When shooting clouds, you’ll get especially good results with a wide-angle lens. They’re easy to shoot from a distance, and they look stunning in photos. Here are a few subjects you might encounter in extreme weather:Ĭlouds are the most obvious subject for storms. Still, you can plan and prepare for certain conditions and subjects, depending on the weather. Doswell: “ Storm Chasing with Safety, Courtesy, and Responsibility.” Even if they seem benign, they can turn vicious in a matter of minutes.įor more safety tips, check out this excellent article by Charles A. Storms are simply too violent to handle on your own. Going on a tour will also allow you to focus on taking pictures while your guide focuses on safety. A knowledgeable guide will prevent you from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The best way to be safe (besides staying home) is to go on a storm photography tour, led by an expert with years of experience. Go with an experienced storm chaser or trained meteorologist. A storm can look just as epic from behind as from the front. If you find a fantastic vantage point, but it’s too close to the storm, simply wait until the storm has passed. These places typically offer the best vantage points, but it’d be risky/stupid to use them as shooting locations when the storm is getting close. This is especially important if you’re shooting on a hill or in a wide open space, like a field. Staying far away will also reduce your chance of getting hit by lightning. You’ll be able to see its massive size and watch it move across the landscape. Besides avoiding the worst of the wind/hail/etc., you’ll be more likely to capture the epic proportions of the storm. Shooting from a distance is smart for safety as well as photography. A building of some kind, or a storm cellar for tornadoes, is a better bet. If the hail is big enough, or if lightning hits the tree, you’d be in trouble. If you don’t have a car along, stay close to a shelter at all times. An empty, four-way intersection is ideal. This escape could be as simple as keeping your car close by–as long as the road isn’t crowded with other cars and storm chasers. For this reason, it’s crucial to have an escape plan ready whenever you stop for photos. They can move faster than you expect, and they can strike suddenly in places that seemed calm. Alternatively, if you’re low on cash, you can use a plastic bag and rubber band to make a rain cover yourself. A rain cover, like this one from Altura Photo, is essential. Your camera will need protective gear, too. Depending on the situation, you might also want to bring along a helmet to protect your head from hail or flying rocks. Waterproof clothes and boots are absolutely necessary when you’re shooting a storm. At the very least, it can distract you from giving the storm your full attention. Getting wet and cold can slow your reactions and dull your thinking. This discomfort isn’t just unpleasant–it can also be dangerous. You think, “Oh, these regular shoes should be fine…” And then later, you’re out in the pouring rain (or snow) with wet feet, feeling uncomfortable. This one should be common sense, but it’s nevertheless easy to forget. Depending on the conditions, an hour might already be enough. If you have trouble knowing when to stop, give yourself a time limit. Make sure you don’t push yourself to exhaustion. Heavy rain/hail, strong wind, and constant concentration can really sap your energy. You can head out with adrenaline and enthusiasm, only to crash into bed a few hours later when you come home. A storm can be exhausting even when you’re feeling energetic. Similarly, if you get tired while you’re out, go home. Fatigue will put you at risk, as well as lower the quality of your photos. In other words, if you’ve had a bad night of sleep or aren’t feeling well, you should probably stay home. To safely face a storm, you need to have a lot of energy. Here are a few precautions you can take while shooting a storm. If you want to get awesome photos of a storm, you first need to respect its lethal power and prepare yourself accordingly. In terms of danger, it’s up there with photographing lions and other fast predators. Photographing a storm can be thrilling, but also dangerous. Ben Roffelsen Photography – A Sound of Thunder
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