the subtlety of the shot, appreciating the combination of the curves of the landscape and the curves of the tree in the foreground with the basin of clouds and the blue sky above.
Nur Syaireen Natasya Binti Azaharin wins a cash prize of £2500.
Smartphone runner-up Lesley Hellgeth of Mount Vernon, United States, shot the ‘African Dust Over Athens’ photo. The image shows the influence of Saharan dust on Athens during April 2023 and reminds the judges of the interconnectivity of weather conditions worldwide.
You might be forgiven for thinking that the Parthenon has been magically transported to Mars, but this scene is much more down to Earth! This image shows the influence of Saharan dust on Athens during April 2023. It reminds us of the interconnectivity of weather conditions worldwide, which particularly impressed the judges.
An area of low pressure over Libya created strong southerly winds that transported dust from northern Africa to Greece. Hot air from the Sahara also surged northwards, adding to the unpleasant environment. People with respiratory health conditions were warned to limit outdoor activity and avoid physical exercise. The warm southerly winds also contributed to a much earlier start to the fire season in southern Greece, adding to the health risks.
Although the April Saharan dust outbreak was particularly severe, several other outbreaks across southern Europe had occurred in the preceding months. Looking at trends over the past few decades, there is evidence that the number, intensity, and length of these outbreaks are increasing. Temperature increases in the Mediterranean, and persistent drought in northwest Africa are among the reasons for increased dust outbreaks.
Social media: Instagram @lmsmith2
Camera: Smartphone
Preferred pronouns: She/her
Smartphone Third Place goes to Peter Reinold of Kent, US, for the ‘Circular Rainbow’ image. Peter held his camera phone steady through a turbulent landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to capture this complete circular rainbow. Judges enjoyed how the image “encapsulates the spirit of smartphone photography” in its opportunism. The circular rainbow would have been there momentarily, and Peter captured it.
Photographer Peter Reinold held his phone steady through a turbulent landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to capture this complete circular rainbow: “I always pick the window seat on planes, as you never know what you [might] encounter. It paid off this time.”
Our judging panel also enjoyed how the image “encapsulates the spirit of smartphone photography. It’s opportunistic. [This circular rainbow] would have been there for just a second, and [he] captured it”.
A rainbow’s shape is a circle centred on the point directly opposite the sun, but most of the time, we can’t see the full circle because the ground gets in the way. If you can reach a higher vantage point with water droplets below, you are more likely to see the complete rainbow. While a plane is an obvious location, sometimes you can see circular rainbows from the top of tall buildings.
Social media: Instagram @peter_reinold
Facebook /peter.reinold.photography
X @peter_reinold
The Standard Chartered Young Weather Photographer of the Year title goes to Angelina Widmann of Bregenz, Austria, whose winning photo ‘Rain Aria’ captured this stunning shot during an open-air performance of Madame Butterfly on the eastern shore of Bodensee (also known as Lake Constance) in Bregenz, Austria.
Angelina’s photo will win a cash prize of £750, a double-page spread in the Week Junior Science+Nature Magazine, and a year’s subscription to the magazine.
Young photographer Angelina Widmann captured this stunning shot during an open-air performance of Madame Butterfly on the eastern shore of Bodensee (also known as Lake Constance) in Bregenz, Austria. Angelina noted that “the rain made the plot even more dramatic.” Due to the distance between Angelina and the stage, she used a telephoto lens to take the photo. She used a short exposure to capture the falling drops before sprinting to safety to avoid damaging her camera!
Bregenz is one of the wettest spots around Bodensee due to its proximity to the mountains. It receives over 1600mm of yearly rainfall, perhaps explaining why the opera singers bravely continued their performances even as the audience fled the arena in the sudden downpour! In the summer, monthly rainfall can reach 200mm in Bregenz, most likely due to summertime convection enhanced by moist air from the lake lifted by the mountainous terrain.
As the atmosphere warms due to greenhouse gas emissions, water vapour in the air also increases. Additional water vapour means that when it rains, it pours. A change to more intense rainfall has already been observed in Europe and across the world. Although infrequent, such downpours can disrupt leisure activities, transport, infrastructure and industry, so accurate forecasting of extreme rainfall will become increasingly important as our climate changes.
Social Media: Instagram @angewidmann_
Camera: Nikon Z6, Nikkor 200-500 mm f5.6
Preferred pronouns: She/her
Ellis Skelton of Eastbourne, UK, was awarded the Young Weather Photographer Runner-Up for his photo ‘Saturated Earth and Sky’s Promise’, a panoramic image of Cuckmere Valley in East Sussex. The judging panel noted that the photograph contains two seasons: summer on the left and autumn on the right. The beauty of the sky contrasted with the flooding on the ground reminds us of the wonder and misery the sky can bring.
Young photographer Ellis Skelton eloquently describes his panoramic image of Cuckmere Valley in East Sussex: “The expansive horizon of the river Cuckmere spans across the picturesque landscape, and the harmonious blend of earth and sky captures natural tranquillity and wonder. Captured from above, this breathtaking panorama shows how powerful the weather can be.”
The judging panel noted that the photograph contains two seasons: summer on the left and autumn on the right. The beauty of the sky, contrasted with the flooding on the ground, reminds us of the wonder and misery the sky can bring.
Sea levels are predicted to rise along the Sussex coastline, potentially by over 1 m by the end of this century. As the Cuckmere River flows into the English Channel, those sea-level rises increase the likelihood of flooding in the Cuckmere Valley. The flood risk increases further thanks to changing river management techniques over several centuries, leading to a build-up of shingle at the river mouth. There are fears that flooding could become the norm even sooner, as a Coastal Risk Screening Tool by Climate Central suggests that the annual flood level will cover most of the Cuckmere Valley by 2030.
