Sunday 8 July 2012

In the eye of the storm: Photographer captures breathtaking pictures of Midwest twisters that show incredible beauty in the swirling chaos

By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 06:27, 8 July 2012 | UPDATED: 08:45, 8 July 2012

Photographer Camille Seaman didn’t originally begin photographing storms. In fact, it was her 8-year-old daughter who suggested that she chase the weather. At first, she was keen on taking expeditions to The Arctic and Antarctica, photographing icebergs, but after her daughter suggested storms as subject matter, Ms Seaman was hooked.
And that’s what exists when the artistic eye meets the chaos of the storm – swirling cloud patterns, sheets of rain, and gusts of wind captured in a moment. The Emeryville, California-based photographer told CNN that she began storm chasing in 2008, mostly throughout the Midwest.
She said that she had a good amount of help from experienced meteorologists. She said: ‘There is definitely some luck involved, and skill on the part of the forecaster and navigator.’ She said that the lack of control is in itself invigorating. ‘All I can do is make sure I am ready for the few moments I have,’ she said.

Alien landscape: This Low Precipitation Supercell develops with tops climbing to 60,000 ft; the rotation was so great that it formed a beautiful swirling barber pole formation which rapidly transformed into a lovely mesocyclonic (rotating) cloud.

We allowed the storm to pass over our heads as darkness descended and watched the lightening illuminate the structure.

Words of the photographer: She wrote - 'We allowed the storm to pass over our heads as darkness descended and watched the lightening illuminate the structure'

Hazy: The smoke from fires burning in distant Colorado added a red oily color to the sunset and influenced the storm colour

Enveloped: 'We allowed the storm to pass over our heads as darkeness descended and watched the lightening illuminate the structure'

Passing over: The clouds move along, coming closer to the photographer and her team

Weather watchers: A group of storm chasers watch as the clouds pass over them

Grey and gold: The storm clouds form across fields of grain

Tracking down: Ms Seaman followed the clouds to some wheat fields near Gurley, Nebraska

Pouring: The furious storm clouds dump rain on the fields of wheat

Waves of grain: A close-up shot of the grain as the storm sets in

Formation: The clouds start to form

Calm after the storm: The clouds clear to reveal a bluer sky