Concert Photography – 6 Sept. 2007 Brad Pailsey

Great Show at the John Labatt Centre, London, Ontario.

One of the greatest guitar players of all time so there shall be two pics -first features the grey-paisley Crook Telecaster:

and this is the blue-paisley Crook Esquire Custom:

I was quite pleased to learn that Bill Crook uses USA Custom Guitar’s necks in all the instruments he has built for Brad (each of the pieces that Seppo of Frankinstein Guitar Works built for me has a USA Custom Guitar’s neck)!

London Ontario Images

Thought I’d open a new category of some general images over time from around this pretty city!

Archie Bunker, eat your heart out (scroll down and see Notes section here).

Random Sports Pic – Are You Ready For Some Hockey?

It’s September – so I know I am!

Here is a little Cup Detail:

Hap Day, Syl Apps, Frank Selke… now that’s Old Time Hockey!

Go Knights- Go Caps!

Thoughts on Last Week’s Ontario Tornado Outbreak

Firstly Kudos to EC staff for being on top of things and to fellow Chaser Mark Robinson for raising awareness with the media of the Outbreak warning problem in Ontario.

My opinion is that the current best practice is the Integrated Warning System concept championed by former NWS forecaster Al Moller (one of the  greatest forecasters EVER!).  The IWS recognizes the necessity and interdependence of:

• Adequate technology and situationally-aware competent staffing at NWS/EC offices.

• Ground Truth availability from competent and reliable Chasers/Chaser-Spotters/Spotters.

• Prompt communication to competent mass-media with the appropriate mandate and ability to deliver the relevant meteorological information to the public.

• A competent public who takes responsibility for understanding the range of threats possible in a given region (and events likely/possible on a *meteorological* time-scale in that region), and having a plan they can use almost instinctively.

EC staff covered off the first point on this event, getting warnings out early (though, and I know some disagree,  I personally contend that there should be more offices in Canada with more staff and more of an emphasis on old-school analysis/diagnosis).

Chasers, Chaser-Spotters, and Spotters are usually out in sufficient numbers that there will usually be enough willing help with Ground Truth on most events (and I think Chasers have a duty to give back by reporting events when possible/feasible).

Canadian Broadcast Media seems focused on only the bottom line and, from my perspective, not interested in staffing with people who truly understand severe-wx, and in most cases are unwilling to react to break away from scheduled programming (though it appears CP24 gave this event more live coverage than is normal up here).  Going “wall-to-wall” is common with US Plains stations – even to the point of *over* hyping events.  My impression is the TV industry here feel a automated crawl system is sufficient – I disagree!

Even the Michigan stations we get from Detroit are an order-of-magnitude more serious about covering weather than Ontario’s local stations (and they are usually not too bad with hype!).

Canadians need to be educated on the range of threats possible in a given region (and what is normal/likely on a *meteorological* time-scale in that region).

There may be an opportunity for some TV formats to move in the direction I allude to above (seems to suit the CP24-style format), but I have some doubts about the public ‘getting it en masse’ (Idol/UFC seems to takes precedence!).

I still think “we” (whoever “we” are) should continue to try to increase threat awareness/knowledge of how to react – over time more and more will absorb it if the effort is appropriate and sustained.  Technology based delivery (Twitter/overhead signs/etc) can certainly augment dissemination (but can’t replace an event-reactive media and a ‘with it’ public).

I also think we need sirens in all urban area (again, used appropriately).

That being said, the 7 August, 1979 cluster outbreak of long track violent tornadoes (with at least TWO as bad as you ever get in Texas/Oklahoma) east of Woodstock, Ontario is NORMAL and COMMON for Southern Ontario on a Meteorological time-scale.

We are overdue for a ‘big one’, and there are more of us in more places/larges cities. If that even were repeated today, but in a heavily urbanized area at the wrong time (large groups in buildings/snarled traffic) we could easily see THOUSANDS killed with one event.

Just sayin’.

9 August, 2009 “Chase”

Well strong convective inhibition had a big influence, holding off initiation in SE Michigan/SW Ontario, so chasing meant going just beyond the screen door (what a waste of a 77F dewpoint underneath adequate 0-6 km shear!)!

