Bad weather, great photos: Yahoo News, Flickr want your winter scene shots

Have you taken photos of stunning winter scenery? Enter them in our contest

(Photo © Cat Conner/Flickr)

Winter can trigger some sour images: snowy traffic jams, blizzards, slick sidewalks and bone-shivering wind chills — not to mention short days and shorter tempers. But optimists see winter’s benefits: majestic snow-capped mountain peaks, the crisp snowfall on city streets and the beauty of individual snowflakes.

And we’d love to see how you’ve captured that scenery.

In our latest photography contest, Yahoo News and Flickr want to see your photos of winter scenes. Possibilities include shots of wintery landscapes and streetscapes, snow sports, ice sculptures, newsworthy storm photography — anything you think best showcases the season’s splendor. Whether your photos were taken last year or last week, show us your best work.

Enter the contest here.

This is great! Are there prizes?

Yes, one first-place winner will receive a $500 Amazon gift card. Four runners-up will each receive a $100 Amazon gift card. All five get a Flickr T-shirt with an approximate retail value of $20. The winners and other photos submitted through the contest will be featured in Yahoo News slideshows and Flickr galleries, so you can brag to your friends.

But there are rules, right?

Yes, some basic rules are below. Please see the contest rules for full details.

Photos must be taken by the entrant. You may submit up to three in this contest, which is open for entries from Jan. 9 at 12 a.m. ET to Jan. 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia at least 18 years old.

Photos will be judged by Yahoo photo editors on the basis of composition, lighting, image quality, creativity and the degree to which the subject matter of the photo captures our contest’s theme. Each criterion will be equally weighted. We'll announce winners no more than three weeks after the contest ends.

Got it. Sounds like a lawyer wrote them! So how do I enter?

Join the Yahoo News Flickr Winter Scenes 2014 Photo Contest group. You must have a Flickr account, which is free, to submit photos.

[Related: Want to submit your breaking news photography for publication on Yahoo News? Join our official Flickr group]