The Visual Reality of a Changing Climate
A single photograph often captures the final moment of conditions that have been brewing for days. These ten shortlisted images move beyond traditional nature photography to reveal the mechanical power of the sky and the visceral reality of a changing climate.
In photography, timing is everything. But a dramatic image of the atmosphere often captures the final moment of a process that has been unfolding for hours or even days.
The shortlist for the Royal Meteorological Society’s Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 brings together images that capture these precise moments of atmospheric tension. Selected from thousands of global entries, this collection moves beyond the traditional boundaries of nature photography. It offers a clear, observational look at how physical forces, temperature inversions, and wind shears are actively reshaping the landscapes we inhabit.
Some of these images capture awe-inspiring, fleeting meteorological phenomena. We see the mechanics of the sky at work—whether it’s a rare triple lightning strike illuminating the New York City skyline or a towering supercell gathering force across the American Great Plains.
Other photographs turn our attention to places already experiencing the effects of changing environmental conditions. A massive chunk of blue ice calving from the retreating Perito Moreno Glacier; smoke from intense wildfires crossing international borders to blanket a megacity in sepia haze; low-lying communities in Bangladesh navigating the destructive reality of an altered monsoon season.
Together, these photographs offer a closer look at the forces shaping our weather and the environments increasingly affected by them.
The images featured above represent a curated selection from this year’s 30 finalists. To experience the complete, uncropped shortlist and cast your vote for the public favourite, visit the Royal Meteorological Society’s official gallery. Public voting closes on November 5.
