Chasing Storms: Photographing a Monsoon and Dramatic Lightning

Photographer Michael Shainblum has shared the behind-the-scenes footage of capturing picturesque monsoon formations as well as a powerful and dramatic lightning storm, all shot on a Sony 16-35mm f/4 lens.

Shainblum, a landscape, timelapse and aerial photographer based in San Francisco, California, is already familiar with photographing unpredictable and at times dangerous weather conditions that nature provides. It's not something he recommends for beginners to try solo and has previously shared advice for others who are keen to attempt storm chasing.

This time, Shainblum starts out by photographing a dried-out lake bed -- also known as playa -- on a sunny day, joined by his friend, photographer, and fellow storm chaser, Nick Page. The dry weather conditions created a pattern on the ground, made out of crack formations. In an anticipation of a storm that was to come later on, Shainblum captures a few test shots and makes sure to shoot several images of the scene to stack later on.

He says that it is a good practice to take a few extra frames with different focus points -- to avoid regretting not having those additional images during post-processing -- in the scene, especially if the foreground has so much character. This also includes getting all corners tack-sharp.

As the sun starts to go down and the light illuminates the clouds, it can become overwhelming to decide what to shoot and how to shoot it because there are so many options. The key is to decide and stick with that decision. One of those options is a panorama -- as seen above -- which, in Shainblum's case, provides about 180-degrees of view and took 18 wide-angle photos to create. Shainblum also shot two rows of horizontal shots which further adds the impression of vastness in the final shot.

Storm clouds give photographers a diverse range of colors and textures to play with, Shainblum says. To make the most of the given scene, he shoots timelapses and still images, without forgetting to simply enjoy and witness the beautiful view, especially as the sunset brings dramatic sky formations.

As the sun goes down and the storm advances, Shainblum ensured that his camera was set up for a timelapse so as not to miss an important shot when the lightning starts. He says that it is important to monitor the storm and the direction it is heading in to ensure safety, which is why Shainblum and Page have previously recommended photographers to join a storm photography community or find someone who has experience in reading storms.

The night concludes with a strong rainfall, which prompts them to find a different vantage point. However, it's well worth the wait and extra effort because they are able to capture dramatic lightning strikes.

More landscape videos like these can be found on Shainblum's YouTube channel, with his photography portfolio available on his website and Instagram.

Image credits: All images by Michael Shainblum and used with permission.

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The Challenges and Thrills of Storm Chasing Photography

Two storm chasing photographers have shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to get the perfect shot in unpredictable and often dangerous weather conditions. As you can see in the 13-minute video above, this type of photography is not for beginners or the faint-hearted.

Photographer and filmmaker Michael Shainblum has joined forces with his friend and fellow landscape photographer, Nick Page, in their latest YouTube video series as they both travel together chasing storms and capturing surreal and dramatic scenes, while the audience gets to enjoy not just the final result but also the behind-the-scenes look of what this type of photography entails.

Photographing storms and creating timelapses of such unpredictable natural phenomenon isn't an easy task, however, both photographers attest that witnessing the power of nature is what keeps them so thrilled to be able to do this.

"These experiences are so surreal and some moments feel like they are straight out of science fiction," says Shainblum. "It was such a challenge to find compositions under such rushed time constraints, but I suppose that was part of the fun."

Page adds that "the struggle with this type of photography is that you just don't have much time to scout out an 'ideal' composition." He refers to storm photography as "foreground speed dating," because photographers have to find something that works in as short a time as possible.

As shared in the video, storms can travel fast, light can change dramatically in a matter of moments, and the photographer has to find the best possible composition within the constraints of time. It's not simply a matter of luck, however.

Both photographers point out that it is crucial to be aware of the storm's location, path, and any other potential storms popping up, which also ensures the safety of photographers, not just the outcome of the shot.

"It’s important to photograph these storms from the outside preferably not in the direct path of the storm, but rather just off to the side of the path. For this reason, radar maps -- Radarscope, G-maps, and others -- are a storm chaser's best friend," says Page.

Safety is always a top priority, which is why both Shainblum and Page do not recommend beginners go out and shoot this type of photography by themselves. Instead, the first step should be finding someone experienced in reading storms or joining a storm photography community that can provide support and advice. For example, Shainblum and Page were joined by their friends and a photographer who has years of experience in this field -- Mike Mezeul.

"Make genuine connections with other storm photographers via social media," advises Shainblum. "Become invested in other people's work and show some support. Plus, it's a great way to make new friends in the photography community."

More of Shainblum's photography can be found on his website and Instagram page, with more videos available on his YouTube. Page's photography can be viewed on his Instagram and additional videos -- including his experiences and perspective on storm chasing with Shainblum -- can be found on his YouTube channel.

Image credits: All images by Michael Shainblum and used with permission.

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