I'm Quitting Storm Chasing
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- ...Or at least the version where you feel pressure to chase everything and give up your entire life for the chase.
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In this video, titled “Why I’m Quitting Storm Chasing,” I delve into the mental health challenges and pressures that come with the storm-chasing community’s competitive nature. While the title may sound drastic, it’s actually a turn of phrase to emphasize that I’m stepping away from the relentless pursuit of storm chasing driven by fear of missing out (FOMO) and the constant pressure to deliver spectacular results. I discuss the importance of defining a healthy relationship with storm chasing, prioritizing well-being, and enjoying the process rather than feeling compelled to chase every storm.
Join me as I explore why it’s crucial to take breaks, set realistic goals, and chase for personal enjoyment and curiosity. By sharing my experiences and insights, I hope to encourage others to embrace a more balanced and fulfilling approach to storm chasing, free from the stress and burnout that often accompany the “never stop chasing” mentality. Whether you’re a seasoned chaser or just starting, this video is a reminder that it’s okay to step back, breathe, and appreciate the incredible moments you do witness without the pressure to constantly compete.
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Stormchasing needs to be like hot air ballooning, when there isnt a competition, theres no losers or winners just people enjoying the time
Agreeed 100%!
I'm a stay at home storm chaser
IT STILL COUNTS! 😍
You’re smarter than the rest of us , you let the storm comes to you!! Love it!😂
I love and appreciate your photography and your eye for composition. One of the things that I appreciate the most is that you pan your camera slowly so we can take in the view of the storm and you allow it to linger a while on the movement in the storm. This is something every storm enthusiast can learn about video photography . You do you and your subscribers will keep on loving it. Thanks for all you do.
I feel like your new reframed definition of storm chasing is very similar to mine, I'm literally just happy to see a nice thunderstorm that I can enjoy!
It's ok to be at that stage in your journey. Some folks are really into the competitive side of chasing these days. To each their own I say. It has become an extreme sport in alot of ways in certain circles, and it has been amazing to watch it's birth and how it has evolved over the last 30 years.
I think whatever you want to do in your life is great!! I love your channel! I would just want you to be happy and comfortable in whatever you do☺️
First, my heart stopped when I read that caption. 😂 second, you’re a legend in many ways. The decision to not gate keep “storm chasing” by sharing decades of experience and knowledge to help new chasers is so admirable. I’ve watched almost every one of your informative videos and filled journals with information. This last year was my most successful chase year. I only call it that because I felt the most well rounded when it came to understanding the weather better than ever before. All thanks to your willingness to share that knowledge. Your RUclips channel is my #1 go-to for relative information. Cheers 🥂
I appreciate that! We have so much more coming (and more chasing too!)
@@TornadoTitans very excited for it!!
Thank You for your honesty. Now we just have to get all the damn storms to quit💃🏽🌪️🐉Pretty Sunny Weather is for Everybody🥵
And We are the Weather🌞
Need them to stay out over the open land where they belong! At least until they're not that severe so we can make sure we don't end up in drought ha
The first time I clicked on one of your videos, I could tell that you had been through a lot, even though you are clearly very tough and smile through the difficult times and the uncertainty. But I was immediately touched by your grace under pressure, your honesty and your infectious sense of humor. Please do what makes YOU happy. And whatever you do, it's okay. You are a joy!!
I'm not going to judge! You do whatever you want! Truly go after whatever makes you happy!
