Interview with photographer 'Susan Strom' the 'Lightning Lady' ~~~
Recently, I watched a segment on the Weather Channel about the 'Lightning Lady' and her wonderful photography, I decided to contact her for an interview.
Hello Susan tell us about yourself and how you got started in photographing lightning storms?
A close call with lightning in 1994 made me fearful at first, then compelled me to learn more about how lightning works. I was already a photographer, so adding lightning photography to my quest for knowledge helped me look at lightning for a longer time than it allows us in nature. Once the lightning exposure was learned, I was hooked. That was over 10 years ago. I am still shooting lightning, now having traveled to 10 states to chase storms.
How can you tell when the rain storms are among us? One natural way to tell the rain is coming is by the scent of the creosote bush. This is the smell of desert rain. The bush responds to humidity, emitting a strong aroma. Another sign of incoming thunderstorms is the dust/sandstorm.
It is a 2000' wall of sand that engulfs entire cities. It is caused by outflow, which results from the collapse of thunderstorms behind it.
Creosote Bush
Where old thunderstorms exist, new ones are sure to follow, becoming evident when the sand wall has passed.
What other locations do you shoot weather photos? I have shot in 10 states, the Southwest,Northern Plains, Southern Plains, and Tornado Alley.
I know that you may be asked this a lot, but how did you get the name "Lightning Lady?"
The name was given to me by Tempe Camera in 1999. It was an El Nino year. I brought roll after roll of lightning into the lab for processing. Len Bahl, the manager, gave me the name and it stuck.
I realize that there are especially very dangerous lightning storms in the Arizona desert, how do you protect yourself from the risk of danger? And what advice could you give to people who would like to begin photographing lightning storms? Lightning photography carries risk. The upside is that better photography results from being further away. Safe distances yield more foreground such as mountains and entire storm towers, for much more beautiful shots. Taking pictures as the storm comes in or is going away, rather than while overhead, works better for many reasons.
I do not shoot in the rain. Desert rain shafts can be high-risk areas for cloud-to-ground lightning, although lightning can occur or shoot out at any time. I recommend learning how lightning operates, how it works, before attempting to photograph. The physics are surprising. Protection is essential. Standing out in the open with lightning close by is tempting fate, and is not recommended.
Surprisingly, it is the experienced chasers who tend to take more precaution. Experienced chasers know more about how storms behave, and where they shoot be or should not be. Education is the key to increasing safety and to better photography too.
What other types of photos do you take? I have been chasing tornadoes for 5 years. Tornados, storms and super cells are inspiring. Tornadoes have a dark side however, and it is hard to see damage first hand and talk to those who have lost homes. This is the part of chasing in the Plains that is hard to swallow. Although lightning can be deadly, lightning to me is pure beauty, possessing much more light than darkness.
One last question, where can your photos be purchased? My contact page has a link to a gallery where posters are available.
