The AMS 2026 Photo Contest is on, and we’ve received many fantastic entries from people with an eye for weather, water, and climate photography. If you’re curious about photographing weather or are looking for tips from the pros, there’s no one better to talk to than the winners of our previous AMS Photo Contest in 2024! We spoke with three of them to get the stories of their award-winning photos and their advice for others:
- Jim Grant, 2024 Grand Prize Winner
- Caleb O’Gara, 2024 Third Prize Winner
- James (Jaime) Basilico, 2024 Members’ Choice Winner
See all 2024 photo contest winners and finalists here.
What is your history with weather and/or nature photography?
Jim Grant : I smuggled the family 35 mm Argus C3 out of the house at 8 years old to take photos of clouds. And I took many photos on family vacations of national parks. Later on I became fascinated with weather shelf clouds, roll clouds, rainbows, and the mystery surrounding the green flash. Currently, any weather phenomenon captures my attention.
Jaime Basilico: My interest in weather goes back to childhood. I have been fascinated by storms for as long as I can remember, especially after experiencing a major blizzard as a child in the late 1970s. That early curiosity eventually led me to study meteorology at Rutgers University before ultimately moving into computer science and technology as a career.
Even though my professional path changed, my passion for weather never went away. In recent years, I began storm chasing in the Great Plains, which reignited my love for severe weather, forecasting, and documenting the atmosphere in motion. Photography became a natural extension of that passion. I am especially drawn to scenes where the power, structure, and beauty of the atmosphere all come together in one moment.
Caleb O’Gara: I had the misfortune of growing up near Seattle, Washington, where the weather is not exactly known for being the most exciting… But the summer before my freshman year of high school I was on a road trip in South Dakota, where I experienced a real plains thunderstorm for the first time. I was absolutely captivated by how the atmosphere could be so powerful, beautiful, and terrifying all at once. Once I got more into storm chasing, I knew I wanted to pursue photography so I could capture the incredible moments I am drawn to and share that beauty and passion with others. I’ve been at it for over five years now, and have produced three short storm timelapse films, and now one award-winning photo!
What’s the story of how you obtained your winning photo? What does the photo mean to you?
Caleb O’Gara: This photo was taken of the Lincoln/Waverly, Nebraska EF3 in the early stages of the April 26, 2024, tornado outbreak, using my Nikon D750 on a 28-300 mm Nikon NIKKOR lens. I was chasing with some of my fellow meteorology students from Iowa State, and we got on storms early as they fired off of the dryline west of Lincoln. When the tornado dropped, we were repositioning and were driving away from the storm.
My friend (who was on his first-ever chase) said, “Uh, guys, what’s that?” and I looked in the side-view mirror to see this dark gray finger curl down from above… We immediately pulled over and piled out to watch.
I had seen a number of tornadoes by that point, but none as strong as this one, so I remember feeling equal parts fascination, excitement, and horror as it lofted debris after hitting a metal warehouse. Fortunately, while there were three injuries from this tornado, no fatalities were reported, thanks to the excellent work of the Omaha NWS office.
I find this image particularly striking because it captures the raw impact of storms on people. The water tower with the town name helps the viewer realize the scale of the tornado. The debris in the air also shows that this tornado isn’t just an ethereal phenomenon but something that has a real impact on people’s lives. Another small detail I really like is the American flag you can make out amongst the houses in the center of the image; it all adds up to a very striking image that I’m lucky to have captured in the moment!
Jim Grant: I photograph the sunset almost every night. I noticed this day a slight inversion layer; we had high pressure and warm temperatures that created a layering effect on the horizon, which I saw during the day. I knew from watching the sunset for 30 years continuously that we had a good chance for a green flash.
I often photograph close to a channel mouth where boats come in and out of Mission Bay in San Diego. I was hoping I could place a boat in the sun as it set. This sailboat was going south. To align it perfectly, I had to move with it along the water’s edge as the sun set. I was able to get seven images with the boat in the setting sun. The fantastic green flash was a bonus for sure. Being able to capture a green flash of this variety, sitting on top of a setting sun like a saucer, is extremely rare, and having a beautiful sailboat in the sun is a dream come true for a photographer. So to capture a silhouette of a sailboat and a very rare, hard-to-photograph weather anomaly is just unbelievable. When I saw the judges of this contest were real experts in the field of meteorology, I decided to enter the image.
I shoot with a mid-grade Nikon, and for this image a 300 mm prime lens 1/2000 sec.
Jaime Basilico: This photo was taken while I was storm chasing near Loop, Texas, on June 10, 2024. I was with my son and other relatives, along with other members of a tour group. We had been in a few severe storms earlier in the day, but as we were driving to another storm, the driver noticed a small funnel in the field. We jumped out and got to witness not only the tornado, but the rainbow as well. Things happened so quickly for this storm, and luckily I had both my iPhone 15 Pro Max and my Nikon D3100 on me.
What stands out most to me is the combination of two very different atmospheric phenomena in the same frame: a tornado and a rainbow. One represents the raw power and danger of severe weather; the other represents light, color, and beauty. Seeing both together in one image felt extraordinary.
