tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9831002646589128012024-03-19T08:46:24.082+00:00Mark Humpage - book of brilliant thingsA journal of present (and historic) elemental expeditions.Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-35615782577981386842010-05-09T21:12:00.002+01:002010-05-09T21:20:52.014+01:00UPDATEI am no longer updating this blog site. Please direct your browsers to my website <a href="http://www.markhumpage.com">markhumpage.com</a> for all my latest project galleries.<br /><br />In addition, feel free to pop into my social networking sites for updates on my photographic and daily life :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=1137636591&ref=name">Facebook</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/mark_humpage">Twitter</a>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-27462005637390166242008-07-22T14:46:00.008+01:002008-07-22T22:06:10.966+01:00Cloud Time LapseLat weekend in the UK we were treated to some excellent skyscape and photogenic clouds. In an attempt to capture the splendour and detail I embarked upon some time lapse with my Olympus E3 dslr. Using a dedicated time lapse controller (PClix), a very tidy unit which connects, via a cable to my Olympus E3 and the 7-14mm to capture 6hrs of continuous cloud footage.<br /><br />Olympus E3, 8mm fisheye<br />PClix time lapse controller 1 exp/5s<br />F5, shutter speed varies<br />ISO 100<br /><br />4197 images (approx 6hrs) imported to PhotoScape and batch edited/resized to 640x480 Imported to QT pro and output at 24fps. The end result is a wonderful 6hrs in 3 mins.<br /><br />Time lapse is an excellent way of viewing clouds in motion and you can see things that are unseen in real time. For example, wind shear. The wind shear (clouds moving at different speeds and direction with height) is a method used by balloon pilots to turn. Difficult to imagine a balloon in the sky turning as you would expect it to just be flowing with the wind. What they do is ascend and descend into veering winds and turn the 'balloon'.<br /><br />I'll be loading more time lapse sequences in the near future so do come back. Also keep an eye on the <a href="http://www.elementalproject.com/">Elemental Project website</a> as I utilise time lapse on the various exciting elemental projects coming up.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:02bf25d5-8c17-4b23-bc80-d3488abddc6b" codebase="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab#version=6,0,2,0" width="640" height="480"><param name="autoplay" value="false"><param name="scale" value="tofit"><param name="src" value="http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk/markh/July19TL_LAN.mov"><embed type="video/quicktime" src="http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk/markh/July19TL_LAN.mov" scale="tofit" autoplay="false" width="640" height="480"></embed></object><br /><br />Alternative direct link to download - <a href="http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk/markh/July19TL_LAN.mov">Cloud Time lapse</a><br /><br />An excellent example of the wind shear is show in this time lapse. About half way through the video watch the cloud at upper level moving at right angles to the lower level clouds. Absolutely mesmorising.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:02bf25d5-8c17-4b23-bc80-d3488abddc6b" codebase="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab#version=6,0,2,0" width="640" height="480"><param name="autoplay" value="false"><param name="scale" value="tofit"><param name="src" value="http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk/markh/july13TL_LAN.mov"><embed type="video/quicktime" src="http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk/markh/july13TL_LAN.mov" scale="tofit" autoplay="false" width="640" height="480"></embed></object><br /><br />Alternative direct link to download - <a href="http://www.ingenioustv.co.uk/markh/july13TL_LAN.mov">Cloud Time lapse</a>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-49706477453461715022008-05-16T21:03:00.006+01:002008-11-13T09:56:33.837+00:00The Elemental Project goes 'Live'The Elemental Project is a collaboration between two modern day adventurers. Photographer Mark Humpage and TV Producer Alister Chapman will be seeking out the most spectacular natural events from around the world, whilst addressing Climate Change. Their aim is to bring nature's extreme to life with stunning photographs and spectacular HD video. <p> Mark and Alister will travel around the world filming and photographing extremes such as Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Volcanoes, Monsoons, Aurora, and other amazing natural events. You can follow their journey on the <a href="http://www.elementalproject.com/">Elemental Project website</a>. It will include stunning photo galleries, spectacular streaming video clips, blogs and pod casts available for you to read and watch. It will also include dedicated on-line media resource pages with biographies, hi-res pictures, photo journals and broadcast quality video to download.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Check out the exciting new website by clicking this link<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.elementalproject.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyApLOOmflqODEC-3UqFAPjtm5OyEgz5CK4DzEuAlT7ku502HDSUTG2f_6ACzlD6XBoPjRSnah-h6wbhAMBgvMQK3gpuw20L7Q0VjPI8qd4Cac8b9orWcmJulPjaFMmMhhZZCeZo8-SL0/s200/elemental+project+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201072032632390194" border="0" /></a></div>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-10104224839580318722008-02-16T21:04:00.017+00:002008-03-20T12:17:34.357+00:00Northern Lights & Arctic Expedition Photos<p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Come with me on a magical journey into the world of the arctic circle and all the beauty that it beholds. This is the home of vikings, the north wind and of course the beautiful aurora borealis (commonly known as the Northern Lights in these latitudes). Click on thumb to view full size. Please note all photographs are copyright Mark Humpage and may not be used or copied without permission.<br /></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Camera equipment - Olympus E3 and lenses, 8mm fisheye, 7-14mm, 90-250mm, 50-200mm, 14-54mm. Extreme gear for an extreme environment. A few Northern Light images were taken with the E1 (at the same time as using the E3 to maximise on exposure capture). </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Tromso, Norway, Arrival and the expedition commences. Panorama across the hatbour at Tromso.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/615_619%20blog.jpg"><img style="width: 383px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/615_619%20blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Nothing ever goes to plan! Cloud cover forecast in this location for next few days. Al Chapman (cameraman) and I take stock. The next day we head east, 500km to north eastern Finnmark in hope of clearer skies (forecast). The tortuous yet beautiful route takes 7 hours and 2 ferries as we reach Alta.</span><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/710_714.jpg"><br /><img style="width: 383px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/710_714.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/Alta%20route%202783.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/Alta%20route%202783.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/Tromso%20ferry%202674.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/Tromso%20ferry%202674.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2735.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2735.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">From Alta, the next morning another 3 hours south and east takes us to our final destination near Karasjok, Finnmark. Arctic Highways, bitterly cold and iced over but open!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2833.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2833.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2927.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2927.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2934.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2934.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Upon arrival we meet up with our host Oskar who transfers us to base camp, via snowmobile. Another 30 minute journey into the wilderness. It was worth it! Base camp greeted us with this view.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/415and417.jpg"><img style="width: 383px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/415and417.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/421_422.jpg"><img style="width: 383px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/421_422.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />A few images of the camp, or life for the next few days. The toilets were....amusing to say the least! Transport was now via snowmobile.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3286.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3286.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3337.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3337.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3353.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3353.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3034.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3034.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3361.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3361.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3072.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3072.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Unpacked and settled in we ventured off northwards in the snowmobile to explore the best locations for shoots. A raised plateau greeted us about 10 minutes snowmobile distance away. It was raw, blowing and truly wild. The view from here was spectacular, difficult to tell land from sky at times. It became a regular shoot hotspot for us.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3211.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3211.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3228.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3228.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3620%20mark%20snowmobile.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3620%20mark%20snowmobile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2977.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2977.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2895.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/2895.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3174.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3174.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">And finally....what we had set out to achieve. Northern Lights on both nights of our stay in Karasjok and clear skies to boot. We stepped outside at approx 7pm (5pm the next day, and stayed there all night) Al and I were overjoyed. It was spectacular, continuous and magical. We could have been on a Disney set!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1895.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1895.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1903%201000pix.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1903%201000pix.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1904.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1904.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1910.jpg"><img style="width: 125px; height: 94px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/1910.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3132.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3132.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3139.