Did get a shot of a nice example of the optical phenomenon “Silver Lining” on a convective tower that was limited in growth by the inversion (noticed it while BBQ-ing!):

Had tripod issues when the weakening linear convection arrived after dark, so went handheld with the IS 18-55.  Technically this is a poor lightning shot, as quite a lot of the subject matter is blown out  (this was handheld at 1/6 of a second, ISO 3200) – but I like it!

So I ended up happy with the day!

Concert Photography – KISS in Sarnia, ON – 10 July, 2009

A fun show – still the biggest spectacle in rock – an aural and visual sensation!

Great set list covering most of  the “Alive” album in order, with the long encore being later hits (i.e. 1976 -1980-ish).  It was not the same without Ace Frehley (though Tommy Thayer is an excellent guitarist).

Sunset with Polarizer and Extender

Just for fun, and as a study in colour:

Sure the Sun itself is blown out, but I like it none-the-less.  Handheld with the 70-200 F4 IS with 1.4x Kenko Pro Extender.

General Photography – 2 June, 2006, Pikes Peak, CO

A new category for the blog ”General Photography”, basically a ‘whatever I feel like sharing’ theme.  These will include the lens-related posts, as well as some that are over on my website (and I think the website will become more music-focused).

Starting things off with one of the favorite shots I took from near the top of Pikes Peak, CO, on a “down day” (i.e. a day with no storm chase opportunities, for you non-chasers) from the 2006 (which was a year with a lot of non-chase “down days” due to a very unfavorable pattern for severe weather).

Had a pretty good day for the adventure, with no convection to deal with (e.g. lightning issues or obscured views).  A little haze over the plains of E CO is evident, but spectacular views none-the-less!

My to-do list includes getting the video of the full decent from the summit on the web (it will be a pseudo time-lapse accelerated version).

Concert Photography – Styx, 22 July, 2006

Solid show by American/(and now)Canadian band Styx.  I mention Canadian because the new lead singer is classically trained Toronto pianist Larry Gowan, who had a solid career in Canada in the 1980’s.

Amazing how well his voice matched the Denis DeYoung recorded vocals (he is a great showman too)!

I have always held Alabama-born guitarist Tommy Shaw (seen on acoustic in this shot) in high regard, both as a composer and player:

Concert Photography – David Wilcox

2008 London International Bluesfest.

Eclectic Canadian Bluesman who ruled college pubs and blues bars in the 1980’s.  Serves up a rather unique, uptempo, finger-picked, distortion drenched Telecaster onslaught.

Lyrically imaginative and often quite humorous (and his onstage persona features contorted facial expressions!) – always worth seeing live!

13 June TX Panhandle Supercell

Started the day in Lamar, CO (again!), torn about the best options for the day within the context of having to start the trek back to Phoenix – during or after the chase – as circumstances permitted. Decided on the TX PNDL play and blasted S.  Things blew up early near Floydada, TX and the convection looked pretty explosive.  Unfortunately were just N of Tulia TX and it would have be impossible to catch.  It also looked fairly messy on radar with a split developing (splitting storms would again be a theme this day).  This image was taken about the time the TOR warning was issued – note the vigorous convection associated with the left-split:

We headed back to Amarillo, TX, and drifted N, but were put off by the hulking Cap in the special VORTEX 2  sounding.  We then saw cells start to pop to the SW of AMA and headed back S to intercept.  Timing allowed us to observe a developing Meso with Wall Cloud from the Amarillo, TX, National Weather Service Forecast Office parking lot (note KAMA Radome):

We followed the cell ENE along US 60 and observed another split (and that left member trucked right on up to Liberal, KS with unexpected strength and almost c0llided with one if the TOR warned cells coming SE out of CO).  We pulled off US 60 to observe a Mesocyclone over Pantex.

For those who don’t know the Pantex Plant is basically the lone US facility for assembling/maintaining/dismantling nuclear weapons – Wikipedia entry here.  We could see the signs on the fence from the public highway – with the word “Halt” in big black letters.  The smaller text we couldn’t read from the road probably said something like “use of deadly force authorized”.  The Plant website’s rotating banner even includes a picture of a Hum-V with a Machine Gun Turret on the roof being fired.  So we were quite content not to get any closer than the public highway!

