I don’t chase tornadoes, although I get the appeal. Adrenalin is the most powerful and seductive drug – speaking as a former street paramedic, I know.
What I do, though, is chase moments. Or, not so much chase, as wait for them to arrive – as they do every day without fail. All moments are good, but some moments are better than others.
I’m road testing the kit I’ll be taking to Greenland, which will include the Canon T4i, and happened to be in the right place, right time, the other day, in the middle of Michigan’s largest wind array, not far from my home. Click the pictures for larger versions.
We’ve had a lot of wet weather, I’m not sure if it’s a record, but it is remarkable. Flooded fields have kept a lot of farmers from being able to  plant normally. Gratiot County, where these are located, has an average household income of just under $40,000, and a fair amount of that comes from farming.
Fortunately, the steady income provided to local landowners by these turbines helps buffer against the increasing impact of weather whiplash – extreme drought last year, extreme rain this year – keeping families on their land, and giving rural communities a development model more positive than just hoping for a new prison – a big rural growth industry of late.
Peter–
Nice shots! I find that fairly distant turbines often disappear in my pictures when I take ’em on a bright, sunny, albeit hazy day. You got some serious contrast goin’ on in these. Hope prep for your big trip is going well…
Best,
Jim
Nice shots Peter. Good luck on the trip. Shame you had to take pics of those big ugly eyesores 😉 http://wp.me/a2fD5I-fr
Assuming the eyesores you refer to are the turbines, just remember that every time you open the frig door and expect the light to come on and the beer to be cool, you accept the endless rows of pylons and cables that blight landscapes hither and yon. Wind turbines are at least elegant.
You didn’t click on my link, did you?
I did, but it didn’t appear to have any relevance.
Hang on, I didn’t scroll down far enough…. Sorry, It’s highly relevant. Shite! Tar sands make a helluva mess don’t they!!
you are forgiven
Check this link out too – a really important contribution to enlightening the public as to what the biblical-scale devastation is really like – required viewing.
http://www.businessinsider.com/canadian-oil-sands-flyover-2012-5/
I love the visual drama of low sun under dark clouds.
That one’s my favorite also (#2 in the series, if that’s the one you’re referencing). Actually quite pretty for a no-frills, straight-to-business machine, with the sun’s reflection occurring amid the tower.
Very nice. Almost looks like you’re using HDR in a couple photos.
HDR?
hell, I can’t even spell it.
Peter,
Re: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/04/climate-desk-live-climate-change-extreme-weather
There’s mention of a Livestream of the event, but I’m having some difficulty digging out exact info on that.
See also:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/06/one-meteorologistss-come-jesus-moment-climate-change
And I just downloaded Stu Ostro’s slide show. It’s huge but manageable. I’ll let you know if any particular slides should be noted.
-Ray
Re: the Live feed:
Just called Kate Graves. She sent me to ClimateDesk.org. Having a hard time loading the site (java plugin problem w/firefox)