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3139.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3143.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3143.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3148.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3148.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3493.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3493.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3497.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3497.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3518.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3518.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3514%201000pix.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3514%201000pix.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3149.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3149.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3513.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3513.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3510%201000pix.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3510%201000pix.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3532.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3532.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3543.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3543.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3554.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3554.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3161.jpg"><img style="width: 125px; height: 103px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3161.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3157.jpg"><img style="width: 125px; height: 103px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3157.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3156.jpg"><img style="width: 125px; height: 103px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3156.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3162.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3162.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3519.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3519.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3511.jpg"><img style="width: 125px;" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Northern%20Lights/Blog/3511.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Well almost finally! A quick note about the equipment and exposures. All night time/Northern Light exposures were taken with long exposures ranging from 30s to 4 mins. Tough indeed to effect sharpness on images. Aperture was kept to minimum - F3.5 on 8mm fisheye, F4 on 7-14mm lens and image stabilisation was ON as was Noise Reduction. The NR effectively doubles exposure times. Next time I want to use 2 or 3 E3's to maximise captured images! The Olympus E3 and lenses have been put through pretty extreme working on this trip. With working temps recorded -20 and below, blizzard conditions at times and duration working in the freezing temps. At times my hands and feet were numb, I could not feel them. The gear was faultless, not one issue or problem. Batteries drained a tad quicker (as you might expect) but hardly noticeable (and I had plenty) resulting in a totally successful shoot. The environment was tough, as was the subject, but I had the equipment to deliver the goods. It is said that 50% of a successful shoot is being there, the other 50% is the camera system. It certainly makes my job easier!<br /><br />The Northern Lights - "No pencil can draw it, no colours can paint it and no words can describe it" - The Vikings thought they were the contrails of Thor's chariot, pulled by three goats. I can now believe it!</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Watch Al Chapman's <a href="http://www.ingenioustv.com/clips/nlmarkh.mov">stunning High Def video of the trip</a><br /></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Mark Humpage, Feb 2008</span></p>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com122tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-7152087350878319902008-02-12T00:04:00.000+00:002008-02-12T00:17:26.524+00:00Northern Lights & Arctic Adventure<div><div><div><div><div>Apologies for the lack of updates. I have been incommunicado, based in a wild yet remote part of Finmark, near Karasjok.<br /></div><br /><div>A few images whilst I recover from the past few days. Much travel, many hours shooting in truly arctic, freezing and wild conditions. The Olympus E3 and array of lenses has captured everything and works like a dream in such extreme conditions. A robust system that delivers the goods in the most extrem arctic conditions you could ever wish to use a camera.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Updates later after I get some well earned rest. The last 5 days have been exhausting with very little sleep. I am truly shattered and must sleep.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3518.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" height="183" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3518.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3148.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px" height="190" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3148.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3513.jpg"></a></div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3513.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3513.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3149.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3149.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>More later.<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/3149.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-5305249731150231682008-02-08T07:34:00.000+00:002008-02-08T21:10:52.674+00:00Northern Lights ExpeditionArrived in Tromso, Norway Thursday evening some 230 miles inside the arctic circle. Alister Chapman in tow covering the trip on video.<br /><br />Visibility not very good upon arrival. Almost whiteout with snow in the air. Evaluation of the forecast via the Norwegion MetO looked poor over the next few days with too much cloud cover. We were almost heartbroken. A recovery plan was put into action down the local steak restaurant as we dined and mulled over plans for the forcoming days.<br /><br />Firstly we need to move further east and North. The plan is Karasjok, Finnmark for a few days in the wild arctic, at a site only accessible by snowmobile. We shall leave today (Friday).<br /><br />Secondly, a casual glance out of the restaurant and I noticed a few stars twinkling in the skies. Al and I hurriedly left and upon breathing the Tromso air we were delighted to see the entire sky had cleared. Totally amazed and excited we ran back to the hotel threw all the camera gear in the back of the car and drove out of Tromso, away from the city light pollution.<br /><br />What we experienced over the next few hours was impossible to describe in words. I'll let the video and pictures tell their own story.<br /><br />Not a perfect location for capturing the auraora with still too much Tromso light pollution and not an ideal foreground, but that's all we could get! Needless to say we were happy, very very happy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ingenioustv.com/clips/markday1.mov">http://www.ingenioustv.com/clips/markday1.mov</a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2576.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand" height="198" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2576.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2585.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand" height="161" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2585.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2591.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand" height="157" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2591.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2582.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand" height="171" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2582.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2581.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand" height="163" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/mhwphp/images/OtherCloudscapes/photos/2581.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><div>Mark Humpage<br />Tromso, Norway</div>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-7365931916661045942008-01-30T13:25:00.000+00:002008-01-30T13:41:58.507+00:00Northern Lights ExpeditionA photo shoot in the Norwegian northern territories. Aurora, icebergs, arctic scenery....coming in February 2008. <br /><br />A very hostile yet breathtaking landscape in which to put the new Olympus flagship E3 dslr through its paces - Extreme temperatures, extreme conditions and extreme photography....coming very soon.<br /><br />I will be updating the Blog with images and words from the trip as it unfolds.<br /><br />Mark Humpage<br />January 2008Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-65288815382363745992007-06-24T18:20:00.000+01:002007-07-06T22:02:53.052+01:00Greensburg Tornado<p align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0888.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 356px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px" height="174" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0888.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="justify">On May 4th 2007 a huge devastating tornado wiped out the entire town of Greensburg in south western Kansas. It was the first ever tornado to be rated EF5 on the enhanced tornado intensity scale, destroying at least 95% of the city and killing ten people.<br /><br />It is now June 21st and I am back in Greensburg, not as a curious bypasser, but as an active player to the cause of the Greensburg people. My mission over the next two days is capture images of the devastation, talk to the local people and take the information back home to the UK in order to raise awareness of the event. I am hoping by way of media coverage and a future exhibition this can be expedited, which in turn will raise much needed money for the Greensburg cause. Unfortunately, disasters of this nature become yesterday's news too quickly. It is so important to sustain coverage and aid in order to rejuvinate a sense of normality (if that is possible).<br /><br />A complete photographic account of this trip can be found by clicking this link<a href="http://markhumpage.blogspot.com/2007/06/greensburg-tornado-damage-photos-only.html"> Greensburg Photos </a><br /><br />After a grueling two flights and hefty drive from Oklahoma City I eventually reached the outskirts of Greensburg, Kansas late in the afternoon, some 18 hours after leaving the UK. I should have felt shattered but in fact the opposite was the case. I was excited yet cautious of the response I would get to effectively an outsider snooping around. Approaching from the south, and a few miles away from Greensburg, evidence of tornado damage was all around. New telegraph poles, replacing damaged, broken trees and isolated proprty damage both sides of the road. As I entered Greensburg the same shocking scenes that I witnessed two weeks ago greeted me. For some strange reason I anticipated a whole deal of clear up and a completely different scene. I was wrong. There <b>had</b> been a whole deal of clear up but the shocking scene remained, such was the scale of the disaster.