WMO 2024 Calendar Competition

The World Meteorological Organization is thrilled to announce the launch of its 2024 calendar photography competition. It is one of our most eagerly awaited annual activities. Each year becomes even more successful with an ever-increasing number of amazing photographs which illustrate the beauty, power and importance of weather, climate and water.  

an image of a cloud in the sky with mountains in the background.
WMO 2023 Calendar Competition
Emili Vilamala, Spain

This year, the competition will reflect the theme of World Meteorological Day 2024: At the frontline of climate action.  

We are looking for high-quality and meaningful photographs that capture people and communities working on climate action and illustrate why the work of the WMO community is so important in protecting people from the forces of nature. We also want photos that illustrate the need to protect our planet from the impact of human activities.  

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, we are keen to encourage a geographical balance that represents all regions of the Earth. We are delighted that each year, we get new photos from new photographers from an increasing number of countries. 

Winning entries will feature in the printed WMO 2024 Calendar. They will be showcased on the WMO website and social media platforms and prominently in our World Meteorological Day 2024 celebrations. We will also promote them among other U.N. agencies. There will be lots of recognition but no financial reward!  

WMO will make an initial selection of outstanding photographs, based on technical and artistic merit. We will then publish shortlisted photos here on Facebook and Instagram, allowing our followers to vote for their favourites. The competition will also be promoted via Twitter, LinkedIn, and other U.N. social media accounts.

Since its launch in 2014, the WMO Calendar Competition has gained stature and recognition. 

The United Nations regularly features your photos in its news stories and web pages. WMO’s website and social media channels also constantly promote our calendar entries. 

Some national meteorological and hydrological services also run their own photo contests and feed these entries to WMO. We are always looking to expand the competition and reach aspiring new photographers! 

WMO received more than 1 500 entries for the 2023 Calendar, and we thank everyone who participated. We look forward to the competition for the 2024 calendar. 

Judging criteria

Entries will be narrowed down to a shortlist by a WMO panel of experts in meteorology and hydrology as well as experienced professional photographers. Entries will be judged on: 

  • Technical quality, clarity, and composition
  • Visual impact
  • Novelty and flair for the unexpected
  • Illustration of the importance of climate action for people

WMO will make an initial selection of about 50 photographs, based on technical and artistic merit. We will then publish shortlisted photos on Facebook and Instagram, allowing our followers to vote for their favourites. The competition will also be promoted via Twitter and via other U.N. social media accounts.

The WMO jury will have the final say on the 13 photos for inclusion in the calendar (one for the cover and one for each month), based on the social media votes but also taking into account geographical balance.

All shortlisted photographs will be showcased on WMO web and social media channels. It is therefore important that you include your own social media handles so that we can credit you appropriately.

How to enter

Take a striking photo that is related to the weather, climate and water and that meets our submission guidelines. Photographers may submit multiple entries, but only one photo can be included in the final calendar. If you share your photos on your own social media profiles, use the #WMOphoto hashtag.

The submission period is now over.

Submission guidelines

  • All photos must be a minimum size of 4000 x 3000 pixels.
  • All photos must be submitted in JPEG or TIFF format (with little compression to preserve image quality.
  • All photos must be in landscape (horizontal) format.
  • Black and white photographs as well as coloured photographs will be accepted.
  • All photos must be clearly captioned, including a title, a location and the date of the photograph.

Deadline entry

The deadline for entry is 20 August 2023.

No cash prize will be offered to winners of the photo contest.

Good Luck!

Terms and Condition

Competition Entry

  1. The information given in these Terms & Conditions is correct, but WMO reserves the right to change any of it without prior notice. By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.
  2. The Contest is open to all individuals and groups, regardless of age or location.  Employees of the WMO Secretariat are prohibited from contest entry.
  3. Entrants must submit their photographs using our designated Entry Form, with all fields accurately completed in full.
  4. An individual entrant may submit multiple entries, however, only three photographs will be considered for the purpose of the competition.
  5. WMO cannot be held responsible for entries that do not arrive due to the entrant's network security settings or restrictions placed by their Internet service provider.
  6. All photographs must be entered using the official contest Entry Form.
  7. The Contest period closes 20 August 2023.
  8. Results will be announced in October 2023. The decision is final and binding.
  9. If your photograph features any person or people, they should be aware that they are being photographed and written permission should be obtained from all involved (or their parent's/guardian's permission if under 16) for their photograph to be submitted in the competition. If it is clear that the people are not aware of their picture being taken or are embarrassed in any way by any entry we receive, WMO reserves the right to disqualify the entry.
  10. Entrants under 18 years of age may participate with the permission of their parents or legal guardians. If the photo of an entrant under 18 years of age is chosen, and written parental or guardian permission cannot be provided, the WMO has the right to reject the entry.

Copyright and Reproduction

  1. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright for all images entered. You will retain copyright of your entries at all times and always be credited alongside your picture.
  2. By entering your images into the competition, you grant permission to WMO a non-exclusive license to display, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries and texts, in whole or in part, in any media now existing (such as publications, websites, and social media) or subsequently developed, for any educational, promotional, publicity, exhibition, archival, scholarly and all other standard purposes of WMO. Due credit will be given to the entrant each time his/her photo is used, wherever feasible. Photos and text will not be used for commercial purposes. 
  3. Photographs that have been awarded or given honourable mentions in any photo contest, either online or in print, and photos that have already been used in print or online publications (including but not limited to posters, online and print media, publicity materials, books, and articles) are not eligible. However, you may submit photos that you have already used in your personal or social spaces such as blogs, Facebook/Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Flickr. 

 

General

  1. Entrants of all photos selected as a winner will be notified via e‐mail. If no response is provided within seven days of notification, the winner shall forfeit any and all claims, and will be disqualified.
  2. Minimal cropping is permitted. Minor adjustments, including dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast and slight colour adjustments, are acceptable as long as the integrity of the original photo is maintained.
  3. The WMO will not be responsible or liable for: a) any problem, loss or damage due to delay and/or failure in receiving and sending the entry as a result of any network, communication or system interruption or error, b) any error, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, site failure or unauthorised access to entries, as a result of use of the designated website, c) any problem, damage or loss of whatever nature to any entrant, or their authorised representatives, resulting from their participation in the Contest.
  4. The WMO reserves the right to cancel, modify, suspend or delay the Contest in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond its reasonable control. The WMO reserves the right to change, amend, delete or add to these Contest terms and conditions without prior notice at any time, and the entrants shall be bound to such changes.
  5. All decisions are final.