Jaw-Dropping Red Sprites Crowned Top Weather Photo of The Year!

The Story: The Royal Meteorological Society has announced the winners of the 2024 Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year competition, with stunning images showcasing the beauty and ferocity of nature. The top prize went to Wang Xin for a mesmerizing shot of rare red lightning sprites in Shanghai, while awards were also given for smartphone photography and a new climate-focused category.

The Details:

• Wang Xin from Shanghai snagged the top award with "Sprites Dancing in the Dark Night", capturing rare red lightning sprites during a thunderstorm, winning £5,000.

• Andy Gray's "Hoarfrost Heaven" earned him runner-up status, highlighting a serene winter scene with exceptional color and depth over the Derwent Valley in the UK.

• The smartphone winner, Nur Syaireen Natasya Binti Azaharin, captured volcanic activity in Indonesia, showcasing the competition's inclusivity of diverse photographic talent.

• Gerson Turelly from Brazil won the Standard Chartered Climate Award and Public Favourite for his gripping image of floods in Porto Alegre, illustrating the urgent discussion on climate change.

• The competition attracted over 4,500 submissions from 84 countries, emphasizing the global concern over weather patterns and climate impact.

Why It Matters: This year's competition serves as a reminder of both the beauty and destructiveness of weather phenomena, reflecting the urgent realities of climate change. For creative professionals, these winning images exemplify the art of storytelling through photography. They highlight the crucial intersection between art and environmental awareness, inspiring photographers to capture compelling narratives that provoke thought and prompt action in an age of climate crisis.