So excited to be part of this new chapter!!! I love this new era. ❤️
I really enjoyed this video from you and I totally get it. I ran all over the place on the Great Plains in May, trying to chase every single storm while I was out there and I got some great video and great shots that I'm still wading through. But when I drove from Brush, Colorado to Des Moines, Iowa like a maniac half the night trying to get to that storm, and just ended up seeing the rain wrapped mess in Russell, almost got sideswiped by some truck blinking its light bar trying to get to the storm, I was like, "what am I doing? I just want to get some really good photos and videos of some storms from a safe distance. I don't want to go screaming into the hail core or something". Hey, if that's what you're into, great! Go for it. But like you, I'm all about everything Mother Nature can do and I'm always in awe of that. Honestly, I enjoy lightning shots just as much as I enjoy shots of tornadoes. f course I enjoyed most of my chase experiences this year, but some of them I need to learn to sit out once in a while. Your educational stuff is important and I'm happy you're focusing on that. I met a guy who came over from Europe with absolutely no idea of the weather out here, didn't know about SPC or NOAA or NWS, and just drove where the sky was dark in a rental car. He had to ditch the car in Duke, Okla. that night. I told him about your site.
So great to hear JP! Sad we didn't run into each other this year. This is probably the first of a few videos I do about setting boundaries with chasing and strategizing for a sustainable operation. I repeated that many times to Titan partners this year, I was chasing for sustainability. Skipped the first two big 10% hatched days in OK because I thought they were 🗑️ (and they were). The biggest wins are sometimes the days you sometimes stop chasing to rest and save money. No one's catching every tornado out there, and missing a day or two each year is definitely something that everyone's going to go through.
100%!
I've switched my title from storm chaser to storm photographer. Love you Raychel!! Thank you for all you do!
I like that change! I'm probably identifying as a nature photographer/filmmaker going forward. That's going to be a better way to describe what we do, even with the name Tornado Titans!
I love your new approach to storm chasing. It seems way less stressful and more chill. Capturing the sky at its finest is the best. When I go on storm chasing tours I no longer try to keep hoping to see a tornado, I just enjoy the ride and the experience and capture whatever we see whether it’s a rainbow, sunset, supercell or a rain shaft. If it looks spectacular that’s all the matters. I wish you the best!
Its a good thing to be honest about yourself. From someone who hasn’t chase yet and plan to do so in 2026(need equipment and a little bit of knowledge) , i do a lot of thinking of how i want to do it.I want to see , film and take pictures of the whole structure like supercell , mesocyclone , tornadoes , inflow etc etc. And there’s also a side of me who wants to get closer(not a 100 yards closer ,i’m not interested in being extreme) to…feel that incredible phenomenon.If i make any sense. Competition isn’t for me either as i have about two or three weeks a year to chase in the US so i do this for myself. I guess knowing what you want and be honest about yourself will help you make the best and most rational decisions when you chase. From someone who hasn’t chase yet but obsessed everyday about it. And i’m my book , you are a storm chaser who just decides to do things your way and i have the most respect for this. Keep up your amazing work and thank you for sharing your knowledge. You may not ‘’chase’’ like all the others that i watched BUT you’re the one i go(and subscribed) to learn and become a better and more vigilant storm chaser.
Again thank you.
For sure! I think the big thing this year was chasing a lot, seeing a lot, and realizing that despite that there was no way I could’ve done more responsibly! This is an incredibly successful season ongoing but I couldn’t imagine having put 2x or 3x the miles for a maybe 20% improvement in performance. I’ll have to make a video on this sometime, but I think if you forecast good enough and keep to the boundaries you set you can skip a lot of days and not miss many great days. This was a year I felt like outside of the two big events in IA/NE, we covered things very well.
@@TornadoTitans That’s probably what i’ll need to learn the most and be efficient. Forecasting , cuz with two/three weeks a year(as i live in Canada near Montreal) i have to make the most of it and i feel forecasting is probably the most important aside from safety of course.
@@mrecto5187 I haven't seen anyone covering storms in Canada except Ryan Scholl crossing the border into Saskatchewan. It was beautiful.
I don't know how the seasons go up there, but I'm sure there are lots of opportunities to show the world your country's unique beauty. I wouldn't limit yourself just to tornadoes or storms here in the US. But, that's just my opinion, as someone who doesn't know nearly enough about Canada.
