Steve Wins Weather Photographer

A British photographer (sic) has scooped a global prize with his shot of lightning over Blackpool. Stephen Cheatley's picture depicts the Lancashire seaside resort - known for its annual illuminations - lit up by a more celestial source during a storm. The amateur lensman beat 4,000 fellow snappers to be crowned Weather Photographer of The Year with his Electric Blackpool image. Judges said it had been "an extremely competitive year".

Electric Blackpool.

Mr Cheatley said he set out after an "intense" summer storm a few days earlier had made him "determined to try to capture some strikes this time". His persistence was rewarded when, just after midnight, Blackpool's famous promenade was lashed by rain and multiple bolts of lighting. He said he chose the seafront location to capture some "famous buildings in the shot like the piers and Blackpool Tower". Mr Cheatley was named overall winner, while prizes were also given in the over-17s and under-16s categories.

BBC, November 2018

The 2018 News has been Archived Here

23rd November 2018