<br /><br />I immediately made my way to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) camp, to the south of the town, and introduced myself and my purpose. I was greeted with open arms, given a brief on the job in hand for the aid workers, and signed in. These guys were busy constructing temporary accommodation on a site the size of a dozen football fields, many of which were all ready in place, for the displaced Greensburg residents. A huge undertaking, and one not to interfer so I moved on. Although very tired I was keen to get stuck in and consequently set about town with cameras in tow. One Olympus E1 was fitted with a wide angle 7-14mm lens, the other a 14-55mm. Boy did that wide angle come in handy!<br /><br />I was keen to stay for a couple of hours before heading off to find accommodation. As I wandered around, the scale and intensity of the destruction hit me. Block after block of total destruction, like I have never seen before. I read somewhere, someone likening it to a picture of Hiroshima after the Nuclear bomb. A shocking yet accurate description as it happens. Houses of all construction levelled amidst row after row of tree stubs.<br /><br />Whilst taking some photos a Kansas Police Patrol car pulled up. I introduced myself and what I was up to. The Topeka, Kansas patrol man responded in a somewhat familiar English accent "You from England Boy" he jested. A scouser with an adopted American accent, very strange, but it broke the ice. We ended up chatting for a fair while about life in Kansas, the tornado and his beloved football team Everton. 5000 miles to the heart of the mid-west Plains and coming across a Patrolman from Liverpool, how very surreal.<br /><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0582_0583pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0582_0583pan.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><p align="justify"><br />After overnighting in nearby Dodge City I was back in Greensburg for 0900hrs the next day. With only one day to complete the assignment it would have been impossible to tackle the site in a logical block by block approach. The devastation was far too widesperead. I decided to drive slowly around and target areas of differing interest (a job in itself!) and damage. I would also approach people whom I thought were associated with the town with a view to carrying out an interview and recording via a digital recorder. I started the latter with the static sites, targeting the Salvation Army camp. <b>Dennis Flom</b> was the Salvation Army commander in charge of operations in Greensburg who has a wealth of experience in these situations. His CV included major global disasters including the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. His interview was very informative and summarises operations in Greensburg. To listen click here <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Dennis%20Flom%20Sal%20Army%20original.wav" controls="true">Salvation Army interview </a><br /><br />Continuing <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0820_0821pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0820_0821pan.jpg" align="left" border="0" /></a>around the town I came across every conceivable sight feasible in terms of damage. Some properties flattened to a pile of rubble, others barely standing and some leaving behind just a hole in the ground where the foundations once lay. A truly shocking sight. One such scene I recall well. All that was left was steps. Steps that led to nowhere, but just a hole in the ground. I can't imagine what these resident thought when they returned to Greenburg and this sight greeted them.<br /><br />As I continued photographing a man approached. He was carrying wounds and bandages which I assumed he obtained from the tornado. Not only did he agree to be interviewed but also let me have some amazing photographs he took the day after the tornado had struck. His name was <b>Charles Jones</b> and boy what a character he was. His love for an old 1978 Ford pick-up (which saved his life) makes for complusive listening. To listen click here <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Charles%20Jones%20resident_Mr%2078%20Ford%20pick%20up%20original.wav" controls="true">Charles Jones interview<br /><br /></a>Another distressing feature to the array of damage was the countless personal items laying around. Shoes, toys, clothes to name a few. These were located in the exact position in which they were left on that May 4th evening after 200mph+ winds had ravaged the town. Quite amazing. One such object was a book. It was lying amogst the dirt next to a concrete foundation where a house once belonged. It was open with the name Karen Smith hand written in the top left corner of the page. My mind went into overtime at this point. Was she still alive? Where is she now? Difficult not to become emotionally involved at times like this.<br /><br />There was a constant buzz of activity in Greensburg with construction workers, plant and all sorts of aid workers in action. Up till Sunday June 24th over 6500 volunteers had contributed their own time. Over 30,000 truck loads of debris had already been removed. There was also a heavy Police presence. I was approached on many occasions by Kansas Patrols, drafted in from all over Kansas to help. I managed to pull one over for an interview and even then there was countless interruptions. However, it was interesting to see hear what the Police were doing in their daily duties and thoughts on life in Tornado Alley. To listen to the interview with a Kansas State patroller click here <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Daryll%20Ludoff%20Topeka%20PD%20original.wav" controls="true">Kansas Police interview </a><br /><br />One<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0566.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 165px; CURSOR: hand" height="115" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0566.jpg" align="left" border="0" /></a> thing that was also evident in Greensburg was the presence of trees. The town was littered with them. Most now resemble stubs or are completely uprooted. I came across this tree which was enormous and totally uprooted. It took my breath away thinking of the wind forces required to do this. Pure luck the tree never landed on the house! An interesting little anecdote I read regarding other historic tornadoes that had left similar imprints on town life across the USA. Whilst human recovery had been achieved with residents re-building homes, they had not replaced trees, and consequently there was a distinct lack of animal noise, life and recovery. The animal eco-system that trees and plants create is priceless and irreplaceable without the very habitat in which they live. I hope Greensburg takes this on board when rebuilding. Don't forget the trees....and the subsequent wildlife guys!<br /><br />Probably the most difficult interview I conducted was with an elderly couple (I hope they don't mind me calling them that), <strong>John and Barbara Fleener</strong>. Their entire life has been spent in Greensburg and they are well known and respected members of the community with a heavy involvement with the methodist church. They also ran the Funeral home in Main Street, which was destroyed by the tornado. I really appreciate their cooperation because their words on life in Greensburg and the tornado almost brought me to tears. To listen to the interview click here <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/John_Barbara%20Fleener_residents%20original.wav" controls="true">John & Barbara Fleener interview </a><br /><br />Greensburg was not just a residential community, there were lots of<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1060.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 179px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px" height="106" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1060.jpg" align="right" border="0" /></a> active businesses too. Many of these now do not exist and I can only imagine the heartache of rebuilding lives together with a business. One such businessman I came across was <strong>Richard Inglekin</strong>. He owned many business premises and a home in Greensburg. I was taking photographs of one such buliding which was quite amazing. The walls had completely collapsed leaving just the roof sitting on the ground encapsulating the stock within. As I was walking around the damaged building Richard drove up to me asking of my actions. I explained and we stopped to talk for ages on business life in Greensburg. You can listen to that interview click here.<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Richard%20Inglekin_%20business%20original.wav" controls="true"> Richard Inglekin interview </a><br /><br />I was running low on gas by now so I pulled over one of the Kansas Police Patrols and asked for the nearest fuel pumps. There was one in place and working only a few hundred yards along the main through route. As I pulled in to fill up I took the opportunity of speaking with the attendant who allowed me to record the conversation. By now I felt like a proper correspondant! This gas station, which had a golf course to the rear, was just on the periphery of the tornado damage and was fortunately spared from destruction. <strong>Sarah Unrew</strong>, the attendant was telling me the story of how her sister took cover on that evening when the tornado passed through. An amazing story. You can listen to that interview click here.<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Sarah%20U_%20business%20original.wav" controls="true"> Sarah U interview </a><br /><br />That was to be the last of my interviews. I felt that was enough and to be <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0905.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand" height="128" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0905.jpg" align="left" border="0" /></a>honest I was finding it quite emotionally difficult to sustain. I continued moving around with the camera. One of the things I did come across every now and again was a storm shelter or two. These were effectively steps underground to a basement area, away from the main property. Constructed as a concrete bunker they are designed to withstand tornadoes and boy did they save some lives on that night. Most people sought shelter when the warning sirens sounded, I gathered from conversations with people. However, not everyone can afford such tornado havens and I am sure that those people who unfortunately lost lives in this disater either did not have a shelter or chose, for some reason, not to use it. This is what a typical shelter looks like.<br /><br />Another common feature was wrecked cars. The town was littered with cars that looked like they had been sitting on a scrapheap for years. Some cars were obviously picked up and hurled to wherever they landed by the looks of them. Some of them took on a human like appearance, sitting there and looking so sad. This entire event was for sure going to be a gross massive insurance payout.<br /><br />From a research point of view I was looking for many usual signatures associated with tornadic damage. These signatures I have witnessed before with such damage in both the UK and overseas, albeit in lesser intense events. Buildings pierced with projectiles, localised rotation damage, bark stripped trees etc. In fact so widespead and intense was the destruction that I witnessed very few of these signatures. This shocked me but was also a valuable learning exercise. There comes a point within the rotational destruction of vortexes where damage becomes unrecognisably specific. This I assume is where and why the EF5 intensity scale was attributed.<br /><br />Finally, as I walked around the town I attempted to portray, in words, what I witnessed. Obviuosly the photos speak a million words but I thought it was appropriate to try and pass on my reactive thoughts at the time of passing certain areas of damage. There are five recorded messages each describing different aspects of the tornado damage. You can listen to those by clicking below . Right click & save as, works best.