Good Luck/Bon Chance! 🍀✌️😎
As a sister, you sure have my support! Our paths change, along with likes and dislikes. I can see how it can wear on a person, all the not-so-fun aspects of driving after every storm. I hope you’ll chase your happiness with equal vigor! ❤
Go for it 🌿👍
Definitely agree, I would rather be a weather enthusiasts, photographer/videographer first. Capture nature's beauty!
I am a Storm Chaser / Weather Tracker and I have been doing this since about 1975 (I think). I have many years experience in EMS & Search And Rescue (SAR).
After a tornado has devastated an area and if a tree gets blown down over the road I will sit there with all my hazard lights warning people until the Police get there. If it is OK for me to cut into manageable chunks to move to the side of the road I will do that if they want me to leave it for the county bulldozer to remove I will do that also.
AFTER a tornado passes through I will do the SAR and possible first aid until the fire department arrives.
After that I go around where there is tree damage to help homeowners with sidewalks, driveways and sometimes lawns. I will remove limbs and buck trees (cut them into 16-18” logs) that are already down. Sometimes I will make piles on the curb and sometimes I will just cut into small pieces and leave small piles on the lawn for younger people to take to the curb. I am in my 70s, retired, and physically bending over to pick things up isn't 'my thing” any more. I do enjoy helping people and I have done this all my life.
I am NOT a meteorologist and I certainly do NOT have a doctor's degree in meteorology. I am just a citizen that helps people in times of need. NO I do not get paid and none of my equipment is paid by others. I could only wish to have sponsors for vehicle maintenance, fuel, and maybe a donut or two. However, I did win a chainsaw in a contest.
d-dont but if you actually do then its ok, ill let you know you’ve inspired me to storm chase and get invested to tornadoes, thank you for making me.. for making me so happy even known if it was a little while, thank you for the videos :3 btw im not mad at you or unsubbing for you quitting i understand why so im not mad :)!
Ha watch the video! This is a turn of phrase in the title! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
@@TornadoTitansi did i just didn’t know how to really say it lol
Ha good! Still chasing plenty, just won't be succombing to the market pressures!
@@TornadoTitans yessssir
This will be a bit of a long comment so I apologize in advance haha. Even though I just quit my full time job about 2 months ago to now make storm chasing my full time job: lots of different reasons for that and not all of them just about chasing. I agree with what a lot was said in this video. I'm a "storm chaser" but I'm not necessarily the "storm chaser" you are referring to in this video. In fact, I believe I'm slowly changing the name of the game so to speak for full time chasers and those that live stream their chases; or at least showing others that it's not all about the extreme stuff & things of that nature. I very quickly established an amazing community within my RUclips and my community is there every stream for me, not the storms I may or may not see. I'm very open on my streams about the difficulties and hardships I faced going into this and the current struggles I deal with. Storm chasing is probably one of the most mentally straining hobbies/passions out there and I think there is a big misconception to the public regarding what storm chasing is really like. I think that is in part to social media in general but some of the bigger names in the storm chasing world. They give off the impression that you have to chase basically everything and if you don't then you are not a real "chaser".
As a man, I still think there is such a stigma when it comes to men's mental health & at times when I talked about my struggles, I was told I was just begging for attention or asking for sympathy. Just disgusting. I'm not afraid to not chase setups that look messy or not worth it for me on a personal level. I'm also not afraid to take breaks when I am utterly mentally & physically exhausted.
Such a great comment overall Tyler! FWIW I have enjoyed the few streams I’ve seen of yours pop up on the feed! Just made sure to subscribe as well. I like your approach, it’s going to serve you well!
Thank you for this. I personally needed to hear this. Life happened and I wasn’t able to get out past my backyard to photograph this year and that’s ok. I’m excited to see your future content and still learn from this channel!
You need to do what is best for you. I have enjoyed your newest style of presenting storms to us. We will enjoy what you share with us. You are good at what you do. We love you for it.
Thank you so much! I'm happy to hear some of the new stuff is jiving! There's a lot more to come on that front.
@@TornadoTitans I love the cloud structure with all the details. Excellent Education.
