Overview

Have you ever dreamed of capturing amazing photos of mother nature's most sensational fireworks but didn't know how to figure out where to be and when? Join us on a three-day exhilarating adventure where you will learn the secrets and the science of determining where the storms are most likely to be and, as importantly, where you should be in relation to them to capture the best image. There is nothing quite like the adrenalin rush you experience when you chase a mammoth storm cell and then capture its power. 

Unlike other storm chasing workshops, ours will not only teach you how to shoot lightning during the day and night, but how to shoot it in a scenic environment that allows your composition to tell a story. 

Our programs cover:

• Advanced planning using weather maps and forecasts to select the best days and times to shoot
• Location and scene selection to create dramatic, stunning and unique photos
• Camera settings to ensure your shots turn out beautifully
• How to safely track and follow a storm to maximize your opportunity to capture its lightning. 
• Post-processing in Lightroom, Photoshop.

We will also be shooting rainbows, sunsets, haboobs, and the Milky Way if possible. You may also have a chance to photograph elusive sprites, red cold plasma lightning above the cumulous storm clouds. Each day and night will bring a new adventure and fantastic photos. 

Expect to capture old west windmills, ranches, barns, mountain ranges, and fertile valleys as foregrounds as dramatic storm clouds roll into the scene and explode with beautiful lightning. We will photograph iconic fields of Saguaro, Barrel, and Prickly Pear Cactus in perspectives only seen in the southern Arizona high desert. 

What to expect

Day One:

Storms are fairly consistent in this area during the afternoons. If possible we ask that you arrive in the morning so we can start chasing this first day. If not, we look forward to all participants arriving at the hotel by 2:00 pm. After checking in and getting settled we will meet for an introductory dinner and drinks at 4:30 PM at the hotel restaurant. Dinner may be pre-empted by an existing storm that we will chase. We can find something to eat after the storm. We will discuss the basics of storm chasing and lightning photography and our chase plan for the weekend.  At that time we can answer questions about the upcoming weekend, locations, or anything else.   

Day Two:

We will meet at the hotel for our first storm chasing discussion. We will cover the basics of determining where and when a storm will strike and how to plan your location. 

After this, we will head out to the days destination to start taking photos of lighting. If the storms continue into the evening we will grab a quick meal and follow the storms until they end.

Day Three:

Sunday morning we will gather at the hotel for breakfast and class on more advanced chasing techniques and processing storm images. We will then choose the locations for the day's chase and head out. If the storms continue into the evening we will grab a quick meal and follow the storms until the end. 

Choose your Dates

Our Team

 Robert Gallucci - Internationally recognized and award-winning photographer whose images have appeared on all major television networks, printed journals, and galleries throughout the United States. Rob also teaches photography at the local college and runs live and virtual basic and advanced photography and post-processing classes throughout the year. 

Lori Grace Baily - One of the countries leading storm chasers and teachers, Lori's work has appeared in major publications and television outlets. With an almost sixth sense that comes from her deep understanding of how to read the scientific data from weather maps, Lori can be counted on to be at the right place, at the right time to capture award-winning photos. Whether chasing tornados in the mid-west, haboobs in the southwest, or elusive sprites when conditions are right, Loris's intimate knowledge of a storm's lifecycle allows her to consistently get shots most people only dream of. Lori is also the current director of Monsoon Con, a three-day learning event on how to storm chase with success.