Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

Storm Chaser Book

By Zoe Cassell

JAW-DROPPING images by a professional stormchaser showing gigantic weather phenomena mere minutes away from unleashing destruction have been released in a new book.

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

Entitled ‘Storm Chaser’, these spine-tingling photographs show terrifyingly close tornados and electric lightening displays across the plains of the USA.

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

The adrenaline junkie behind the camera is photographer Mike Olbinski, a husband and father-of-three from Phoenix, Arizona.

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

“I’m so blessed to have a job where I can also take my kids along for the ride,” he said.

“When I first began this journey, it wasn’t for money or fame. I didn’t have any goals. Pure and utter passion drove me.”

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

Mike found internet fame in 2011 when a time-lapse he shot of a giant dust storm consuming his hometown went viral.

“I stood on a parking garage overlooking downtown Phoenix and watched a dust storm so massive in size and density that it was called historic and perhaps never-before-seen,” he explains.

“A wall of dust a mile high and 100 miles wide turned twilight into pure darkness. The time-laps I shot of it was seen across the entire world.”

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

That one photograph was licensed by Al Gore, as well as featuring in commercials and documentaries.

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

Storm Chaser, which is published by Pen and Sword Discovery who are based in South Yorkshire, compiles a series of images and stories from Mike’s years as a professional storm chaser.

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

“It’s an incredible feeling to capture crazy storms, tornadoes, haboobs and lightening on camera,” he said.

“To me chasing storms is all about the adrenaline and thinking on your feet, trying to find compositions and beautiful foregrounds on the fly.
“Standing next to a close lightening strike is thrilling and terrifying. I generally pack up my camera gear and run as fast as I can into the truck!

“My favourite place to take a photo is wherever a great storm happens to be.”

Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Olbinski / mediadrumworld.com

‘Storm Chaser’ by Mike Olbinski can be purchased on Amazon for RRP £19.99.