Submissions are invited for the WMO 2025 Photo Calendar Competition. The deadline for submission is September 25, 2024.
About the Competition
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is excited to announce the launch of its highly anticipated Photo Competition for the WMO 2025 Calendar. With the theme, “Closing the early warning gap together,” this competition invites photographers from around the world to submit their most compelling images that showcase the importance of collaboration in ensuring universal protection from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems.
Theme
The theme for the WMO 2025 Calendar Photo Competition aligns with the slogan for World Meteorological Day on March 23, 2025, and emphasizes the importance of working together to bridge the gap in early warning systems. Photographers are encouraged to capture powerful moments that illustrate people and communities uniting to protect each other from the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. Whether it’s a village bracing for a storm, citizens raising awareness about flood risks, or a family preparing for a heatwave, WMO wants to see how communities come together to save lives through early warning systems.
In addition to this focus, the WMO is also looking for images that depict the sheer force of nature and highlight the urgent need to protect our planet from the harmful effects of human activities. The aim is to raise awareness about the delicate balance of our environment and the impact of climate change, inspiring people worldwide to act.
Why Enter?
Winning entries will not only be featured in the prestigious 2025 WMO Calendar but will also gain global visibility. Selected photographs will be showcased on the WMO website, included in public outreach materials, and featured across various social media platforms. Additionally, these photos are widely used by the United Nations to illustrate weather and climate-related stories, providing even greater exposure for the photographers.
Over the years, the WMO Calendar Competition has become one of the organization’s most popular engagement activities, attracting talented photographers from all corners of the globe. The 2025 edition holds even more significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of the WMO, adding a special touch to this year’s competition.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged by a panel of WMO experts in meteorology and hydrology, along with experienced professional photographers. The criteria for judging include:
- Technical quality, clarity, and composition: Images should be well-composed and high in quality to meet the standards of a global calendar.
- Visual impact: The photographs should be striking and able to capture the viewer’s attention immediately.
- Novelty and flair for the unexpected: Unique perspectives and creative shots that stand out from the usual representations of weather and climate are highly encouraged.
- Illustration of the importance of early warnings for all: Photos should tell a story that emphasizes the importance of early warning systems and their role in saving lives and protecting communities.
The initial selection will feature around 75 photographs chosen for their technical and artistic merit. These shortlisted photos will be published on WMO’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Flickr, where followers can vote for their favorites. The competition will also be promoted on X (formerly Twitter) and other UN social media platforms.
Final Selection
While social media votes will play a significant role in the final decision, the WMO jury will ultimately select the 13 winning photos—one for the calendar cover and one for each month. In making the final selection, the jury will consider the social media votes and ensure a geographical balance to represent the global nature of WMO’s work.
How to Participate?
WMO encourages its members and the global photography community to actively participate in the competition. Whether you are a professional photographer or an enthusiastic amateur, this is a unique opportunity to have your work recognized globally and contribute to raising awareness about the importance of early warning systems and climate action.
How to Register?
Interested participants can register through this link.
Deadline
The deadline for submission is September 25, 2024.
Click here to view the official notification of the WMO 2025 Calendar Photo Competition.
