July 9th, 2010 by Administrator

Yesterday I was down in Salida, Colo. looking for some interesting photos to make and I found a river water park in Buena Vista, Colo. It is used for kayaking, boating, rafting, cannoning, and any other type of river water sport. I managed to get there early enough that a few rafting tour companies were entering the water park to take tour guest down the river. I also got super lucky that some advanced to pro kayakers came to enjoy the nice weather and fast moving river.

Buena Vista Colo 7/7/2010 – A rafting tour heads down the Arkansas River at the Buena Vista Water Park.

Buena Vista Colo 7/7/2010 – A rafting tour heads down a swift channel at the Buena Vista Water Park.

Buena Vista Colo 7/7/2010 – A Kayaker preforms tricks across a gap at the Buena Vista Water Park.

After leaving the water park around noon, I decided to head south down to the Great National Sand Dunes. I was thinking about trying to get that typical sunset shot of the dunes and the mountains in the background but I figured that’s been done way to many times. I figured I would just see what I could do with the light I had and I really wanted to show the vast size of these dunes because not many people realize how tall the peaks are.

All in all I had a blast for a two night one day trip down to Salida, Colo.

Michael Carlson

July 2nd, 2010 by Administrator

I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to tour the CSU CHILL Radar site up in Greeley, Colo. today. My friend Kendell LaRoche is doing an internship at this site where he looks at different radar images to determine when precipitation is in the beginning stages of a developing thunderstorm. It was a great pleasure to meet Pat Kennedy the Facility Manager of CHILL. Both LaRoche and Kennedy showed me around and explained everything that went on at the CHILL Radar site. I was only there for about an hour so I tried to get as many frames as I could.

Pat Kennedy operates the CHILL dual polarization radar out in Greeley, COLO.

Dual Polarization Radar that is owned and operated by CSU.

Pat Kennedy operates the CHILL dual polarization radar out in Greeley, COLO.

Michael Carlson

June 27th, 2010 by Administrator

As the severe weather season is dying down and transitioning into more of a normal summer weather pattern of a stationary high pressure over the high plains, I find my self satisfied with how many successful severe weather days I was able to document. I find it boring to photograph clouds and other types of weather these days. I just feel its time to move on and go with more exciting projects. Here are a few frames I grab from a few days ago.

I would say its a rare thing to see airplanes flying under thunderstorms and I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time to capture this.

They come so close to developing tornadoes, as you can see the wall cloud right above this plane that is landing at DIA.

Torrential Rains over Eastern Colo.

Michael Carlson

June 21st, 2010 by Administrator

Third time is a charm. This very famous quote fits very nicely into this amazing day that I just had, and shared with my brother Eric Carlson and my close friend Eric Haave. So the other day I got my car back from the shop and had a new windshield installed, I thought to myself well now that I have everything fixed up I might as well go do some storm documentation. Took a look at the models for Sunday June 20, 2010 and I was so taken by how amazing Eastern Wyoming was looking for photogenic supercells that I called up my brother and Eric and we planned on heading up to Torrington, WY. This was the initial target for the day but things soon changed once cells started training over Chugwater, WY.

The first initial supercell that developed just north of Chugwater, WY quickly became an LP (Low Precipitation) supercell that eventually died as it moved into the stable air.

LP Supercell north of Chugwater, WY

LP Supercell north of Chugwater, WY

Once this supercell had moved into the stable air and died a new supercell formed just slightly north of Chugwater and quickly became rooted in the boundary layer.

Second supercell north of Chugwater.

This storm proceded to move southeast and develop a wall cloud with strong low level rotation.

This was the wall cloud that was just southeast of Chugwater, WY. There were previous funnel clouds directly over Chugwater, WY. but I was unable to get photos because I was driving.

Quickly after I snapped the wall cloud photograph, I could see the RFD(rear flank downdraft) cutting in and tornadogenesis underway.

At this point the the tornado’s life cycle, the condensation funnel dissipated and seemed to have lost strength but then reformed again.

The tornado finally dissipated and we moved south and east but then returned to Cheyenne, WY to get some dinner and say hello to Dann Cianca and Tony Laubach, who showed us the baseball hail stones they had collected.

All in all a very photogenic day and I couldn’t be happier with how the day went. I would like to say thanks to my brother and Eric Haave for tagging along and experiencing this amazing day with me.

Michael Carlson

June 11th, 2010 by Administrator

Well I got lucky today and saw a funnel cloud to the south of my house. I assume it was located over Parker, Colo. but I am not certain as I just spotted it and grabbed my camera to capture it. I laughed as it dissipated because I was pacing back and forth wondering how I could catch these storms. Well you might ask why not just go out with your car? The answer to that question is my car is stuck in the garage because I just had the windshield replaced today and can’t drive it till tomorrow. I might be out later tomorrow to photograph some late evening storms but not sure yet.

Funnel cloud over Parker, Colo.

Funnel cloud over Parker, Colo.

I found a gem in the most unlikely time.

Michael Carlson

June 8th, 2010 by Administrator

I haven’t done much storm photography or video this year because I feel I am in a major transition from the whole hobby all together. I have captured a lot of different weather phenomenons in the past five years and exceeded the goals I set for myself. It is only now that I realize it is time for a major change in the direction I go with this whole hobby. I find it less and less exciting every time I go out to view a thunderstorm. A tornado in a corn field is just a tornado in a corn field, but how do I take my photography to the next level and make those photos into stories and visually amazing. With the popularity of this so called “storm chasing” increasing exponentially, I feel its getting more dangerous to be on the road with all the reckless drivers. The transition from one way of thinking to the next is going to be a great thing for me.

