RFDCut
I've been chasing severe weather for over 20 years, and this tornado was by far the most photogenic (and harmless) of them all. My chase partner and I were fore...
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I've been chasing severe weather for over 20 years, and this tornado was by far the most photogenic (and harmless) of them all. My chase partner and I were forecasting an area near the Colorado/Kansas border on May 31, 2010. We waited, but mother nature teased us by demonstrating a storm that was forming in southeast Colorado near the Oklahoma border some 150 miles away. Most of the time if you're not within 25 miles of a storm, there's little hope you'll be able to intercept it. But this storm was very courteous and virtually stood still for the 2.5 hour trek we made to intercept. Then it was even further courteous enough not to form this beautiful 30 minute tornado until we were positioned, out of our car, and able to watch it from birth to spin out. It did no damage and did traveled at a leisurely 5mph down a dirt road. The dust blowing from left to right at the bottom of the image is from winds wrapping around the parent cloud (called a rear flank downdraft, or RFD) which is posited to be an important part of tornadogenesis. The tornado has a dirt "collar" at its base, and an amazingly ragged wall cloud from which it was born. Though not as well visualized in this particular shot, the area to the left was sunny sky and filled with fields of little yellow wildflowers cascading westward to the mountains in the distance. It was an amazing day.
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Feb, 2014Views
2443
Likes
Awards
Runner Up in Lifes Largest Moments Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Lifes Largest Moments Photo Contest
Staff Favorite
Jaw Dropping
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Great Find
Superior Skill
All Star
One Of A Kind
Outstanding Creativity
Genius
Exceptional Contrast
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 6Top 10 rank week 5Top 10 rank month 1Top 10 rank week 3
TrevJel
February 25, 2014
Great shot, nature showing off her beauty and destructive power, well done.
Platinum
DanielJPhotography
February 26, 2014
Wow!! talk about being in the right wrong place at the right time..! Awesome shot
PRO+
rnspicer
July 03, 2014
Congratulations on being a finalist. You really outdid yourself in capturing Mother Nature and her "calm" fury. Definitely one of Life's Largest Moments!
PRO+
PRO+
PRO+
PRO+
Platinum
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