Tornado Alley Storm Photography Workshop 2025

May 31-June 6, 2025

Instructors: Mike Mezeul II & David Erichsen

Tuition: $4699

Spots Open: SOLD OUT!

Each year I receive dozens of requests to take people out and show them how to capture the beauty of some of America's most violent storms, so without further anticipation, here we go! Come join myself and David Erichsen this storm season as we venture around Tornado Alley in search of stunning supercell thunderstorms. This tour is NOT about photographing tornadoes, but yet all the beautiful aspects of severe weather. If you do see a tornado, that's just the icing on the cake. Be prepared for hours in the car and some of the best gas station food around as we do our best to find the perfect storm.

How It Works:

This workshop is a bit different then my others as these tours will consist of only four participants on the tour. May and June are the most active months of the year for severe weather, but even with that said, there can be days without a cloud in the sky. If your tour happens to fall upon a period of time that looks to be incredibly slow, we will travel to a national park or point-of-interest nearby to work on landscape and night sky photography while we wait for the action to return. During our tour, expect to be on the road early in the morning to late at night. Sometimes we can travel hundreds of miles in a day in search of thunderstorms. We will do our best to stop for meals during the trip, but some days we will be crunched for time and a simple fast food sandwich may have to work.

The group will be spend time alternating between two vehicles during the tour. One vehicle will be driven by Mike and the other by our second guide and incredibly talented photographer, David Erichsen.

I will not only teach you the weather and science behind these storms, but also how to safely and creatively create compelling imagery during these storms.

We will be basing out of either Dallas, Texas or Denver, Colorado. This simply means we will meet in either Dallas or Denver and then travel out to Tornado Alley that day to start our adventure! Our starting location will be announced approximately 1 month prior to the workshop.

We will go and stay wherever the storms lead us, but don’t worry, we will wrap back up in our originating city. With that being said, please be prepared that you may need to fly into either city and it will not be known until a few weeks prior which city we will depart from.

What You Will Learn:

• What to look for when photographing severe weather.

• How to photograph lightning during the day and night.

• How to create stunning panoramas of storms.

• How to position yourself in relation to a storm to safely create an image.

• How to utilize filters to balance a scene.

• How to use a death grip on your tripod so it doesn't blow away.

What's Included:

• Travel within the tour

• Fuel and tolls

• Vehicle maintenance

• Any park entrance fees

Is There A Risk?

Absolutely. Photographing severe thunderstorms is a dangerous activity and there are risks that could result in injury or even death. Before attending any tour, participants will be required to sign a liability release. I have been chasing storms for 18 years now and have never been injured, but I have had close calls. This is part of the job and a risk you have to be willing to take. Our safety will always come first and there is no shot worth losing your life over, but we are not in control, Mother Nature is. 

Where Will We Stay?

That is all dependent upon where we end up! We will stay at whatever accommodations are available in the area...motel, AirBNB, hotel, etc. 

Where Do We meet?

We will begin our adventure by meeting in Dallas, Texas or Denver, Colorado (specific location will be sent out 1 month prior to the workshop date). From our destination city, we will depart to wherever the weather looks active. This could range from anywhere in Texas to Nebraska to South Dakota. On our final day, we will finish chasing and head back to our originating city.

Arrival & Departure:

Considering we will be leaving early in the morning on Day 1, and arriving back late on the final day, you should fly into your originating city a day prior to our tour starting and fly out the day after we wrap.

Do I Need A Rental Car?

A rental car is not required. You can simply take an Uber or Lyft from your accommodations to our meeting place and vice versa.

Spouses:

If you have ever been on a workshop of mine, you know I happily allow spouses! The same goes for this tour, but unfortunately due to the small group size and limited accommodation / vehicle space, spouses will need to be signed up as participants, even if they are not photographing. I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.

JOIN THE ADVENTURE!

*A 50% Non-refundable deposit is required to register.*

*Final balances are due March 26, 2025.*

Please make sure you agree to our terms and conditions. All deposits are non-refundable.