<br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Mark%20Humpage%20walk%201%20original.wav" controls="true">Mark Humpage walk'n talk 1 </a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Mark%20Humpage%20walk%202%20original.wav" controls="true">Mark Humpage walk'n talk 2 </a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Mark%20Humpage%20walk%203%20original.wav" controls="true">Mark Humpage walk'n talk 3 </a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Mark%20Humpage%20walk%204%20original.wav" controls="true">Mark Humpage walk'n talk 4 </a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Mark%20Humpage%20walk%205%20original.wav" controls="true">Mark Humpage walk'n talk 5 </a><br /><br />I have expressed my closing thoughts on this visit in all that it means to me and to the people of Greensburg in this poignant recording. As they say in this country "God Bless America". <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/Interviews/Mark%20Humpage%20concluding%20comments%20original.wav" controls="true">Concluding comments </a><br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Please note I have maintained the high quality of all recorded sound files included in this blog. They may take a few moments to download so please be patient. They are well worth the wait! If you having problems with the links try right click, save as.<br /><br />If this story has touched you in any way then I urge you to help by making a donation, no matter how small, it all helps. Follow this Salvation Army link to donate, PLEASE ( Insert the country you are from and this will take you to the donation details page. Within the Specific use Donation Details box insert GREENSBURG DISASTER DONATION - All monies raised through this disaster fund are <b>guaranteed</b> to be directed to Greensburg people.<a href="https://secure1.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?OpenForm&Seq=1#_RefreshKW_CNTRY_CODE">CLICK HERE TO DONATE</a></p>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-2296097599335006592007-06-23T14:59:00.000+01:002007-07-12T23:19:24.218+01:00Greensburg Tornado Damage Photos<p align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Photo thumbs of Greensburg Tornado Damage, taken in June 2007. Click on thumb to view full size. Please note all photographs are copyright Mark Humpage and may not be used or copied without permission.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">ADVISORY - These images contain material that some may find distressing. This is not sensationalism but rather awareness. These images and associated reports have been used to raise funds for victims of the Greensburg disaster. Everyone can help by making a donation, no matter how small, it all helps. Follow this Salvation Army link to donate, PLEASE ( Insert the country you are from and this will take you to the donation details page. Within the Specific use Donation Details box insert GREENSBURG DISASTER DONATION - </span><a href="https://secure1.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?OpenForm&Seq=1#_RefreshKW_CNTRY_CODE"><span style="font-family:georgia;">CLICK HERE TO DONATE</span></a> </p><span style="font-family:Times;font-size:95;"></span><p><br />A few 360 panoramic images of the damage can be seen by clicking these links <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/june8pano3d.htm">360 Panorama 1</a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/june223dpano.htm">360 Panorama 2</a> <br><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0819_0822pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0819_0822pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0888.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0888.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0590.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0590.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0746.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0746.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0846.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0846.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0854.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0854.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0866.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0866.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1039.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1039.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1122.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1122.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1123.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1123.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0830.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0830.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0836.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 103px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0836.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0867.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 103px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0867.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0566.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0566.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/123.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/123.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1013.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/040.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/040.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0520.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0520.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0525jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0525.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1047.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1047.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1053.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1053.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1060.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1060.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1033.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; 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CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/June%2008/0185.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/June%2008/249.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/June%2008/249.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0415.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0415.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0582_0583pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0582_0583pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0894.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0894.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1002.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1002.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1080.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1080.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0514.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0514.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0749.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0749.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0797.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0797.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1117.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1117.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0827.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0827.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0422.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0422.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0590_0594pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0590_0594pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0820_0821pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0820_0821pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0614_0615pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/0614_0615pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0574.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/21%20June/0574.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1159.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Greensberg%2007/22%20June/1159.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Once again PLEASE help the Greensburg people and donate (Within the Specific use Donation Details box insert GREENSBURG DISASTER DONATION</span> - </span></span><a href="https://secure1.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?OpenForm&Seq=1#_RefreshKW_CNTRY_CODE"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">CLICK HERE TO DONATE</span></a></p>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-19928001470712621582007-06-19T08:32:00.000+01:002007-06-29T16:49:06.301+01:00Return to Greensburg, Kansas<div align="justify"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/217.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/217.jpg" border="0" /></a>On May 4th 2007 a huge devastating tornado wiped out the entire town of Greensburg in south western Kansas. It was the first ever tornado to be rated EF5 on the enhanced tornado intensity scale.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">The 2 mile wide tornado struck the town of 1,800 residents at about 9:45 p.m. local time, leaving a broad swath of destruction. Residents reported that tornado sirens sounded for about 15 minutes, then fell silent when the power was knocked out.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />Many people were killed and injured during this tragic event.</div><div align="justify"><br />During my visit to the Plains in early June I drove through Greensburg. That short journey shook me to the ground. So much so that something within urged me to do something positive. I wanted to utilise this event and raise awareness to all who never witness the mess that such tornadic events can leave in their wake. The human, as well as the physical, loss is truly shocking.</div><br /><div align="justify">Upon returning to the UK I contacted my sponsors Olympus and we discussed how this could best be achieved in the most sensitive manner. I would return to Greensburg and take photographic images of the town. These photos will then form the basis of a media article and public exhibition somewhere in the UK later in the year. Monies raised from these activities would then be sent to those who need it in Greesburg.</div><div align="justify"><br />That trip is planned for Friday 22 June, when I will return to Greensburg.</div><br /><div align="justify">Historically, I have captured many tornadoes/severe weather images and the damage they leave in their wake. This is the worst I have ever witnessed. I often use such images in talks up and down the country (UK) in order to raise awareness of the catastrophic damage which unfortunately occurs as a result of Mother Nature's aftermath.</div><div align="justify">-----------------------------------------<br /><br /><p><span style="color:#330099;">UPDATE -Return from Greensburg</span></p><p><span style="color:#330099;">I have just been emotionally scarred from my visit. Having walked through the entire site, interviewing residents, aid workers, federal agents, state police and local people I feel humbled. Words or pictures cannot describe. Imagine the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. This is now Greesnburg........... wiped off the map!