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Archive 2016 · Amarillo Tornado

Storm300
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Amarillo Tornado

After a long hiatus from FM forums, I'm posting images again (mainly birds over on the N&W board). I've realized that I don't share near enough of my stormscapes here on FM. I think the stormscapes fit more on this board than over on N&W, so here we go. This image is of a dramatic tornado earlier this year in June. It was from a supercell thunderstorm that formed north of Amarillo, TX right around sunset. This tornado was rated EF-2 -- due to damage this tornado caused at the very ranch structures you see in the foreground only a few minutes after this frame was shot. The shooting conditions were extremely difficult, as you can imagine. The inflow wind into the tornado was about 40 mph and cloud-to-ground lightning was absolutely insane. It was not a smart idea to be outside the vehicle at that time, but the scene was just too good to pass up -- risk vs. reward! This was the highlight of my 2016 storm chasing season.

Mike U

Dec 22, 2016 at 02:47 PM

Brad Williams
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Amarillo Tornado

Nice looking tornado photo. Its always nice when you get good light on them. Seems like most end up under the cloud in the dark or are horribly back lit. Nice work.

Dec 22, 2016 at 04:38 PM

Don George
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Amarillo Tornado

Astounding image. What must the people be thinking seeing that coming toward their farm?

Dec 22, 2016 at 05:03 PM

Storm300
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Amarillo Tornado

Brad Williams wrote:
Nice looking tornado photo. Its always nice when you get good light on them. Seems like most end up under the cloud in the dark or are horribly back lit. Nice work.

Thanks Brad! This was the second time in 18 years of storm chasing I had the ghostly white tornado against a dark background like this. It's a very unique scene, indeed. I agree; many backlit tornado do not make good photography subjects. It's one reason as a storm photographer, I'm not always after the tornado. Thanks for the comment! -Mike

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Don George wrote:
Astounding image. What must the people be thinking seeing that coming toward their farm?

Thank you Don! I was wondering the same thing as I was photographing this. It was just dumb luck that the spot I found to photograph from had interesting foreground subjects -- which incidentally took a direct hit! -Mike

Dec 22, 2016 at 05:55 PM

Chuck D
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Amarillo Tornado

Mike, you really nailed a difficult to photograph subject. The light is great and the foreground elements really set the scene and the scale of what you photographed. It's not too often that the subjects we photograph can turn on us and kill us! Nice job!

Dec 22, 2016 at 07:51 PM

kwilliam8
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Amarillo Tornado

Wow, this is spectacular! Be safe!
Keith W.

Dec 22, 2016 at 08:04 PM

aFeinberg
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Amarillo Tornado

Yea....perfect....way to get it!

aF

Dec 22, 2016 at 08:44 PM

OregonSun
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Amarillo Tornado

Amazing image, the immense power is so obvious, yet the presentation is so natural and straightforward. This makes all the 'epic' southwest monsoon shots we see here seem kind of contrived in comparison. It must be a tremendous rush to be so close to such powerful natural forces.

Heron

Dec 23, 2016 at 02:38 AM

Rajan Parrikar
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Amarillo Tornado

Terrific work.

Dec 23, 2016 at 05:27 AM

CheechzeppLn
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Amarillo Tornado

I always dreamed of catching a twister on the camera, nice work here. Hope you drove in the other direction after you took the shot.

Charlie

Dec 23, 2016 at 07:29 AM

tntcorp
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Amarillo Tornado

Don George wrote:
Astounding image. What must the people be thinking seeing that coming toward their farm?

gather the family members and get to the shelter quickly :-)

Dec 23, 2016 at 10:30 AM

Robert Snow
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Amarillo Tornado

Good catch...right place at just the right time.

Also, excellent processing.

5/5 stars!!!

bob snow

Dec 23, 2016 at 10:39 AM

Storm300
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Amarillo Tornado

Chuck D wrote:
Mike, you really nailed a difficult to photograph subject. The light is great and the foreground elements really set the scene and the scale of what you photographed. It's not too often that the subjects we photograph can turn on us and kill us! Nice job!

Hi Chuck! Thanks for the comment. Even as many miles as I've driven around the Great Plains the past decade and a half, I've rarely seen or even photographed a tornado as dramatic as this. I appreciate the feedback! -Mike

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kwilliam8 wrote:
Wow, this is spectacular! Be safe!
Keith W.

Thank you very much Keith! -Mike

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aFeinberg wrote:
Yea....perfect....way to get it!

aF

Thank you Aaron! -Mike

Dec 23, 2016 at 11:18 AM

Storm300
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Amarillo Tornado

OregonSun wrote:
Amazing image, the immense power is so obvious, yet the presentation is so natural and straightforward. This makes all the 'epic' southwest monsoon shots we see here seem kind of contrived in comparison. It must be a tremendous rush to be so close to such powerful natural forces.

Heron

Hey Heron. A rush is an understatement! I've been down to southeast AZ for lightning photography. I need to get back down there again sometime. Thanks for the compliment! -Mike

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Rajan Parrikar wrote:
Terrific work.

Thank you Rajan! -Mike

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CheechzeppLn wrote:
I always dreamed of catching a twister on the camera, nice work here. Hope you drove in the other direction after you took the shot.

Charlie

I appreciate the kind words... and yes... I bailed! When chasing storms, the two most important rules are: #1: know which way the storm is moving and #2: have an escape route. Thanks again! -Mike

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Robert Snow wrote:
Good catch...right place at just the right time.

Also, excellent processing.

5/5 stars!!!

bob snow

Thank you Bob!! -Mike

Dec 23, 2016 at 11:22 AM

Scott Kroeker
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Amarillo Tornado

Incredible photo Mike!

Dec 23, 2016 at 04:22 PM

Storm300
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Amarillo Tornado

Scott Kroeker wrote:
Incredible photo Mike!

Glad you like it Scott, thanks for the comment! -Mike

Dec 23, 2016 at 08:33 PM

dnuggett
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Amarillo Tornado

Way to capture it, perfect timing. Great picture!

Dec 25, 2016 at 01:49 AM


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