Copper State Storm Chasing

Sometimes, when it comes to photography, simplicity rules. In this case, the sunset interacting with the leftover clouds from a passing storm turned out AMAZING thanks to the absurd colors and patterns. All I had to do was point up and shoot.

May 2019 / Texas

In my experience, black and white is something you intentionally shoot for. Yes, sometimes you can get shots that will look killer in b/w without intention, but I've learned that shooting FOR b/w is the way to do it. While watching this ghost-white tornado in rural Iowa some springs ago, I thought to myself "Okay, this one HAS to be in black and white."

So it is.

April 4th, 2023 / Lacona, Iowa

2016 was my first year chasing the plains, and it's still got this dreamy quality in my memories that I can't and probably won't ever shake. It helps that a lot of the photos I shot on that trip have a dreamy quality, like these hay bales with a dramatic sky overhead.

May 2016 / Oklahoma

This day was an excellent illustration of one of the loudest, most consistent lessons I've learned in my years of chasing: when you don't feel like going out and chasing, that's the chase you need to do the most - because if you don't, wild stuff will happen, and you'll miss it if you're not out and about.

I did NOT feel like chasing this day. But, it was May, and I'd driven from Phoenix, AZ specifically to chase... so I chased. And on that day I got my first Missouri tornado, which I would've missed otherwise.

May 8th, 2024 / Neosho, Missouri

It's strange to me that not everyone is madly in love with the prairies and plains of Kansas. I sure am. I daydream about scenes like this. Throw in some golden hour/clouds and you've got absolute wonder.

May 2020 / Kansas

ahhh yes the amazing lightning photograph that didn't happen. one of MANY. imagine how awesome this woulda been with a huge bolt cutting through it. it was still a beautiful scene, but damn it. why doesn't lightning ever cooperate when i actually have a banger of a foreground? booooo lol

August 9th, 2026 / Somewhere near Roosevelt Lake, Arizona

This photo from the other night is kinda odd looking for two reasons: one, this is an example of 'ribbon lightning' striking awfully close to my location. Ribbon lightning occurs when the wind quite literally blows the ions sideways between return strokes, resulting in this intriguing, parallel double-bolt appearance. Also, this is a 30-second exposure, so the tree to the right moving in the wind appears fuzzy.

August 19th, 2026 / Phoenix, Arizona

There's something about blue skies, white/grey/deep grey clouds, and bright green grass that thrills my soul. It's just so peaceful and idyllic. And also, it looks like a Windows XP desktop background when it's just right.

May 2019 / Colorado

I 'discovered' Saguaro Lake on accident one day some years ago during one of my "Never been down this road before, let's see where it goes" adventures. To this day, it's still one of my favorite 'finds'. It is so unexpectedly beautiful - a true hidden gem in the desert.

Exploring Saguaro Lake: Arizona's Hidden Oasis Arizona is home to many lakes, and one of them is Saguaro Lake. A short drive from Phoenix, this pristine paradise is to die for.

Golden hour is pretty much every photographer's dream, especially when shooting landscapes and/or storms. It's amazing. The light is truly perfect and makes just about anything - like a random rural field in Missouri under rainy skies - awesome.

May 2023 / Missouri