</span></p><p><span style="color:#330099;">The entire experience, not from what I have seen but from from the words of the people I have spoken to has considerably shaken me. One thing is for sure, this tragic event ironically has brought a community, which was already together, CLOSER together. This is the key message I have got from speaking to everyone in Greensburg. They are pulling together. The support nationally and locally has been tremendous . There is a lot of spirit and hope (and a future) for these guys. They believe that. At the moment they certainly do not think that the 1600 residents that were originally here will return completely. About half of that is expected, but time will tell. This is very sad indeed.</span></p><p><span style="color:#330099;">I leave Greensburg with a heavy heart, an experience and most importantly a self belief that I have helped. I have only been in Greesnburg 2 days but I almost feel part of the community, part of the people and part of their life. They all pull together and come as one. I have been truly humbled from the experience. As I drive away from Greensburg, listening to David Gray on the car stereo playing "Say Hello Wave Goodbye", tears stream from my face. How appropriate.<br />I will return again and I vow to initiate a 'Greensburg Project' for the future cause of these people.</span></p><p><span style="color:#330099;">Signing off.</span></p><p><span style="color:#330099;">Mark Humpage<br />June 2007</span></p><p></p></div>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-44175176581110994892007-06-06T10:55:00.000+01:002007-07-12T19:42:35.396+01:00June 2007 Chase Photos only<p><span style="font-family:Times;">Photo thumbs from June 2007 chase trip. Click on thumb to view full size.<br />Equipment:<br />Camera - 2 x Olympus E1<br />Lenses - 14-54mm, 50-200mm, 7-14mm, 90-250mm<br />June 6th 2007 - South Dakota</span></p><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0036.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0036.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0045.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0045.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0057.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0062.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0062.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/063.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/063.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/915.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/915.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9850.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9850.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9857.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9857.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9858.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9858.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9870.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9870.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9877.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9877.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9888.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9888.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9804.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9804.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9782.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9782.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9888%20contrast.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9888%20contrast.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0029.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 93px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0029.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0075.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 92px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0075.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0080.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 92px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0080.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0094.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 93px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0081.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0081.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0082.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 96px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0082.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0098.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 96px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0098.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/047_051pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 86px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/047_051pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/860_861%20wallcl.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/860_861%20wallcl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9871.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9871.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/099.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/099.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/934_941%20scell.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/934_941%20scell.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:Times;">June 7th 2007 - Oklahoma</span></p><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0018.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0018.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0134.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 140px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0134.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/075_077.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/075_077.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:Times;">June 9th 2007 - Colorado & Kansas</span></p><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/226_227pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 111px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/226_227pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/269_270.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 189px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/269_270.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/282_284.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 107px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/282_284.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/295_296.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 189px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/295_296.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/302_304.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 113px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/302_304.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/242_243.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 189px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/242_243.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0263.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0263.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0285.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0285.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0318.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0318.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0219.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0219.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0246.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0246.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0326.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0326.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/313_314pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 101px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/313_314pan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0344.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0344.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0356.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0356.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0459.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0459.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0462700pix.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0462700pix.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0465700pix.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0465700pix.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/462465.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/462465.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/370_372pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 69px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/370_372pan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/460_465pannew.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/460_465pannew.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0352.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0352.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0338.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0338.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0334.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 90px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0334.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-28769705307949107202007-06-05T11:14:00.000+01:002007-06-28T10:04:02.766+01:00Chase Expedition June 2007Equipment:<br />Camera - 2 x Olympus E1<br />Lenses - 14-54mm, 50-200mm, 7-14mm, 90-250mm<br />Plethora of accessories<br /><br />Day 1 - June 5th<br /><br /><div><div><div align="justify">After a gruelling 18 hour journey, battling against British motorways<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9888%20contrast.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand" height="159" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9888%20contrast.jpg" border="0" /></a>, two United Airline flights, customs and more customs, we thankfully made our destination in Kansas City approx 1830hrs local time (CDT).<br /><br />After pouring over the models the night before, and finally in Heathrow before we left the UK, our target area had not changed - Central Nebraska/South Dakota border. Synoptically this was showing the best setup favourable for a severe weather outbreak. SPC had issued a Mod risk for our target area. After many weeks of waiting and pondering this was the week we decided looked favourable for sustained photogenic severe weather. I say 'we' because this year the team consisted of four. My usual chase partner Ian Brindley (Navigator, joint forecaster and suicidal driver extraordinaire!), Andrew James (Editor Practical Photography) and Jerome Demare (Olympus with his new & impressive E510).<br /><br />No rest upon landing. We had to head north and get much mileag<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/860_861%20wallcl.jpg"></a>e between Kansas and target area. Sioux City, Iowa was our planned stopover. Six hours on the road allowed me to play with the usual digital suspects in the form of phones, GPS and radar tracking devices, not without problems. We stayed at the Best Western in Sioux and some very tired heads were glad to hit the sack. Unable to sleep until I had updates on the forecasts my frustration continued through the early hours of the morning as I tried (in vain) to get internet connection. The supposed high speed wireless was down in the Worst Western, and to make things worse before departing to his room Jerome announced his good deed of the day.... The flight reading material was so bad during the United Airlines flight from Chicago to Kansas that he decided to donate his passport. Such generousity. I gave up and went to bed. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">------------------------------------------------------------<br /></div><div>Day 2 - June 6th</div><div align="justify"><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/063.