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Tornado Alley, USA

A tiny selection of my stormchasing adventures from the past few years. More from Tornado Alley
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  • Mark with Harper Tornado

    Mark with Harper Tornado

    Thanks to Liana Binkley-Sain for taking this pic of me with the Harper Tornado. This amazing event was captured n Kansas 2004. I positioned and watched the tornado develop in front of my eyes and then give chase till it died. It was a truly some experience, probably never to be repeated again. I captured the entire tornado from its birth through the funnel stage to its mature tornado stage and finally its roped out deterioration. For the record first funnel sighted 1920 hrs. Tornado touchdown 1925hrs. Tornado dissipation (rope stage) 1945 hrs. Tornado on ground for exactly 20 minutes. Bear in mind the average tornado only last seconds or a few minutes then you appreciate the intensity and unique nature of this event. I was truly humbled. All captured with Olympus E1 and various lenses.

  • Tornado Montage

    Tornado Montage

    Updated 02 June 2013 - dedicate to fellow veteran stormchasers Tim Samaras, his son Paul and fellow chaser Carl Young who tragically were killed chasing the El Reno, Oklahoma tornado on Fri 31 May 2013. They lost their lives pursuing their dreams and goals, inspiring many. Advanced warning of Tornadoes has reduced significantly over the years and its the work of guys like these that contributed to saving the lives of many others. Tim was driving the lead vehicle on this Harper tornado storm chase, in front of us. A fitting tribute to Tim, Paul & Carl. ----------------------------------------- This truly unbelievable photo montage is unique. It shows a minute by minute capture of a long lived tornado from cradle to grave. Never before has such a beautiful duration event been photo catalogued in such detail. This amazing event was captured n Kansas 2004. I positioned and watched the tornado develop in front of my eyes and then give chase till it died. It was a truly some experience, probably never to be repeated again. This photo montage documents the entire tornado from its birth through the funnel stage to its mature tornado stage and finally its roped out deterioration. For the record first funnel sighted 1920 hrs. Tornado touchdown 1925hrs. Tornado dissipation (rope stage) 1945 hrs. Tornado on ground for exactly 20 minutes. Bear in mind the average tornado only last seconds or a few minutes then you appreciate the intensity and unique nature of this event. I was truly humbled. All captured with Olympus E1 and various lenses.

  • Harper tornado

    Harper tornado

    Stunning tornado strikes a farm building Harper, Kansas, USA. Damage to farm buildings evident. Olympus E1, 50-200mm, 1/200s, F5.0

  • Stunning tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. 
Olympus E1, 50-200mm

    Stunning tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. Olympus E1, 50-200mm

  • Close up of Kansas tornado showing dust bowl surrounding main vortex, USA.
Olympus E1, 50-200mm. 1/250s, F5.0

    Close up of Kansas tornado showing dust bowl surrounding main vortex, USA. Olympus E1, 50-200mm. 1/250s, F5.0

  • Stunning tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. 
Olympus E1, 50-200mm

    Stunning tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. Olympus E1, 50-200mm

  • Stunning elephant trunk tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. 
Olympus E1, 50-200mm

    Stunning elephant trunk tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. Olympus E1, 50-200mm

  • Close up of Kansas tornado showing dust bowl on ground.
Olympus E1, 50-200mm.

    Close up of Kansas tornado showing dust bowl on ground. Olympus E1, 50-200mm.

  • Stunning elephant trunk tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. Chasers giving pursuit.
Olympus E1, 50-200mm

    Stunning elephant trunk tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. Chasers giving pursuit. Olympus E1, 50-200mm

  • Stunning cone tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. 
Olympus E1, 50-200mm

    Stunning cone tornado on ground at Harper, Kansas, USA. Olympus E1, 50-200mm

  • The best lightning photo I have ever taken. This storm was like something from outer space. Oklahoma, USA. Single image from right was mirrored in PS to effect the mushroom shape of the supercell I witnessed.
Olympus E10, 9mm, 8s, F2.0

    The best lightning photo I have ever taken. This storm was like something from outer space. Oklahoma, USA. Single image from right was mirrored in PS to effect the mushroom shape of the supercell I witnessed. Olympus E10, 9mm, 8s, F2.0

  • The best lightning photo I have ever taken. This storm was like something from outer space. Oklahoma, USA. 
Olympus E10, 9mm, 8s, F2.0

    The best lightning photo I have ever taken. This storm was like something from outer space. Oklahoma, USA. Olympus E10, 9mm, 8s, F2.0

  • Great CG bolt from an early storm chase in Oklahoma 2002. Olympus E10

    Great CG bolt from an early storm chase in Oklahoma 2002. Olympus E10

  • Another CG bolt from an early storm chase in Oklahoma 2002. Olympus E10

    Another CG bolt from an early storm chase in Oklahoma 2002. Olympus E10

  • Thunderstorm

    Thunderstorm

    Stunning cloud to ground bolt in Texas, USA

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Classic supercell showing evident rotation, Texas, USA
Olympus E1, 14-54mm, 1/200s, F5.6

    Classic supercell showing evident rotation, Texas, USA Olympus E1, 14-54mm, 1/200s, F5.6

  • Untitled photo
  • Huge storm showing mesocyclone and inflow winds, Texas, USA
Olympus E1, 14-54mm, 1/200s, F5.6

    Huge storm showing mesocyclone and inflow winds, Texas, USA Olympus E1, 14-54mm, 1/200s, F5.6

  • One of the best mammatus shows I have ever seen from storm chase trip 2007. Olympus E3, 14-54mm

    One of the best mammatus shows I have ever seen from storm chase trip 2007. Olympus E3, 14-54mm

  • Untitled photo
  • Plains House Storm

    Plains House Storm

    The storm produced some famtastic structure including a great wall cloud. Many funnels teased us with touchdown but none visibly made it. I found a great spot for a few photos with a very photogenic 'Little house on the Prairie' in the foreground. I watched the wall cloud roll straight over it and funnels galore dropped right over the house. Nebraska USA. Olympus E1, 14-54mm

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    Stunning mammatus sunset after tornado had just passed through Bolivar, Missouri, USA
    Convective storm clouds exploding into action. Colorado, USA