I'm totally onboard with you on that. So glad to have a role model like you in the family.
Great to hear! I definitely think we need to retake the narrative here in a sense. I think the current environment makes weather feel inaccessible when it really isn't!
Well said! The same drive as you is what made me want to "chase". I love storm structure, lighting (especially stormy sunsets) and lightning/sprites. I also love cloud forms and structure in general like wave and roll clouds. Even no clouds.. I'm enchanted by the sky, stars, aurora.. Chase the beauty and the passion! ❤ Looking forward to seeing more of your wonderful work and your next chapter of the adventure. Many Blessings for the road ahead and may the sky always smile upon you!
You can do what you want and I won’t judge! Good video explaining your new approach to the topic! 😊😊😊😊😊
Can’t wait to see where it takes the channel!
Not a sport, meaning not a competition? Good for you!
Definitely not a competition!
I always wanted to know what types of weather Greenland experiences and more about the aurora borealis 😊
Great ideas!
Totally with you!
I think you should do what makes you happy and what makes the most sense to you. You've accomplished a lot in storm chasing, and you should be proud of that.
do what makes you happy and please know that i support you and your decisions im not here to judge you in anyway
I agree. When anything gets to the point of obsession and hyper adrenaline and competition, it takes away the whole appreciation of the beauty of these magnificent storms.
I'm new to your channel, but I totally agree with your outlook. There are others in the field with similar philosophies. Pecos Hank comes to mind, stopping mid-drive to move snakes and turtles off the road, checking to see if people and animals are ok. He was the one that got me interested in the first place because of those reasons your discussing.
Extreme weather is awe inspiring, scientifically fascinating, and something that can require people to be on-scene to help. In my mind, it would be terrible for a chaser to pass up devastation without making sure everyone's good, just to pursue a good tornado shot. Like you say, it's a rare opportunity that most of us will never have, getting to be out in nature when it's flexing its power and mesmerizing us with its beauty. I believe this is what lead me to your channel.
I'm in it for the nature, for the trip, for the magic and science. Looking forward to watching your catalog and seeing what you have coming.
Much respect! 💜🍀✌️😎
I’m someone that studies tornado genesis. Storm chasing videos are indispensable. Yours especially.
Storm chasing videos are very valuable to tornado science.
If you continue, do it for the science.
I am totally blind from birth, and have loved both thunderstorms and the songs of birds all my life. The storms are awesome reminders to me of the power of nature. The bird songs of the delicacy of nature. I totally agree with your reasons for quitting storm chasing as a competitive activity. Blessings.
Hey Marianne! Thanks for this comment. I have a question: Is there anything we could do with our videos to make them more useful/interesting for you? If you don't want to answer that it is ok! But I am genuinely curious!
MADE ME CLICK 😂
This is good stuff. I never started storm chasing, by this definition. In the best way possible.
YEP AND THAT IS GREAT!
I hear you!!! Sometimes I just go out on a MARGINAL day just to see the photogenic storms, meanwhile I have people asking me why!?!?
Because I am passionate about it and it makes me happy!!! You do you and thank you for your content. I litterly just found you!!❤
I've said it before, you REALLY have a good eye with the camera and should continue your great work with that. You have a knack for it. What you also have a knack for the technical nitty gritty of weather. One of my favorite videos was when you went over hodographs and Skew-T. Finding where cape will be on the chart in reference to parcels of air. You've moved on past chasing but please don't stop teaching or shooting photos or videos. Thanks
Love this
Thanks for watching and for the comment!
Great video and all well said. I agree with the competition side not being the one I am interested in being associated with, because it definitely breeds poison between people. We all do this for a reason. Personally, I say that I document storms, because I am not always chasing them around and I want to tell a story of each event. Plus, junk events are junk events and not worth chasing. Thanks for making this video. I know I feel what you are saying here.
So great to hear! I love that storm documentarian angle. I’m definitely moving in a direction of nature as a whole, but documentarian is a term I can get behind in general.
