Storm Chase Tour Great Plains Workshops
Booking & General Workshop Information
- ALL WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: Professionally-led storm chasing along Tornado Alley. We will be chasing severe weather warned thunderstorms looking for interesting compositions, structure and light. During the entirety of our workshops our guides will be teaching about mesocyclones and what we seek while storm chasing. We will also be offering artist-assisted photography led by experienced meteorologists and industry-leading fine art landscape photographers, comfortable, clean lodging, detailed weather briefings and tutoring in photography, editing and more.
- WHAT WE WILL SEE: Our storm chase photo workshops give our clients a chance to see and capture tornadic and supercell thunderstorms capable of producing strong and severe weather, including multiple funnels, lightning, lime green hail clouds, tornadoes and uniquely beautiful sculpted cloud structure. We position our workshops as safely as possible to maximize our time with each storm cell so clients can capture interesting compositions and be educated while witnessing a severe-warned thunderstorm.
- WHAT WE EAT: Our workshops will give clients a chance for a breakfast options including small-town restaurants when possible. During our chase commute during the daytime, we will likely be eating many of our lunch and dinner meals “on the run.” Depending on location and placement, our workshops will attempt to break for one restaurant meal each day if possible, which generally takes place at lunchtime. It should be noted that our likely beginning of our storm chasing can begin in the late afternoon and continue until near dark. Because of this late finish, especially in many places of the rural Midwest/tornado alley, most restaurants may be closed before we complete our chase day. As this will be the likely scenario for evenings, eating dinner late at night is sometimes difficult and we recommend you keep extra food and beverage options with you for your own late-night snacks in the event we cannot obtain a restaurant environment.
- WHAT MY WORKSHOP FEE PAYS FOR: Hotel accommodations during the entirety of the workshop scheduled dates (*excluding early arrival day/departure day) See this page for more info. All gas, tolls and driving fees during the workshop. An optional continental breakfast (breakfast granola bars, fruit, pastries and coffee/juice/water) in addition to a basic breakfast offered at our motel lodging. Tutoring on severe weather systems, photography including composition, mechanics and the editing process.
- WHAT AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR: Your airfare/travel to and from the Base City of your workshop if applicable. We will be picking up clients within 2 miles of the Base City Airport when our workshop begins when possible. You are also resposible for booking and paying for 2 nights of hotel rooms (the night before the chase workshop begins and last night of the workshop). Aside from a provided continental breakfast, all food and beverages while on the workshop are your responsibility to obtain. Any incidentals that come up while on the workshop.
- HOW DO I PAY FOR MY WORKSHOP: Our workshops offer our participants several ways to conveniently pay their workshop deposit and total balance with a credit card via Square payment. The transaction on our individual booking pages are secure, fast and easy to navigate. Upon receipt of your completed workshop payment we will send your confirmed electronic invoice via e-mail. *To pay using credit card: you must first sign the agreement listed on the booking page for your workshop.
- WHAT DOES MY DEPOSIT PAY FOR: Your $500.00 non-refundable deposit reserves your single individual workshop. You have the option to pay for your remaining workshop cost at any time up to 60 days before the workshop begins. If you decide to cancel or reschedule your workshop, please let us know before the 60 day deadline to refund your remaining balance.
- WHAT CLOTHES DO I BRING: Clients should plan on bringing one medium-sized suitcase or similar sized travel bag as well as one personal bag that will accommodate your photography gear. We highly recommend clients to pack lightly so we can keep our travel vehicles comfortable for every guest. We typically wear the following - T-shirts, shorts, light jackets or windbreakers, jeans, sturdy flip-flops and shoes that can get muddy, dirty and wet.
- WHAT CAMERA GEAR DO I BRING: Aside from bringing your camera (DSLR or mirrorless cameras suggested) we recommend a wide-angle lens, medium length and telephoto zoom lens if possible. An intervalometer (wired cable release) is recommended for long exposures. We also suggest bringing a wide array of memory cards and batteries for your camera. Check our FAQ page for more detailed recommendations on camera gear.
- IS THERE A PEAK TIME TO CHASE: Highlighted by the Storm season in Tornado Alley begins in March and ends in early August. The early portion of the season takes place primarily in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas and moves north to northeast Colorado, Nebraska and the Dakotas in July. The very best time to chase is from April to late August. Our signature 10 day workshops have the best chance of seeing a tornado and other incredible storm structures because there are more chase days and flexibility allotted.