The Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 is now accepting submissions, continuing its mission to spotlight the powerful connection between photography and the natural world. Organized by the Royal Meteorological Society and supported by Standard Chartered, this international climate photography competition invites photographers of all levels to capture striking images of weather, climate, and the environment. Participation is completely free, with a total of £9,250 in cash prizes awarded across four categories. Submissions close on 19 June 2025, and winners will be announced in October, following a jury review and a public vote.
This year’s competition is divided into four well-defined categories: Main, Young, Mobile, and the Standard Chartered Climate Award. Each category addresses a different angle of weather photography. Entrants can submit up to five photographs taken after 1 January 2020. The Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 encourages images that reflect weather’s beauty and impact, as well as its increasingly urgent link to climate change.
The most significant prize is the £5,000 awarded in the main Weather Photographer of the Year category, followed by £2,500 for the mobile category, £1,000 for the Climate Award, and £750 for the young photographer prize. The contest’s structure, free entry, and strong climate relevance make it one of the better free photo contests currently available.
The Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 Prizes
The Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 contest offers a focused but valuable prize pool that reflects its thematic strength. Sponsored by Standard Chartered and organized by the Royal Meteorological Society, the competition rewards not only technical skill and composition but also storytelling and scientific context.
- Weather Photographer of the Year: £5,000
This is the top award given to the best overall image that exemplifies the power, drama, or beauty of weather. - Mobile Weather Photographer of the Year: £2,500
Awarded to the best image captured on a mobile phone or tablet, this prize highlights how powerful and accessible mobile photography has become. - Standard Chartered Climate Award: £1,000
This category focuses on images that directly address the causes or effects of climate change and aims to encourage climate-conscious visual narratives. - Young Weather Photographer of the Year: £750
Open to individuals under 18, this prize supports the next generation of photographers documenting atmospheric and weather-related subjects.
All winners will also benefit from public and media exposure through online exhibitions, press releases, and promotional campaigns coordinated by the organizers.
The Categories of the Weather Photographer of the Year 2025
The contest is structured around four main categories, allowing for diverse participation across age groups, mediums, and thematic approaches:
- Weather Photographer of the Year
This is the contest’s flagship category and is open to any image taken with any camera type. It seeks strong visual representations of weather or atmospheric conditions. - Mobile Weather Photographer of the Year
For this category, all images must be taken using a mobile phone or tablet. It’s designed to be inclusive and reflect the accessibility of modern photographic tools. - Young Weather Photographer of the Year
Open to anyone aged 17 or younger on 19 June 2025. This category supports the creativity of younger photographers who are drawn to weather and environmental themes. - Standard Chartered Climate Award
This special award is for images that focus on climate change—whether depicting its causes, effects, or human interactions. Judges will be looking for photos that carry a strong climate message.
Each category is judged independently, and participants may submit up to five images across one or more categories, depending on eligibility.
Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
Entering the Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 is free and straightforward. Here are the key dates and entry details:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Submissions Open | 10 April 2025 |
| Submission Deadline | 19 June 2025 (23:59 BST) |
| Judging Period | 20 June – 19 July 2025 |
| Public Voting | 18 September – 16 October 2025 |
| Winners Announced | 30 October 2025 |
Entry Fee: Free for all categories
How to Enter:
Participants must submit entries via the official contest platform hosted on the Royal Meteorological Society’s website. After creating an account, users can upload up to five photographs. Each image must include a caption explaining the context or story behind it, with special emphasis on how it relates to weather or climate. Only photos taken after 1 January 2020 are eligible.
About the Jury
The 2025 judging panel includes experts from a range of disciplines: meteorology, photography, environmental science, and journalism. Members of the ITV Weather team and specialists from the Royal Meteorological Society have been part of the jury in past editions, ensuring a well-rounded and informed evaluation process.
In addition to expert judging, the public will have the opportunity to vote online for shortlisted entries during the voting period in September and October.
Why enter Weather Photographer of the Year 2025?
For photographers drawn to environmental themes and atmospheric storytelling, Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 provides a focused and meaningful outlet. Unlike broader contests, it encourages in-depth engagement with the natural world, weather systems, and climate-related challenges.
It’s free to enter, making it a low-risk opportunity with the potential for high reward—both in cash prizes and in visibility. The addition of a dedicated climate category speaks to the contest’s evolution and its relevance to global conversations around sustainability.
Among current contests, it stands out as one of the few to offer some of the best photography challenge prizes specifically for weather, climate, and environmental themes. That focus, combined with a structured judging process and credible organizing partners, gives it solid value for both emerging and experienced photographers.
If you’re looking for other photo competitions that emphasize storytelling, nature, and weather, you’ll find more curated opportunities on Deartline.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Standard Chartered Weather Photographer of the Year 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
- Up to five entries per participant
- Images must have been taken on or after 1 January 2020
- All entries must be submitted in digital JPEG format
- Each image must include a descriptive caption in English
- Entrants under 18 must obtain parental consent
- Only original work may be submitted
Copyright
- Photographers retain full copyright to their images
- By entering, participants grant the Royal Meteorological Society and Standard Chartered a non-exclusive license to use images for promotional and educational purposes
- Any commercial use beyond these rights would require additional permissions from the photographer
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For more information and to enter the competition, visit: the oficial website.