As you say, the definition of 'storm chaser' has changed. When I first heard the term it had almost a spiritual feel to it, a title or name I could imagine a native American being given by their tribe. Someone drawn by the beauty and ferocity of nature. Now? Everything you say is true. Maybe we need another term, one that captures someone still in awe at what nature can produce but who doesn't need to be 10 yards in front of a tornado but more crucially 10 yards in front of the next storm chaser.
It would have to be about more than just storms, and get across what you're doing. Sky Witness maybe? Although that maybe sounds a bit too passive. Weather Pilgrim? Though that sounds wrong to my atheist ears, and probably to religious ears too. I'm sure others can come up with better.
In transparency, I'm pretty sure we're branching out slightly beyond just storm chasing in the coming months so this jives with me a lot considering the headspace I'm in. Just a nature lover, weather enthusiast and photographer over here wandering around like an intentionally lost person generally 😅
I love that "wandering around like an intentionally lost person." That's usually when life surprises me with the best gems. 💜✌️😎
I personally believe that Twister Seeker fits this description the best. I define it as someone that hunts for tornadoes, at home and/or away. The seeker should only have to be anywhere from a quarter mile to 3 miles out once they happen to see the potential for a tornado. My last statement only applies to outside viewing and I would need to have the right equipment for it.
It seems like youre storm chasing for other people rather than yourself. Its good to distance from the community and do your own thing, i do it. I live in new zealand and i dont go out half the time. I just wait until it comes to me and i look outside and appreciate the weather
hello storm documentarian!
DOCUMENTARIANS UNITE!
Don't give me jump scares!!! 😭 We love YOUR takes on storms. Stress-less entertainment. It's like the mature crowd of storm chasers where we chase casually and drink wine 👍🏾 😂
LMAO yes. We try to keep it chill around here. Just enjoying the storms. If anything this is likely a doubling down on that strategy!
I just like taken photographs of Lightning I love Lightning
THAT IS GREAT! I need to do more lightning photography!
You asked on the video, “are we just getting old?” Yes, probably, but wisdom comes with age!
Having said that, after 25+ years of chasing, I still struggle with missing things that others got. Not because I’m competitive, but just because I feel like I should have done better. A good decision that was wrong only in hindsight is frustrating enough, but then there are those bad decisions where I can’t even explain what I could possibly have been thinking at the time.
I was never the type to chase every little thing, but often wonder if that’s the wrong approach, since I usually only have two weeks to spend on the Plains. When I pass on things - like Iowa 5/21/24 because of distance and concerns about fast-moving storms and quick upscale growth into a linear MCS - and miss significant tornados, I get wrapped up into endless self-recrimination.
It has taken me more years than it should have to realize that storm chasing is like baseball - a 300 average is about the best one can do and is nothing to be ashamed of. Somebody will see something better, or get closer, or get a better shot almost every single day, but no single chaser is doing better every day.
Taking my son with me the last three years has enabled me to appreciate the lesser phenomena that I had grown jaded about, because he has the wonder I had when I first started and I can recapture that through his eyes. In fact the first couple years I made a conscious effort not to be cynical about the quality of what we saw because I didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm. This past year I let him see a bit more of my frustration but only when it was related to my own bad decisions - but I let him see it because that’s part of the game too! It’s a constant battle to just be grateful for what you see and live in the moment, without tormenting yourself over what you may have missed. Easier said than done when from the east coast, only having two weeks per year to chase, and having to wait a whole year for redemption!
The concept is no longer friendly. The most popular accounts punch cores and situate themselves in harms way. This year has really made me wonder why we need to see the destruction of people's lives. It is an inherent aspect of weather, but private property is being filmed, and it feels there is a narcissistic element of filming a person's demise. I can only say if my house is pummeled I'm chasing the chasers with cameras off of the property.
really nice! All my support wathever you choose to do.