The storm was probably at its peak here, with a strong low-level inflow jet just S of our location.

Not a lot of other chasers on this cell but we did notice the College of DuPage (COD) chase group a little further up the road, E of the Plant:

We then encountered a spread-out VORTEX 2 back on US 60 to the ENE, and kept our distance, so as not to intrude.  Passed and waved at the COD crew before stopping for this nice Laminar Flanking Line/Shelf presentation:

And had the opportunity to engage in that age-old chase diversion: wildflower photography!  In this case we had a fine example of a flowering Bull Thistle:

Ending the chase trip at the excellent Dyer;s BBQ in Pampa with a nice view of the waning Supercell at Sunset to the ENE of Pampa, TX:

A wonderful chase trip had reached its conclusion!

12 – E Colorado Supercell

John Moore and I chased with Matt Crowther/Betsy Abrams/Chuck Fallis, Greg Breneman and Steve Sponsler.  Waited a fair bit at the Blue Spruce in Lamar before heading up to Kit Carson, Aroyo, and then W on 94 towards Punkin Corners.  Watched cell development and chatted briefly with Roger & Elke Edwards, Mike Umschied/Jay Antle, and Ed and Jerrine Verkaik, who I finally got to see in the field – they were the first chasers I met, as they had me up for pie in 1991 and to look at some of the 50, 000 slides they had at the time!  See their great galleries at Skyart.

Back tracked E to W of Aroyo, CO, where the eastern took on some very nice Supercell characteristics:

Cell really improved as it moved SE and developed a nice collared wall cloud NE of Eads:

Which also provided a nice opportunity for a group portrait of us watching a great storm in awe (l to r:  John, Matt, Steve, Betsy, and Greg):

And later another shot from S of Sheridan Lake (l to r: John, Matt, & Chuck):

Where I was also lucky enough to get a handheld lightning shot – the only one of this trip!

Turned out to be a very nice day – ‘cept for the stupid Penquins winning the Stanley Cup.  Grrrr.

11 June – Pueblo, CO – Lamar, CO

John and I were on the first Pueblo, CO cell very early on.  Displayed a very nice low-level Bell updraft while it was still NW of Pueblo:

Radar reflectivity showed a flying-eagle presentation at the time the above image was taken:

We moved east as another cell exploded to the S/SW – we had a nice view of the overall structure of the original Pueblo cell:

We dropped down to the southern cell and it soon became TOR warned.  We were able to see the wall cloud/updraft from the NNE:

Here is the impressive reflectivity hook on GRLevel3 – John is pointing to out location as where the above image was taken moments before:

Impressive supercell structure along it’s path to and beyond Los Animas:

More supercell structure INVOF Los Animas, CO:

More supercell structure INVOF Los Animas, CO:

HP Beast SW of Lamar, CO from the SSE:

Bell updraft structure SW of Lamar, CO from the SE:

HP Donut SW of Lamar, CO from the E:

10 June Johnson City, KS – Liberal, KS Structure

Chased with Matt Crowther/Betsy Abrams and their friend Chuck Fallis from Atlanta.  Initially images, more details to follow:

Precip core S of Big Bow, KS:

Supercell structure E of Hugoton, KS:

More Supercell structure E of Hugoton, KS:

More Supercell structure E of Hugoton, KS:

More Supercell structure E of Hugoton, KS:

Meso NW of Liberal, KS:

Meso NW of Liberal, KS:

5 June – Additional Images

Will edit later for specific locations based on John’s GPS log, but here are some images from the chase in the Nebraska Panhandle after the Goshen County/LaGrange, WY event (these are in sequential order):

Scuddy Wall cloud/non-tornadic look-alike:

Another scuddy Wall cloud/non-tornadic look-alike:

Wet RFD engendered Scud-Bomb extending to the ground (for the non-weather readers these are non-tornadic events that can look like tornadoes):

Shelf cloud:

What a day!