Photos You Shared That Prove It’s Amazing Out There

We asked, you shared. Last year, we debuted The Weather Channel's It's Amazing Out There Photo Contest -- over 32,000 photos were submitted. Here's a look back at some of our favorite submissions that didn't quite make the finalist's roster or winner's circle. (Check out last year's winners here.) And, get your photos ready for this year's contest, launching mid-June.

Under the Stars

--Ruth Zaharek of Cedarville, Ohio

Have an incredible photo of your own? Submit yours to our It's Amazing Out There Photo Contest for a chance to win $15,000!

Friendly Damselfly

“Adorable damselfly staring curiously at the camera while hanging out on my finger.”

--Kyle Kostrvnek of Bennington, Nebraska

Dancing After a Chicago Rainstorm

“This picture was taken on Chicago's Northerly Island just west of Soldier Field, on the site of the former airport Miegs Field.”

--Steve Martella of Clarendon Hills, Illinois

Babcock State Park West Virginia

“This was taken at Babcock State Park West Virginia on October 14, 2013.”

--Matt Cowger of Stonewood, West Virginia

Go Fly A Kite!

“A beautiful day in sunny, summer eastern Oregon weather.”

--Jonathon Sitton of La Grande Oregon

There’s a Storm Brewing...

“Old red barn at the Heritage Agriculture Farm in Longmont, Colorado.”

--Peter Spagnuolo of Loveland, Colorado

Hookup

“Trying to capture a hookup while fishing off the coast of San Diego, and ended up snapping a picture of pelicans gliding through the sky.”

--Tara Grennan of Santee, California

Storm Lifting Over the San Luis Valley

“Winter storm in mid-May followed me from Denver for 200 miles. It finally began to lift late afternoon.”

--Richard Everstine of Greenwood Village, Colorado

Three Suns

“This photo was taken in Cherry Grove Pier. Such a beautiful morning.”

--Cody Holliday of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

Beech Trees in Autumn Snow

“These gorgeous beech trees are 20 feet from my back door. I had always wanted a photo with snow on them, but got very lucky to get the shot with snow and autumn leaves still clinging to the branches.”

--Joni Harless of Charleston, West Virginia

World Champion Waves

“Kelly Slater takes on a 20- to 25-foot monster wave for a near-perfect score of 98 out of 100 in the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, Big Waves Hawaii. Waves are required to be in the 20- to 30-foot range. Slater was covered by the wave but cruised out from the white water with holding his hand in ‘number one’ sign. Slater has been crowned ASP World Tour Champion a record 11 times, including five consecutive titles in 1994-1998. He is the youngest (at age 20) and the oldest (at age 39) to win the title.”

--Luci Pemoni of Carbondale, Illinois

A Starry Night in Rhyolite

“A one-minute exposure of a starry night in the old ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada.”

--Ashley Richard of Henderson, Nevada

Above the Clouds in Neiderhorn

“Skiing in Switzerland is always nice, but this time we were up In Neiderhorn just after a snow storm. It was still snowing down in the valley, but above the clouds the weather was bright and sunny -- just perfect for skiing.”

--Siddhartha Pathak of Los Alamos, New Mexico

Winter Takes the Creek

“Tonawanda Creek is even beautiful in the winter.”

--Kimberly Abrams of Corfu, New York

Birmingham's Vulcan

“Vulcan, Birmingham Alabama's colossal statue is the world's largest cast iron statue and considered one of the most memorable works of civic art in the United States. This aerial photograph gives you an epic view of the historic monument from above.”

--Frank Thompson of Birmingham Alabama

Cyclone Perislav

“Cyclone Perislav on January 12, 2012.”

--Antonio Mise of Trogir, Croatia

Autumn Finale

“This photo was captured in Munroe Falls, Ohio, on November 12, 2013. I have never before seen such a combination of elements and conditions. There was still plenty of fall color when this blanket of fresh snow arrived. I went directly to this beautiful lake at Munroe Falls Metro.”

--Robert Blair of Munroe Falls, Ohio

Summer Slumber

“I spent two summers to get this shot. This place is actually 200 miles from my house. The first summer (2011), I went to this place at least three times a week learning the place and the lighting, but no luck for me. I didn’t give up before I got my shot. Summer 2012 I promised myself to get the shot. I wanted it. Every single day I check The Weather Channel, and on July we had a lot of storms here in South Dakota. And finally I saw the amazingly beautiful clouds and great color contrast of sunflower fields. I think finally my waiting paid off.”

--Susanto Kadek of Rapid City, South Dakota

Autumn Sky Over Taos Pueblo

“West pueblo photographed on a cool October morning with unique cloud patterns.”

--Manny Pedraza, Jr. of Las Cruces, New Mexico

Lily Pads

“This photo was taken with a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 at the Fred C. Babcock-Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County, Florida. Photo was taken on May 17, 2014. I took this photo while fishing from a small bass boat. This whole preserve is extremely beautiful and photogenic.”

--Kevin Crawford of Fort Myers, Florida

Guntersville

“This sunset photo was taken almost three years after a tornado on April 27th destroyed the Guntersville State Park campgrounds.”

--Chris Conwell of Odenville, Alabama

Dramatic Beauty

“Taken May 17, 2013 in Gillette, WY. This storm was the third one of the day and was accompanied by a lot of lightning. This storm grew in intensity and dropped golf ball sized hail near Recluse, WY. I was elated to be able to witness such awe inspiring beauty.”