I couldn’t agree more! I’ve asked the question in the comments if we are risking lives for science or for views (ie money). I’ve asked to see the data that is supposedly being collected and very little is offered up. Most of the time nothing is put forth as meaningful science that was supposed to be about saving lives. You add money to anything and it changes it, cheapens it, popularizes and distorts it, resulting in those originally out to save lives and be part of a strong, supportive, tight-nitch community, now obsessed with live streams, views, exaggerated clickbait, ridiculous outfits/characters, risky and reckless behavior, fame seeking and over-inflating their knowledge in a certain field, specifically meteorology. We have people out there listening to college kids with their own weather channel thing going on, over actual meteorologists with decades of experience. You are going to be missed as you are one of the good ones who do this for the right reasons. Same goes for Skip Talbot, Trey Greenwood (Convective Chronicles), Cameron Nixon, etc. Those reasons being Educating, Safety and Love. Money was never important cause there really wasn’t any to be made chasing. So, all that being said, I truly am sad to see you go but would rather you do that then change and become driven by content and greed like so many others have. Stay golden Hermosa, and we’ll see you around.
Ha! I’m still going out for storms. Just a shift in perspective! 😇😍
It's about enjoying nature. ⚡⚡⚡, you gotta have the beauty learning and the love of it ... Some people just don't realize when other people are involved there's drama and opinions just screw off n let me live my life... Humans are stressful when they're around one another
Yep! Very much so!
This!! 👆 It's why I stepped back this year. I'm a photographer, and I got tired of what others thought how storm chasing should be. I'm still trying to find my community within this community. 🤗😊
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
I think setting boundaries is important. That's an upcoming video on how to do that. But I definitely think you are valid and valued around these parts. Have loved seeing your photographs in the past!
will you still do videos ?
Yes! Be sure to watch the whole video, it’s just a mental shift in how we’re approaching everything.
@@TornadoTitans that's wonderful i can't wait to more of your videos
My sister, you have my undying support! You are doing what most people should do - you are discovering yourself. You have made observing the natural environment an art form, and that is something to be very proud of! You asked for ideas, and I would like to suggest one. Pick a few key sites to image over multiple years and record how climate change is affecting the environment. ❤🏳🌈🏳⚧
Thanks for this suggestion! I've done some items on this already (I did a video on June tornadoes a year or so ago). I definitely want to visit a few other things with this in the coming year!
Love this!
THANKS! I hope everyone does. Brave new era incoming! It’ll look similar in many ways, quite dissimilar in others!
Hello again. Some time, if you're willing, I would love to hear a description of a beautiful thunderstorm, what the clouds look like, etc. Even though blind, I have a vivid imagination. Thanks for replying to my comment. Blessings.
Well Said!
I've always felt there is a difference between being a storm chaser and being a storm photographer. You need the skills of the former to be good at the latter but the goals are very different. These days storm chasing seems to have been co-opted by clout chasers who really don't care about anything other than likes and I feel bad for those who have been doing it for forever for better reasons. Storm photography, for me, is better indicative of my passion for nature photography as a whole and a way to share my love for weather and the beauty this planet creates with others. And it's really fun, and that's the most important part.
I think you are hitting on something important there for sure. I really enjoying showing off my adventures/showing what I see. It’s like show and tell for adults haha
I wish you weren't! The main problem I've seen is that for some reason, your live streams don't work out too well. All I ever get is buffering, buffering, buffering ad nauseum. Maybe get some techie to help you get it set up right? I like your commentary and I like your educational videos (eg, explaining what the "dryline" is).
Not sure what’s going on there! From others it seems like it is mostly smooth sans a few cell network drop outs. You might be joining after I turn it off but not before I end the stream maybe? I forget to do that often ha! But if not will investigate why that might be.
I’m not the same person I was. 😂 very funny Rach 🏳️⚧️. You do a wonderful job with your cinematography. I especially love your educational videos. You have a phenomenal channel! Love the direction it’s going.
Thanks so much! Glad you are along for the ride with us all!
Brilliant Raychell
👏👏👏✊✊
💙💙💙💙💙
😭