Social Media: Instagram @ellis_skelton_photography
Camera: DJI Mini 2
Preferred pronouns: He/him
Young Weather Photographer Third Place, Lincoln Wheelwright of Texas, United States, with the photo ‘Fire and Ice’. Lincoln grabbed his camera and took this picture from his house in Austin, Texas, as a thunderstorm began rolling in. The Gulf of Mexico is warming rapidly due to climate change, boosting the supply of moist air and raising the potential of intense storms in the region.
As a thunderstorm began rolling in, young photographer Lincoln Wheelright grabbed his camera and took this picture from his house in Austin, Texas. The judging panel were particularly impressed with the split colours: the blue to the left of the cloud and the orange to the right. Lincoln explains that “the clouds were low enough to block the light on the other side. This gave the effect of the fiery sunset versus the cold sky.”
Thunderstorms frequently strike late afternoon or early evening, as this is the warmest and most humid time of day. Warm and moist air at the surface creates an unstable atmosphere, forming a deep cumulonimbus or thundercloud once air rises. In some cases, the atmosphere becomes so unstable that the air rises without an outside trigger, but sometimes airlifted over a mountain or a cooler, denser air mass triggers the storm.
Texas has an abundant supply of warm, moist air, thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the south. However, the Gulf of Mexico is warming rapidly due to climate change, boosting the supply of moist air and raising the potential for intense storms in the region.
Social Media: n/a
Camera: DJI Mini 2
Preferred pronouns: He/him
Standard Chartered Climate Award
New to this year’s competition is the Standard Chartered Climate Award, created to underscore the connection between weather patterns and the broader impacts of climate change and illustrate how these global shifts affect our daily lives.
The first Standard Chartered Climate Award winner is Gerson Turelly of Brazil for the photograph ‘Rowing’. This compelling image shows the centre of Porto Alegre, Brazil, during the devastating Rio Grande do Sul floods in Spring 2024. In this image, a road has turned into a waterway where a young man paddles his kayak. Gerson notes that the kayaker was headed towards the worst-affected areas to help rescue stranded people.
The judging panel praised the photo’s composition and lighting and the powerful combination of weather and climate impacts portrayed in the scene. Judges also commented on how the picture shows “past, present, and future”; flooding has always been something that we must deal with and adapt to. However, as climate change increases the intensity of heavy rainfall, flooding will become even more common.
Gerson wins a cash prize of £1000.
This image, captured by local photographer Gerson Turelly, shows the centre of Porto Alegre, Brazil, during the devastating Rio Grande do Sul floods in Spring 2024. In it, a road has turned into a waterway down which a young man paddles his kayak. Gerson notes that the kayaker was heading towards the worst-affected areas to help rescue stranded people.
The judging panel praised the photo’s composition and lighting and the powerful combination of weather and climate impacts portrayed in the scene. Judges commented that the picture shows “past, present, and future”; flooding has always been something that we must deal with and adapt to. However, as climate change increases the intensity of heavy rainfall, flooding will become even more common.
Looking at the most intense ten-day period during this event, World Weather Attribution showed that climate change made the flooding at least twice as likely and six to nine per cent more intense. The El Niño Southern Oscillation significantly increased the likelihood and intensity of this event, demonstrating how natural variability of the ocean and atmosphere can combine with climate change to produce particularly extreme events.
Until this event, Porto Alegre had generally been spared from significant flooding, meaning its flood defences had been neglected. Urban sprawl into flood-prone areas has also increased vulnerability. This event reminds us that, due to climate change, extreme events will occur in new places or with greater intensity or frequency than before. Communities must adapt and increase their resilience to avoid disaster.
Social media: Instagram @turellystreetphoto and @gersonturelly
Camera: Canon EOS 6D Lens Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM
Preferred pronouns: He/him
The Winner of the Public Favourite is also Gerson Turelly of Brazil for ‘Rowing’, a popular photograph with both the judges and the public.
The 2024 competition saw an increase in entries, raising awareness of the impact of climate change on our weather patterns worldwide and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and forest fires. Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing the world today, and its impact on the environment and human health significantly affects sustainable economic growth and the future of society. Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year, hosted by the Royal Meteorological Society, continues to provide an ongoing commentary on the fragility and beauty of the planet.
View the Winners’ Gallery on the Royal Meteorological Society website, including captions written by Royal Meteorological Society climate experts telling the important stories behind the photographs.
Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, commented:
“I’m delighted with the variety and quality of this year’s winning photographs, which show a real window into the world’s weather and climate, in its regional differences and interconnectivity. From African dust impacting Athens to tranquil weather over volcanoes, from a sudden local downpour to increased intense rainfall and flooding around the world, we are reminded that climate change is impacting weather patterns everywhere and that the global community needs to come together to act now and curb any further temperature rise.”
Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer at Standard Chartered, commented:
“The winning images in this year’s competition tell a powerful story about our planet and the extraordinary force of extreme weather events. Many of the images draw urgent attention to the impact of our changing climate on communities and biodiverse habitats worldwide. This is particularly true of our inaugural Climate Award winner, Gerson Turelly, who has an image of the devastating flooding in Porto Alegre, Brazil. As headline sponsors of the Weather Photographer competition, we hope to raise further awareness about the threat posed by rising temperatures and associated extreme weather events. Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up, and thank you to everyone who entered.”
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