--Angie Robinson of Gillette, Wyoming

Bolivia Salt Desert

“Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.”

--David Ihn of Brooklyn, New York

Blue Sunrise

“Didn't think the sunrise would be much without some clouds. Then, the color came.”

--Noel Hurlburt of Edgewater, Florida

Frozen Light

“Several days of strong winds and waves coat the St Joseph Lighthouse in a beautiful coating of ice.”

--John McCormick of Edmore, Michigan

Palouse Falls

--Mike Shaw of Eugene, Oregon

Tropical Sunset

“A January sunset over Bahia Honda State Park.”

--Stephanie Albro of Fort Mill, South Carolina

Summer Storm

“Overlooking the Anza Borrego Desert Valley an isolated downpour brings water to the desert below.”

--Pat Turpen of San Diego, California

Adventure on Takhlakh Lake

“A peaceful day on Takhlakh Lake in the middle of the Casecade Mountains. Mt. Adams looms in the background.”

--Tim Dearden of Trout Lake, Washington

Flood Waters at Great Falls Park

“Floods occur after a major event upstream in the Potomac's watershed -- and this day had them all, heavy rains and a rapid snowmelt. Such an amazing sight!”

--Jeffrey Hammer of Westerville, Ohio

Hello Mr. Caterpillar

“A caterpillar wandering around on a bush before the flowers are in bloom.”

--Michaela Phillips of Spring Lake, North Carolina

After the Storm

“The day of this picture I went to this location thinking about getting some lightning photos. At the end mother nature play a little bit different and there was not lightning but this amazing sunset after the storm was gone.”

--Jesus Penaloza of Orlando, Florida

Birds of a Feather

“Captured this moment while on vacation in Clearwater, Florida. These boys were chasing away the birds that were trying to steal their lunch!”

--Abigail Eckel of Media, Pennsylvania

Summer Lightning

“A beautiful shot I snapped of striking lightning in the midst of summer during what seemed like a Russian roulette game of intense weather.”

--Greg Dybas of Algonquin, Illinois

Jellies

“Free-swimming marine animals consisting of a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles.”

--Rajdeep Sinha Roy of Overland Park, Kansas

Birds Party

“Walking in the beach and found this. Birds having good times!”

--Luis Wicho Rodriguez of Daytona Beach, Florida

Kings Pagoda

“This picture was taken of the King's Pagoda atop Doi Inthanon, which is Thailand's tallest mountain and beginning of the Himalayan mountain range. In the background you can see the daily thunderstorms begin to grow in the valleys below.”

--Christopher Burgos of Howell, New Jersey

Green Falls

“Amicalola Falls is a surreal place. It's a short hike to get to this observation deck, but you follow the trail farther to look down from the top of the falls as well.”

--Amro Mousa of Cumming, Georgia

Pelicano Planing

“I was shooting my son surfing, and Mr. Peli passed by!”

--Luis Wicho Rodriguez of Daytona Beach, Florida

Fishing in the Beauty of Colorado

“Outdoor fishing and relaxing to the extreme in beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains! The awe of your surroundings and the spectacular beauty the fall has to offer in Colorado.”

--Loretta Wagner of Dallas, Texas

Dawn on Jensen Beach

“Dawn on the beach.”

--Steve Shive of Jensen Beach, Florida

First Butterfly to Enter Our Garden

“When I lived with my ex in Citrus County, FL, we fixed up our front garden and planted tons of flowers awaiting butterflies. This was the first visitor that I saw.”

--Mike McGowan of Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Birds of the Canyon

“This photo was taken from the top of the Grand Canyon West while stopping to eat a snack. These hungry birds were begging for a treat.”

--Dawn Karzenoski of Peckville, Pennsylvania

Overcast West Phoenix Valley Desert

“Desert landscape looking northeast across the vast Phoenix Valley. Rare overcast afternoon in the West Phoenix White Tank Mountains. In the distance you can see the east Phoenix Mountains. This area is known for the petroglyphs let by the ancient local peoples.”

--Rick Nettles of Peoria, Arizona

Reflections of Another Time

“After a day spent hiking in Iceland's majestic Landmannalaugar region, we stumbled across this serene lake and made camp at it's base, providing the perfect backdrop to reflect on the incredible adventures we'd experienced so far. This photo was taken using a 4-minute exposure around 1:00am, as the days light began to fade for just a few hours.”

--Peter Molick of Houston, Texas

Aerosurf

“Surfing in the Dominican Republic.”

--Misael Rincan of Santo Domingo Oeste

Dawn at Big Bear Lake

“It was around 5:30 a.m. on a brisk winter morning (about 10 degrees!) when I caught this breathtaking sight. Big Bear Lake is a mountain town located at about 7,000 feet, an hour away from Los Angeles.”

--Angel LaCanfora of Henderson, Nevada

GGP Women’s Pro

“2013 GGP Women's Pro Criterium 1.”

--Josh Dreyfus of Chicago, Illinois

Ice Beast

“This was taken in South Haven (Lake Michigan) right after a December winter rain. Finishing this shoot before the last of the sunlight fades away. I shot this with a low ISO and low shutter speed.”

--Charles Anderson of Broomall, Pennsylvania

Water Face

“Water fall drawing a face in its path at San Sebastian PR.”

--Luis Wicho Rodriguez of Daytona Beach, Florida