Striking Pictures of Storms around the World

Storm photographer Mike Oblinski has created a unique competition: the Storm Photos of the Year, a competition dedicated to those who love to photograph nature in all its forms! French photographer Alexis Maillard won the award for the best photo of the year for his evocative image of lightning striking a French vineyard. Everett Occhipinti, who chases thunderstorms with his twin brother, won first prize for the best tornado photo of the year. “The motivation for doing this contest is to reward those who work so hard every year,” shares Oblinski. “I see images all day long that cross my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter timelines. Many of them are stunning, then they disappear into the news feed and that’s it. My hope is that I recognize your efforts, your hard work, your epic photos and reward you for it.”

Tornado Photo of the Year, 1st Place (Photo: Everett Occhipinti)

Storm Photo of the Year, 1st Place (Photo: Alexis Mallard)