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/063.jpg" border="0" /></a>Managed to eventually grab a few hours sleep before waking up early in excitement and anticipation of the day ahead. The wireless internet feed was still down, so after using the ancient lobby pc (which would have made an Amstrad look modern!) we refined our days target to Pierre, South Dakota. <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/063.jpg"></a>There was a stout cap in place for today albeit with some very impressive flow throughout all levels of the atmosphere. The region west of Pierre offered some orographic potential to enhance convective instability and hopefully get the supercell ball rolling.</div><div align="justify"><br />A quick breakfast of doughnuts and coffee (gotta love this country) and we were on the road by 9am. Stopping at Walmart for supplies we we soon flying west on 20 and north on 83 towards our target area. I'd almost forgotten what a pleasure it was to drive in this country. Empty, open roads and nothing but landscape. A six hour drive in the US is probably equivalent to half an hour back in the UK in terms of frustration levels. We purchased a cheap US cell phone from Walmart as the US SIM card I bought with me did not want to play ball. It proved an invaluable 10 buck purchase. I hooked up with numerous fellow UK chasers, currently in the US, and of course my usual US colleagues for nowcasting advice. The chase rookies (Andrew & Jerome) seemed to be in high spirit, albeit one without a passport and the other itching to stop and take photos of this amazing landscape every minute. We had to push onwards in order to reach our goal. There would be many photo ops, I assured, when we reached storm zone.</div><div align="justify"><br />Upon reaching I90 at Murdo we hooked up with Tony Gilbert and his team whom were also in the same area. Storm cells were starting to initiate just sout<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/915.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/915.jpg" border="0" /></a>h of Kadoka, in the Badlands region. This was to be our target. We only drifted 15 miles or so south of the I90 when we found our cell. It began to take great shape and structure and looked very good on radar. After winding through the very photogenic Badlands area we sourced a good local road with relatively flat terrain and a good viewpoint. It seemed we were not the only chasers in town, including a DOW were parked up. We cleared the circus and found our spot. Vehicles emptied and cameras started rolling. The storm produced some famtastic structure including a great wall cloud. Many funnels teased us with touchdown but none visibly made it. I found a great spot for a few photos with a very photogenic 'Little house on the Prairie' in the foreground. I watched the wall cloud roll straight over it and funnels galore dropped right over the house. We must have stayed there a good 30 mins until the time came when we had to move, to keep away from the precip and stay in tow with the storm, which was issued a tornado warning. As we all made our way back to the vehicles someone screamed look behind you. Within 50 feet a dust devil landed and blew straight past us. There was high pitched scream associated with it and my first thoughts were a tornado was initiating. Fortunately, for us, it never and it must have been an associated spin-up. We watched it disappear into the distance, actually towards the other chasers parked up. I learned later in the day that this dust devil created quite a bit of chaos in a nearby town as it passed through and someone had caught it all on video.</div><div align="justify"><br />The next hour or so turned out to be quite eventful. The plan was to track NE in an effort to sit alongside the storm and catch it at various opportunities. For<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/099.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 136px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" height="187" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/099.jpg" border="0" /></a> a slow moving storm this turned out to be more difficult than predicted. Whilst I had the exact location of the storm and the vehicle's position on radar we could just not get away from the hail. Initially we were close to the bear's cage (NE of the meso very close to the core). Later reports indicate a rain wrapped tornado here! Visibly and via radar we eventually got well away from the main core but still were getting hammered with large hail (dime). The noise of hail on metal was intense. At one stage we pulled under an Interstate bridge, causing Ian to scrape the vehicle along a safety barrier! However, I was concerned that if we were to stay here we would never get ahead of the storm. We decide to press on an drive through the precip. Eventually we got clear but it took a good while and I have never experienced hail so intense so far away from the main core. We were on the edge of the anvil and still getting battered! An indication of the updraughts and outflow associated with this cell. The usual buzz and chatter had gone very silent in the cheap seats. I think our guests had just been stunned into silence, with the occasional onset of panic. Welcome to the Alley chaps!</div><div align="justify"><br />We eventually reached a point when we just had to let go and decide to blow south. Thoughts of positioning for tomorrow. We picked up on the dryline storms firing as we drifted south and picked off some great stuff near Springview in North central Nebraska. At one point we hit a monstrous road work section keeping us parked for a good 15 mins. As we waited the most glorious mammatus show emerged on the flank of an anvil. Cameras began firing. We also had some epic lightning displays above us as we continued driving south. Very tired and in dire need of rest we thought about accommodation. Not much about in this neck of the woods but we eventually found a reasonable shack on 20 in Oneill, Nebraska. The hand delivered Pizza and beer was most welcome, unlike the swarm of mossies attempting to hijack the fun!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/081%20mamma.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand" height="150" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/081%20mamma.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0062.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0062.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">A few more images here:-<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9878_9879pan.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9878_9879pan.jpg</span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9870.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9870.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9871.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9871.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> </span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9858.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9858.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9850.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/9850.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0062.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0062.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0029.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0029.jpg</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0075.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day1/0075.jpg</span></a><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/915.jpg"></a></div><div align="center"><br />------------------------------------------------------------<br /></div><div align="justify">Day 3 - June 7th<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0021.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 168px; CURSOR: hand" height="188" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0021.jpg" border="0" /></a>Awoke very early through excitement of another potential excellent chase day. However, the models left us in a bit of a dilemma. The severe play of the day was going to be high plains, Iowa and Wisconsin area with some incredible flow patterns within the atmosphere. SPC recognised this with a high risk. The down side to this play was a) the extreme speed at which storms would be travelling, making for hard chasing and b) the storms would quickly evolve into a linear mess and become virtually unchaseable. The other potential play was a lot further south and not picked up by all the models, and hence the risk of a bust. NE Oklahoma had the potential, if released, for explosive convection with dew points forecast in the low 70's and CAPE's as high as 6000. Deep level shear was never going to be as good as the north play but could be sufficient to provide a show.</div><div align="justify"><br />This is where chasing becomes a bit of a nightmare, weighing up which option to play. I also made a few calls to my valued local nowcasters. There would still be plenty of mileage to any target area. I decided the south play would be the choice. Mainly because subsequent forecasts were looking like central plains chases and which would keep us in a reasonable target area. </div><div align="justify"><br />With a long drive ahead, we continued east and then dropped immediately south on 81 through Nebraska and into Kansas, towards the 35 into Oklahoma. It took us all day and a full circle of shifts in driving but we broke Oklahoma approx 6pm. Updates on the forecasts were now showing the potential for NE OK and SE KS. SPC had now caught up on this and extended their risk area to reflect this together with increasing it to a Mod risk. Things were looking good. </div><div align="justify"><br />As we approached the OK/KS state border one of the things we noticed, via the Baron system, was a surface convergence zone setting up almost directly ahead of us. This became visual with a line of towering cu's building up in what looked to be the Ponca City area. This was to be our target. We headed east on the 177/60 through Ponca City and stopped to assess. NWS were issuing many advisories for potential explosive convection, via the weather radio. However, as we were witnessing, convection was struggling to overcome a pretty strong CAP. Time was moving on and we were hoping something could get going before dark.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We sat and watched, and even the local sheriff pulled up and joined us. <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0134.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px" height="204" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0134.jpg" border="0" /></a>Eventually one cell right above us got going and became the first storm to exert a signature on the radar. Great shout we claimed! It started to explode into life, cracking open the CAP, and whilst it would have been nice to stop and time-lapse it all, we had to move. It was moving and the road network was not brilliant along its immediate path. The Kaw city area was riddled with water and few options to move. We pursued the storm as it grew in stature and watched some pretty explosive and impressive convection. We managed to get into position and take the odd photo stop. Shame it wasn't an hour or two earlier as light was fading, making photography difficult. No sooner had Andrew got his tripod set up, I was shouting "time to move". Who said capturing moving storms was easy?</div><div align="justify"><br />We tracked the cell as it moved NE towards the SE corner of Kansas. By now this had become the OK storm of the day (and night!). Occasionally the road network became a tad difficult and we had to hit many a dirt track to maintain our position. We were also in constant comms with Tony and his vehicle behind via the two-way radios, which proved a valuable piece of kit. At one point Ian attempted to wipe us all out completely by playing chicken with a freight train at a level crossing. Fortunately the barrier saved our lives as well as nearly slicing off our roof as we skidded up to it!