Thank you to everyone one who has voted for the Member’s Choice of the 2026 AMS Photo Contest! The voting deadline was 5:00PM ET on 5 October.
The submission deadline for the 2026 AMS Photo Contest was 30 June 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Winners will be announced in Fall 2026 and featured prominently across AMS platforms, including AMS Headlines. See the Rules and Guidelines section below for additional details.
Theme and Prizes
Photo Subject and Theme
Submitted photos should capture weather, water, and climate, ranging from subtle atmospheric scenes to extreme conditions. Examples include:
- Clouds
- Waves
- Storms
- Atmospheric conditions
- Oceanic phenomena
- Hydrologic features
Prizes
- 1st Place: USD $500
- 2nd Place: USD $300
- 3rd Place: USD $200
- Member’s Choice: USD $500
All winners will receive a complimentary AMS Associate Membership.
Additional Winner Opportunities
Winners may participate in a webinar with fellow winners to share weather photography
stories, tips, and techniques.
Contest runners-up may be invited to write an article about the story behind their
submitted photograph. These articles may be featured on the AMS platforms and
will provide readers with insight into the background and inspiration behind each image,
including the location, conditions, and subject selected.
AMS Member Opportunities
If you note that you are an AMS member when submitting your photo, it may be featured at
the AMS 2027 Annual Meeting!
Contest Requirements
- Digital photography only; printed photos will not be accepted.
- Watermarked photographs are not permitted.
- Images must be at least 2000 pixels wide at 300 dpi.
- Photos must accurately reflect the subject and scene as they appeared.
- Submissions must be authentic, original photographs, not AI-generated images. Standard editing is acceptable, including minor corrections such as dust removal, noise reduction, sharpening, cropping, and color adjustment. However, excessive manipulation that alters the reality of the scene, such as adding or replacing major elements, is not permitted. AMS may request RAW files to verify authenticity.
- Files must be submitted in JPG format.
- File size may not exceed 5 MB.
- Photos may not contain added text.
- AMS reserves the right to color correct or crop submissions if necessary.
Contest Guidelines
Liability and Legal Terms
By submitting photos to the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Photo Contest,
participants agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless AMS and its subsidiaries,
affiliates, directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and representatives from any
third-party liability related to the contest. This includes claims of copyright infringement,
violations of privacy or publicity rights, and any injuries, losses, claims, actions, or damages
arising from participation in the contest. The contest is void where prohibited by law.
Submission Period
Photos will be accepted starting Wednesday, 15 April, 2026, and must be received by Tuesday, 30 June, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
Winner Announcement
Winners will be announced in early Fall 2026 and contacted via email.
Award Structure
Four winning photos will be selected:
- First Place — chosen by judges
- Second Place–chosen by judges
- Third Place–chosen by judges
- Members’ Choice–selected by active members of the AMS
Each entrant may receive only one prize.
Eligibility
The contest is open to:
- The general public
- AMS members
- AMS volunteers
- AMS employees
Both amateur and professional photographers are welcome.
Participants must be 13 years of age or older.
Submission Limits
- Maximum of one (1) photo per person
- Each submission must be under 5 MB.
Copyright and Usage Rights
Entrants retain the copyright to their submitted photos. However, by submitting a photo,
entrants grant AMS a nonexclusive right to publish or use the image, including
modifications, in current or future print or digital formats for any purpose. Use may occur
without compensation, notification, or additional permission, although attribution will be
provided whenever possible. Entrants represent that they own all copyrights to their
submitted materials.
Submitting your photos does not give AMS the right to license your work to third parties. You retain the copyright to your imagery. By entering, you are granting AMS permission to use the photos for our own purposes (while giving you photo credit)—such as featuring them in our publications, on our website, or in social media promotion—but we will not sell or license your photos to anyone else.
Judging
A judging committee selected by AMS will determine the winners of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. The Member’s Choice Prize will be selected by active members of the AMS. Entries will be evaluated based on visual appeal, content, and photographic skill. Each entrant may receive only one prize. All judging decisions are final.