Chasing the light is more of a photographer’s way of approaching storm documentation. I am going to start focusing more on the smaller weather events, away from the crowds and more for how the light could interact with thunderstorms. This will mean I miss big tornado outbreaks, miss the big severe weather events, and that “100% tornado/storm”. I know its hard for people to understand this decision but this is the way its going to be. So here is to new beginnings and a new way of approaching this hobby.

Dying thunderstorm in Eastern CO.

Maturing thunderstorm in Eastern CO.

Dying supercell near Kimball, NE.

Supercell near Kimball, NE showed signs of slight rotation but there was no sign of tornadogenesis.

Dying supercell near Kimbal, NE.

Eric Carlson walks by a fallen Kimball, NE sign.
Michael Carlson

May 20th, 2010 by Administrator

While most people think of the glitz and glam, slacking off, and party lifestyle of being in a rock band, there is a different side to ever band’s endeavors. As the recoding process continues, Honor The Fallen needed to scrap up a few bucks to aid their funds. What did they do you might ask? Well they decided to do some manual labor, shoveling rocks, digging up sprinkler systems and laying down grass.

Kenny(leftt) and Jerrod(right) shoveling rocks.

Matt shoveling rocks into a wheelbarrow.

Jerrod unloading rocks into the back of a trailer.

Dan grabbing a shovel but would rather be in the pool.

Like most bands there will be frustrations with writing new music and finding the best fit for certain tones, harmonies, and lyrics.

Matt and Kenny of Honor The Fallen writing lyrics for the new songs at Starbucks.

Michael Carlson

May 18th, 2010 by Administrator

There is constant beeping of the music click ringing through my head each day as the guys from Honor The Fallen push on recording a new song at BLUElight studios. Since the drums have been knocked out, Dan, Benny, and Jerrod have been laying down the guitar and bass tracks for each new song.

A typical day consists of waking up, working out, eating breakfast, and heading to the studio. Once they get to the studio the guitar tracking starts and then comes the bass tracks. A typical day lasts around 8 hours of hard work and recording to get everything sounding amazing.

Dan Ha and Cory Spotts recording.

Dan Ha and Cory Spotts recording.

Dan Ha of Honor The Fallen.

Dan Ha of Honor The Fallen.

Jerrod and Dan being goof balls in the studio.

Benny Thompson of Honor The Fallen.

Jerrod sleeps while Dan lays down his guitar parts for their first song.

Benny showing a blow fuse from his guitar head.

Honor The Fallen missing Matt.

Cory Spotts of BLUElight Studios tuning a bass guitar up for Jerrod.

Jerrod Fassler of Honor The Fallen.

Jerrod Fassler of Honor The Fallen.

The new sound of these amazing songs is going to blow everyone’s minds and begin a revolution.

Michael Carlson

May 16th, 2010 by Administrator

The sounds of blasting drums, whaling guitars, and obnoxious laughter from the dudes in the band Honor The Fallen. They embarked on this journey to Mesa, Ariz. to record their third and most anticipated album yet. With a 14 hour drive from their home town of Broomfield, Colo. to Mesa, Ariz. was filled with tons of laughs and minimal sleep. On arrival to Mesa, the band met up with Cory Spotts of BLUElight Audio|Media Studio and begun to set up drums. The first day was Kenny Sienkiewicz who recorded all his drum parts in a single sesson, it was incredible display of musicianship. On day two now and its time to lay down the guitar/bass sections of the new album.

I have been documenting this whole process non-stop and have the honor of sharing these photos and video (COMING SOON) with the world. I hope you enjoy and can get a sense and feeling of their recording process.

Jerrod Fassler of Honor The Fallen focuses on the road ahead.

Kenny and Dan enjoying the car ride to AZ and working on lyrics for the new songs.

Honor The Fallen checking out the fake dinosaurs in AZ.

Cory Spotts of BLUElight Audio|Media Studio

Kenny setting up his drums to start recording.

Jerrod ponders at the studio.

Kenny at BLUElight Audio|Media Studio for Honor The Fallen’s new CD

Benny and Dan watching the Office while Kenny lays down drums.

Jerrod Fassler of Honor The Fallen

Dan Ha of Honor The Fallen

Jerrod Fassler of Honor The Fallen

I still have a lot more photos to add and edit. Its a constant routine of adding photos/video editing it and now I am finally putting out there! Look for more to come.

Michael Carlson

May 2nd, 2010 by Administrator

I find myself in a rut today. Only four pages down on my mesoscale meteorology paper. I wanted to do a quick post and add some more photos from April 22, 2010. It was such an amazing day in terms of storm documentation, its still soaking in that I witnessed one of the most rare tornado events known to eastern Colorado. Nothing went wrong that day, my forecast verified after calling it out a week in advance, my new dash cam mount worked, we weren’t late to the storm, and lastly we didn’t have to drive that far.

Panoramic of the Las Animas supercell and tornado.

Hail 2.75″ destroyed my windshield.

A car drives down a dirt road covered with hail.

This day will forever stand in my history as one of the most successful storm documentation days I have ever had. The more I go out on my own I learn something new about myself and my driving passion for photography.

Michael Carlson