</div><div align="justify"><br />That proved to be the point of no return. Darkness was near and we decided to let go and head for accommodation. We arrived in Coffeyville, SE KS shortly after.</div><div align="justify"><br />Little did we know as we booked into the Best Western, that a new line of storms had fired to our SW and heading straight for us! One of which went tornadic. After some food refuelling we all agreed to drive away from the town and stop for some lightning photography. We were treated to the usual spectacular lightning show from the passing storm. A few hours later and memory cards full we finally retreated to the hotel. The usual close of play activities ensued for me - downloading images onto laptop, recharging batteries, email and quick analysis of the following day's forecasts. Tomorrow was going to be a down day by the looks, but I had a cunning plan to fill the time! By now Ian's snoring was infectious. I needed sleep!<br /></div><div></div><div>More images here:-</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0018.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/0018.jpg</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/075_077.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day2/075_077.jpg</span></a> </div><div></div><div align="center">------------------------------------------------------------ </div><div>Day 4 - June 8th<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/226_227pan.jpg"></a>After a pretty hectic 2 days today was a down day. We would use this as a travel day in readiness for positioning on Saturday (which is currently looking like an east Colorado or west Kansas play). After a lazy brekkie we called into the local Coffeyville police dept in order to sort out some paperwork for Jerome and his lost passport, which was still probably orbiting the earth somewhere! In the meantime Ian and Andrew took time out to visit the local Fire station, situated opposite the Police Dept. In fact we all befriended the Coffeyville officers. We were probably the talk of the town for many weeks since it seemed nothing much happened in Coffeyville, according to these guys. Four Englishmen in town was big news!</div><div align="justify"><br />Paperwork signed off we were on our way, heading east acros Kansas. I thought it would be a good opportunity to drive through Greensburg, recently hit by a strong tornado, in order to show the guys just how bad it gets over here when a bad tornado comes to town. In addition, I called my colleague Jon Finch, who works at the Dodge City NWS and he offered to show the guys around the NWS office. A busy down day in the end.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Our eastward trail, via the 166 and then 160, spanned the entire scenic state of Kansas. Flat lands, wheat fields and hills, we passed through it all. Ironically, we had to stop for roadworks in Harper and it was directly outside my adopted friends, the Mathes family farm. That sure brought back memories from 2004!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Once we got back on the northern track and approach to Greensburg we started to see tornado damage. Well outside of the town there was plenty of destruction, which paled into insignificance as we drove into Greensburg. My jaw hit the ground when I saw what hat occurred. I had seen tornado damage before in the UK and US, more isolated but never anything as widespread as this. It resembled the aftermath of a nuclear bomb. Every single property either gone or a pile of rubble. The bare stalks of trees the only sign that once there was life in this town. It was truly jaw dropping. Although very difficult, and sensitive, I pulled over alongside the army camp and spoke to the commander in charge. He allowed me access to take photos. After about an hour I was feeling very uncomfortable, as were the other guys, which I could sense. Personal possesions were still spread all over the place, each telling their own story. We did not stay much longer. I felt physically sick and the event struck a real chord with me. Little did I know it would be the start of the Greensburg journey for me.</div><div align="justify"><br />We continued eastwards heading for Dodge City, the NWS office where a colleague Jonathan Finch was working and who had invited us over for a brief tour of the office. Jon had been helping us with nowcasting over the past few days and I am in frequent comms with regards a future trip planned for Bangladesh. The Dodge NWS ofice is not huge but has a great outlook from the east side of the City sitting at the top of Airport Road hill. Jon showed us the hardware and software they use to forecast and issue warnings, which included the warning they sent out on the night of the Greensburg tornado. President Bush actually telephoned this office and personally thanked one of Jon's colleagues who provided the warning on that night. It was a sure life saver warning. Having seen the damage it was more amazing that fatalities were at 12. A sure credit to the NWS people.</div><div align="justify"><br />After our brief tour we stopped over at Dodge City in the Best Western and met up with Jon for a great steak dinner at Montan Mike's. A few beers in Peppercorn's bar after sure concluded an eventful and reflecting day. A usual look at the forecasts for the next day and I was happy with our position. SE Colorado looked favourable.</div><div align="center"><br />-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div>Day 5 - June 9th<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/226_227pan.jpg"></a><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0285.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0285.jpg" border="0" /></a>Awoke with the first thick head of the trip! Jumping from bed to laptop and checking the latest model forecasts. Not a significant severe weather day expected but I was hoping something could be worth seeing on the lea slopes of the Rockies to our west. Deep level shear was not looking significant, but the upslope envronment and local topography would assist with driving moisture along this corridor. My initial target was Lemar in SE Colorado. </div><div align="justify"><br />The 400 and 50 west would see us out of Kansas and into Colorado. Not too long a drive but still a good few hours ahead of us. As we entered Colorado and passed through the first small town of Holly we noticed plenty of fresh looking tornado damage. A later Google search identified that one person was killed during the tornado that struck Holly a few months back. It hit a mobile home killing a lady. Her husband and children were rescued from trees some distance away having been displaced via the winds. As if Greensburg was not enough, another sombre reminder.</div><div align="justify"><br />We arrived in Lamar shortly after and lunched at the usual calorie counter take-out. Upon returning the car we noticed a subtle line of Cu developlment in what was an otherwise almost clear sky to our SW. The start of something? We hurried into chase mode and got on the road. It certainly was. These tiny Cu's developed and one in particular took strength and grew into a nice looking supercell. We tracked and followed it around some nice scenic backyard tracks around Hasty and Caddoa until it tracked back over Lamar, where we had started. This was the first and best looking cell to produce of the day in this area. We had chosen well. </div><div align="justify"><br />Plenty of photo ops along the way as we chased. Some good structure<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0462700pix.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0462700pix.jpg" border="0" /></a>, albeit high based, and excellent lightning. As we tracked south east and north, through Two Buttes (graet name for a town!) and back to Holly we saw some really impressive gust front structure with many ground spin ups. By now the entire area had evolved into a linear mcs and was all heading eastwards. It was now getting dark so we just kept going with it as this was to be our ultimate direction for tomorrow and the airport run. We passed back through Dodge City and the NWS office where the storm was now getting pretty aggressive with plenty of lightning. The Dodge NWS would have had a great view of this coming!</div><div align="justify"><br />It was time to call it a day and we needed to get within spitting distance of the Kansas City airport run for tomorrow. We made Larned in Kansas and our trip was all but over, bar the flying.</div><div><br />More images here:-</div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/460_465pannew.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/460_465pannew.jpg</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/242_243.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/242_243.jpg</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/282_284.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/282_284.jpg</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/313_314pan.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/313_314pan.jpg</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0444.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0444.jpg</span></a></div><div><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0263.jpg"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/Chase%2007/Day4/0263.jpg</span></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div align="center">-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /><strong>Closing Words</strong></div><div align="justify"><br />A short trip this year but at least there was a trip! In hindsight, the predicted super tornado did not happen but it could have and more importantly if it did then we would have been on the right storms to see it! Shame really because I really wanted it for Andrew (editor of Practical Photography) and his article and of course Jerome and Ian. However, we saw some great storms and they felt the ferocity of Mother Nature that's for sure.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Equipment wise and once again Olympus has done me proud. I took 2 E1's and glad so because I used them simultaneously frequently. I must say my favourite front runner for lens of the trip, for this kind of work, is the 7-14mm by a long way. It really is a quality piece of glass and encapsulates the huge subject matter with ease.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />In addition, the built -in dust cleaning mechanism, as always, is a life saver, as is the weather proofing. I had to clear at least two layers of mud from the housing afterwards. Not a problem on the outside cause the inside is nice 'n dry & clean. </div><div align="justify"><br />Big thanks again to Olympus for making this possible. Also thank you to Jon Finch and Karl Schulze for the local nowcasting. </div><div align="justify"><br />In addition, thanks to the guys of course for accompanying me - Ian without the navigation, driving (ha ha), and balanced forecasting decisions this chase would not have been possible. Andrew for showing we what a REAL photographer can do (especially love the fire truck contortionist trick) & Jerome for rubbing in my face the new E510 and all of its tricks (Your passport is still probably orbiting the planet somewhere!).</div><div align="justify"><br />Can't wait for the E3 and next trip.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div></div><div align="left">Signing Off.</div><div>Mark Humpage.<br />June 2007</div></div></div>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-9444841539652954022007-06-03T19:51:00.000+01:002007-06-03T20:03:14.815+01:00USA Stormchase Trip - Green LightIt has been a long, long wait but a great looking storm pattern is now in place for next week, especially Wed 6th June within the Plains of USA, or commonly known as Tornado Alley. Convective parameters are now in place (and consistent through different model runs) for a significant severe weather outbreak. Tornadoes and indeed very strong events are expected.