The Storm Photos of the Year 2025 contest, also known as The Stormys, is back for its 5th annual edition, offering storm photographers worldwide the opportunity to showcase their work and win exciting prizes. This competition is dedicated to the art of storm photography, highlighting awe-inspiring images of weather phenomena like tornadoes, lightning, and thunderstorms. The contest spans multiple categories, offering both single-image awards and portfolio-based challenges to cater to different types of photographers. Participants can submit images that capture the raw beauty and power of nature, with the chance to win not only monetary prizes but also exposure for their work.
The 2025 edition introduces a fresh category—the Solar Storm/Aurora Award—to reflect the recent surge in spectacular aurora and solar storm imagery. With a diverse array of categories and prestigious prizes, including cash rewards, camera gear, and photo prints, this contest is a must-enter for photographers who have captured extraordinary weather events in the past year. The Storm Photos of the Year 2025 submission period runs from February 1st to February 28th, 2025, and the winners will be announced on March 27th, 2025, during a live YouTube award show.
The Storm Photos of the Year 2025 Prizes
The Storm Photos of the Year 2025 contest offers an impressive array of prizes designed to recognize the top talent in storm photography. Here’s a closer look at what’s up for grabs:
- Storm Photo of the Year:
- Grand Prize: $700
- Trophy
- 20×30 Metal Print of Winning Photo
- WeatherFlow Tempest Weather Station (tentative)
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
- Storm Photographer of the Year:
- Grand Prize: $700
- Trophy
- 20×30 Metal Print of Winning Photo
- WeatherFlow Tempest Weather Station (tentative)
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
- Tornado Photo of the Year:
- Grand Prize: $400
- Trophy
- 20×30 Metal Print of Winning Photo
- ThinkTank Camera Bag
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
- Lightning Photo of the Year:
- Grand Prize: $400
- K&F Camera Bag
- One-Year Pixsy Membership
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
- Photojournalism Award:
- Grand Prize: $200
- ThinkTank Camera Bag
- Solar Storm/Aurora Award:
- Grand Prize: $100
These prizes aim to support storm photographers with both cash rewards and valuable tools to help them further their craft. Whether it’s a high-quality camera bag, a professional-grade print of your best image, or a WeatherFlow station for tracking storms, each prize is a fitting acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication storm photographers invest in their art.
The Categories of the Storm Photos of the Year 2025
The Storm Photos of the Year 2025 is divided into several categories, each recognizing a different aspect of storm photography:
- Storm Photo of the Year: This category is for a single, outstanding image that captures the most dramatic and striking moment of a storm in 2024. Photographers are free to submit as many photos as they wish for this category.
- Storm Photographer of the Year: In this category, photographers must submit a portfolio of 10 images taken on at least seven different dates throughout 2024. This award focuses on the body of work of the photographer, rather than a single shot.
- Tornado Photo of the Year: For those who specialize in capturing tornadoes, this category rewards the most compelling and dramatic tornado shots of the year.
- Lightning Photo of the Year: This category celebrates the power and beauty of lightning, whether it’s cloud-to-ground strikes or more unusual forms like sprites and spider lightning.
- Photojournalism Award: A broader category that welcomes images capturing storm-related moments in the context of human life—storm damage, people interacting with storms, or fleeting moments caught in the chaos.
- Solar Storm/Aurora Award: This new category recognizes the best images of solar storms or auroras captured in 2024, tapping into the growing interest in celestial storm phenomena.
Storm Photos of the Year 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
Key dates to keep in mind for the Storm Photos of the Year 2025 contest:
- Contest Opens: February 1st, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET
- Contest Closes: February 28th, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET
- Video Critiques for Selections: March 14th, 2025
- Video Critiques for Finalists: March 21st, 2025
- Winners Announced: March 27th, 2025, during a live YouTube event
Entry fees vary depending on the category. For single-image categories (Storm Photo of the Year, Tornado Photo of the Year), the fee is $10 for the first image and $5 for additional images. For the multiple-image category (Storm Photographer of the Year), the fee is $25 for submitting a portfolio. Photographers can enter multiple categories, though they may only submit one portfolio for the Photographer of the Year award.
How to Enter
To enter the Storm Photos of the Year 2025, visit the official contest website and submit your images through the “Enter Contest” page. Keep in mind that each photo must adhere to the contest’s guidelines, which include submitting only images taken in 2024, and ensuring each entry is in JPG format and includes a short caption, date, and location. If selected as a finalist, you will need to provide the RAW file of the image within 24 hours.
The contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers, and all entries must be their original work with full copyrights. Submitting AI-generated images is strictly prohibited.
Why Enter the Storm Photos of the Year Contest 2025?
The Storm Photos of the Year 2025 contest offers a unique opportunity for storm photographers to gain recognition in a niche yet passionate community. With a judging panel made up of storm chasers and experienced photographers, the competition promises an informed and fair review of your work. The emphasis on promoting the artists’ work—rather than commercial exploitation—also sets the contest apart from many other photography competitions. The diversity of categories ensures that there’s an opportunity for every type of storm photographer to compete, whether they specialize in lightning, tornadoes, or the dramatic moments within stormy landscapes.
Whether you are an experienced photographer or an up-and-coming talent, entering this contest gives you the chance to be part of an exclusive community of storm photographers and to have your work recognized globally.
For more information and to enter the competition, visit: the oficial website.