I also liked that the photo tells a complete story without needing much explanation. You can see the open plains, the storm, the tornado, the rain curtain, and the rainbow all at once. It captures why so many of us are fascinated by weather: the atmosphere can be dangerous, beautiful, complex, and humbling all in the same moment.
I submitted it because it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime image.
What do you enjoy most about photographing nature?
Jaime Basilico: What I enjoy most is trying to capture moments that are temporary and impossible to re-create. Weather photography is especially rewarding because the atmosphere is always changing. A cloud formation, a lightning strike, a rainbow, a tornado, or a dramatic sunset may only exist for seconds or minutes.
Nature photography also forces you to pay attention. You start noticing light, wind, clouds, shadows, storm motion, and subtle changes in the sky. For me, that combination of observation, science, patience, and timing is what makes weather photography so enjoyable.
Storm chasing has given me many unforgettable experiences, but this photo is probably the best example of why you always have to be ready. You can forecast the environment, position yourself carefully, and anticipate where a storm may go, but you can never fully predict when all the visual elements will come together.
In this case, the tornado itself would have been memorable. The rainbow itself would have been beautiful. But having both appear together, framed beneath the storm, was completely unexpected. It was a reminder that some of the best weather photographs happen when preparation meets a moment you could never script.
Caleb O’Gara: Beyond my passion for weather, I am inspired to bring glory to our Creator by capturing the wonderful and unique ways He makes His hand known through the weather. A lot of people have no idea the wonderful ways our atmosphere can present itself, so when I show people photos and see them get a slice of the awe I feel, it’s always rewarding. Every time I go out to take photos I see something completely unique and awe-inspiring; every storm, sunset, and landscape has something new.
One of my favorite recurring experiences from storm chasing is the community. In most situations, I’m basically the only person who knows anything or cares at all about the weather. But when I’m out chasing, I always love seeing all the other crazy people that have the same passion as me! April 26th is a great example of that: my group stopped at Texas Roadhouse after we got back into Ames to get a victory steak and ran into about 20 other Iowa State students (and two of our professors) who all saw tornadoes that day!
Jim Grant: I am totally enthralled by all aspects of nature. I especially think that the way light intersects with water to form many types of unique, colorful art in the sky is amazing. Or seeing how nature or creation is constantly giving us such unique and beautifully crafted artwork and it is completely free of charge. We just have to pay attention.
If we continue to put ourselves in a place where something fun or interesting can happen, sooner or later the completely unexpected will happen. Be ready to capture it.
John Coleman, one of the founders of The Weather Channel, once told me — commenting on a photo of mine — “Jim, extreme weather brings with it the possibility to capture an extreme photograph. Always be ready.” I never forgot that.
Do you have any tips for nature photographers? What is important to bring with you while photographing nature?
Jim Grant: Get off the couch, find a subject you enjoy, and never lose your joy. The best photographer is the one having the most fun.
Sometimes you plan an event or a shoot and it just does not pan out. The most important thing to bring is patience, happiness, and a love of nature with the possibility of capturing a once-in-a-lifetime image.
Jaime Basilico: My biggest tip is to spend time learning your subject. For weather photography, understanding the atmosphere helps you anticipate where the best light, structure, and storm features may appear. The more you understand what you are seeing, the better prepared you are to capture it.
I would also say: be patient, be observant, and be ready. Great nature photographs often happen quickly. Have your camera or phone ready, know your basic settings, and pay attention to what the light is doing.
Most importantly, enjoy the experience. The best images often come from people who are genuinely curious and excited about what they are seeing.
For weather photography, safety is always the most important thing. No photo is worth putting yourself or others in danger. That means understanding the weather setup, having multiple escape routes, keeping situational awareness, and not getting so focused on the image that you lose track of the storm.
From a practical standpoint, I like to bring backup batteries, charging cables, lens cloths, rain protection, radar access, and a way to monitor official weather information. For storm chasing, reliable navigation and communication are just as important as the camera.
Beyond gear, the most important things to bring are patience, respect for nature, and a willingness to wait for the moment. Sometimes the shot does not happen. But when it does, it can be unforgettable.
Caleb O’Gara: Make sure you know how to adjust your camera settings before you go out! You do not want to be figuring out how to change the aperture while a storm plants a tornado in front of you (which has definitely never happened to me…).
I echo Jaime’s comments about safety 110%. Outside of that, I would say be ready to learn, and especially to fail. As if seeing a tornado isn’t hard enough to begin with, getting a good shot of it is a whole other layer of complexity!
If you’re chasing with other people, give them all defined roles (radar, driving, navigation, etc.) so everyone knows what they’re doing and doesn’t get overwhelmed in the moment. Communication is key!
But above all, recognize that you are going to make mistakes and will inevitably ruin many of the photos of the incredibly cool things you saw as you learn. A big challenge for me has been learning to enjoy the day even if I messed up… take comfort from the fact that when you go out to photograph nature, you get to see some of the most beautiful and unique features our Earth has to offer that few other people have seen.
Want to enter a photo in the AMS 2026 Photo Contest, with a chance to win cash prizes and more? Learn about the contest and submit your photo here.