<br /><br />I am now in the process of arranging flights to Denver, Colorado. My target is to arrive on Tuesday in readiness for the first effective day of stormchasing. I have the editor of Practical Photography ( a National camera magazine) in tow as well as a representative from my sponsors, Olympus. If the forecasts come good then I'm sure there will be plenty of fodder to fill a magazine!<br /><br />I'll be keeping the blog up to date throughout the trip and hopefully include some photos.<br /><br />Mark HumpageMark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-26963291412094487322007-04-20T18:46:00.000+01:002007-07-11T14:05:57.556+01:00Severn Bore April 2007 - Microlight<a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/332_333pan.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/332_333pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 370px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/332_333pan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><br />Photographing the Severn Bore is always an exciting spectacle for me. Something I have been doing for a few years now. Today's shoot was something special mind and which I had planned on doing for a while....capturing the event from the skies or specifically whilst flying in an open air microlight. </div><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">The first problem in the planning process was to loacte a microlight club or owner close enough to the event and then a tie down a specific time of a specific day. Tidal Bores do not happen every day. They work around the Spring tidal flow or when the tidal range is greatest. On certain days, mainly in the Spring and Autumn, the tidal height is at a maximum. The leading edge of the approaching high tide on these days produces a big wave. Tidal heights vary not just on the natural gravitational ocean movements but also depending on local weather conditions and the volume of standing water within the river. April 20th was planned to be a good event so a month or two prior I trawled the net looking for clubs and contacts. Eventually, after a few weeks I managed to obtain a local pilot by the name of Rob Keene who resides in Over Farm, west of Gloucester, and right on the river.<br /></p><p align="justify">After many a logistical chat the day was set and I was making a very early start en route to Gloucester. Arriving at Over Farm just before daylight I met Rob and he showed me around the place. A busy guy with a working farm, shop and microlight hangar or two to the rear of his land.<br /></p><p align="justify">We had to be in the air reasonably early in order to fly into position as the bore enters the severn estuary. A safety brief and all equipment clinging around my neck I boarded the craft. The microlight reminded me of 'Little Nelly' from the Jamed Bond film 'You Only Live Twice'. It too was yellow although no heat seeking rockets on this one! It was the first time I had ever been in a microlight and whilst excited I was conscious of the fact that I was there not for a joyride but a purpose. To take photographs of the bore as it made its way up river.<br /></p><p align="justify">We accellerated over a bumpy field and then all of a sudden we swept upwards, turning at the same time. <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/077.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/077.jpg" align="left" border="0" /></a>All too quickly houses turned into tiny boxes and roads turned into lines on a map. Wow I thought, this was fun. The view was amazing. The Severn river became the dominant feature from the sky, snaking around the numerous towns before disappearing into the horizon towards the Severn Bridge. Visibility was excellent. I quickly tested the comms by speaking to Rob via the mic attached to my helmet and swung my equipment camera in effort to see how it felt. It was not going to be easy. The Olympus E1 had the stunning 90-250mm lens and a 1.4 TC attached. That made it the length of my arm. Now add to that a 70mph crosswind and my own helmet visor and I knew this was going to be a tall order. At one point I almost resigned myself to the fact that this was not going to work (photography) as it was just <b>too</b> difficult. Not just the weight of all the equipment but the wind was absolutely freezing. It may have been a pleasant 14C on the ground but up here 500ft in the air it was near freezing! </p><p align="justify">A few minutes later following the river Rob comes through on the comms that he has a sighting of the bore. I was struggling at first but eventually caught sight of it. It barely appeared as a ripple at this height but I immediately sprung the camera into action. I switched to continuous focus and shot away, attempting to work on the best composition for each shot. I instructed Rob where to go and over the course of the next hour and a half we got some spectacular footage. I was amazed at how much the bore changes in appearance through the differing sections of the river. At times we were struggling to see the leading edge, no more than a ripple. Then out of nowhere a huge breaking wave would appear and rip all in its path. Surfers were constant on the bore and something I had got used to over the years. They made a great subject on the bore to demonstrate perspective. I was having big problems keeping my helmet on too. I could only get my eye near the viewfinder by lifting the helmet visor. With a 70mph wind attacking you there were occasions when my helmet nearly blew off.<br /></p><p align="justify">My hands were frozen solid after about 15 mins into the flight. <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/059.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/059.jpg" align="left" border="0" /></a>Thereafter I don't really know how I keep it all together with the shutter release and setting play. There was also a couple of storage card changes. I recall Rob telling me not to drop anything at all costs, as it would end up going through the prop blades and taking us down. They were the most deliberate and cautious card changes I had ever carried out! There were also a few 'white knukle' moments as Rob twisted, turned and dived in one manoevre. I was close to chucking on more than one occasion. It was all good fun though and I had a suitcase of images. What the results would be was a different matter, in such testing shoot conditions.<br /></p><p align="justify">We eventually landed shortly after following the bore to its dissipation at Maisemore weir. I was visibly shaking upon landing and it must have taken a good hour for this to stop, such was the adrenalin (or was it terror?) running through ny veins. It was an unbelievable shoot, the toughest I have ever undertaken in very testing conditions for a camera. Bearing in mind I am more akin to running after tornadoes and explosive storms that is saying something!<br /></p><p align="justify">My Olympus gear performed flawlessly. After downloading and viewing the photographs I was floored not only with the quality but the quantity of great shots. I was pleased, very pleased. In conditions like these one puts a lot of faith in equipment and boy did it perform (again). I keep pushing this Olympus gear to beyond its limits and it just keeps fighting back. Pretty amazing!<br /></p><p align="justify">I have witnessed and captured the essence of the bore from start to finish in all her glory and ups and downs. I feel privileged.<br /></p><p align="justify">Many photos from the shoot can be seen by following this link<br /><a href="http://markhumpage.blogspot.com/2007/07/severn-bore-microlight-april-2007.html">Photos only</a><br><br />Mark Humpage<br />April 2007</p>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-983100264658912801.post-51074083057619920422007-04-19T21:07:00.003+01:002008-02-23T12:21:24.820+00:00Severn Bore April 07 - Microlight Photos only<p>Severn Bore Microlight April 2007 - Photos only<br /><br /><p>All photographs are copyright Mark Humpage and must not be copied or used without prior permisssion of the owner. Click on the thumbnail to view photos.<br /><br />Equipment:<br />Camera Olympus E1<br />Lens 90-250mm & 1.4 TC<br /><br /><P><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/077.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/077.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/082.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/082.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/087.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/087.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/221.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/221.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/232.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/232.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/059.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/059.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/067.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/067.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/119.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/119.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/132.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/132.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/140.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/140.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/149.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/149.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/110.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/110.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/115.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/115.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/127.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/127.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/128.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/128.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/203.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/203.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/065.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/065.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/139.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/139.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/204.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/204.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/247.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/247.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/155.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/155.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/285.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/285.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/292.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/292.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/070.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/070.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/092.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/092.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/199.jpg "><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/199.jpg " border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/169.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/169.jpg" border="0" /></a> <BR><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/332_333pan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mhweather.co.uk/_guest_/332_333pan.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mark Humpagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07257573665406645258noreply@blogger.com1