Sad News

That's so sad Susan, his pictures are amazing.

Sad news

That is very sad, he was so talented. Here is the article https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/03/29/two-weather-channel-storm-chasers-crashed-into-a-third-while-following-tex-tornado-killing-all-three/?utm_term=.0b6a6f86fc80

Sorry to hear of the deaths, my condolences to the families. What can we takeaway from this? You miss a stop sign because you are in a hurry to chase a storm, lose not only your own life and your partner's but cause the death of an additional person to get thrilling, pretty pictures?! From what I read Williams was not a meteorologist. He transgressed the law and caused two deaths besides his own for rushing to a scene (if the crash report says differently then I apologize but I don't think I'm wrong on this). It would be different if he were someone like a meteorologist gathering information to save lives I can understand. Just to get thrilling pictures to supply a TV weather station and enhance their market share is not justifiable.

I heard this on the news this morning. While sad these people made the choice to put their lives in danger every day and take chances few others would take.

Best comment so far: "always stop at Stop signs"


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

When you are in a hurry to chase a storm you will be missing stop signs and making other unlawful errors as much as you would like not to. Rushing to chase something always creates errors, in this case deadly ones. Curious what the traffic death statistics are for storm chasers? Everyone should be obeying the cautions put out by the police during these weathers only legitimate meteorologist should be involved in this activity. If you die it is your fault unfortunately cut off in the prime of one's life. The family members left behind are the ones that suffer.

Anybody else want to kick the puppy? Line forms to the right.

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Susan Maxwell Schmidt
So-so Board Moderator and
Artist Extraordinaire

These were not puppies, Susan, but adult men recklessly endangering their lives and the lives of those around them. Do you want a line? How about the line for The 2017 Darwin Awards?


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

This is not about putting you down Susan, maybe you didn't realize like many of us although I hope you will have second thoughts about following this kind of activity but that is up to you. It is understanding the dangers involved in obtaining these kind of storm images. If people know of what is involved and the fallout, they may stop producing them or others being engaged with the photographers activity. I'm not saying never take storm pictures but only in safe conditions! Leave the death defying to the scientists who are saving lives and don't need to be interfered with by others trying to cash in. The weather stations are to blame also, they are only so sorry for the deaths because they will take the next photographer's images with them putting their life (stupidly) on the line for thrilling activity and images.

This activity reminds me of pagan Rome - sending people out to do death defying acts to the thrill of the crowd. It's sad to me. The difference is the storm chasers are being paid for the images and do it voluntarily; the Roman forum individuals were only slaves or captives and had no choice. I don't think we have changed much. I can notlook at hurricane or tornado storm images now without knowing what is behind it. I won't be searching for these images on any media.

It's always sad when following driving rules could have avoided deaths. Stop signs are to be obeyed and seat belts are to be worn.

Terrible news. Such a great artist.

Taking your life into your hands is one thing. Taking other people's lives into your own hands is another. Getting great photographs, Weather Channel footage, and YouTube slices is entertaining. But this one slip up destroys something so much more precious.

A very sad ending.

Sad Susan, I actually do not watch this stuff because of this constant fear of exactly what happened or something very similar. Just me.

Dave

I'm certainly not saying anyone doesn't have a right to their opinion, nor even that I don't agree with you, but I will say your timing is extremely insensitive.

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Susan Maxwell Schmidt
So-so Board Moderator and
Artist Extraordinaire

RIP . All. and but for this thread, I'd have said so anyway.....including that the lesson is so obvious........willingness to chance it is one thing.......willingness to include innocent bystanders is unforgivable, IMh/sensitive/O.

Very sad news.

"I will say your timing is extremely insensitive."

If your car were T-boned by someone running a stop sign -- and everyone was killed! -- what is the proper timing for someone to express their disapproval of the offending driver and offer timely advice?


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

People in many walks of life put their lives on the line every day for a variety of reasons and when some die as a result of what they do it's always sad. Rip.

As far as timing goes, the lessons are best taught at the time of the drama/tragedy/accident.
A week from now, the rest of us go back to our own lives....and only those directly impacted will forever be changed.

... or snuffed out for the sake of a thrill...

Yes, terribly sad. Sure, they died during the thrill of the hunt, and lessons learned there kind of go without saying. Doesn't diminish the sense of loss and tragedy.

I guess the family of Corbin Lee Jaeger, who drove the Jeep that was hit might have some pretty strong feelings about this. Possibly a bit of outrage. Unfortunately there is no one to go to to straighten things out. These things cannot be straightened out.

"... and when some die as a result of what they do it's always sad" What's even worse is when "others" die as a result of what they do.

That's true Glenn.

I would say that its truly sad this happened. This kind of danger in the field is not uncommon though. Passion is a word that comes to me. If you have this type of passion as a photographer you should understand. Many times on location i have done very stupid things to get that image. In that moment, lots of things are tuned out and your in a zone. If you dont have this, you will never understand.

I absolutely understand and OFTEN put myself in harms way to get a shot. I do not endanger others.

That said, you can do things that seem dangerous to most sane people but can in fact be perfectly safe or at least reasonably safe. Being eye level and four feet away from a five foot rattlesnake if perfectly safe. Getting to three feet is not.

I have chased tornados and it can be done with reasonable safety. Reasonable being the key.

For me I guess it all depends on the "Why" put oneself in harms way, when I was a police officer I opted out of wearing body armour most of the time, I guess that was taking more of an added risk of being shot than if I wore one. The thing is it was not mandatory at the time, body armour was bulky and very uncomfortable to wear especially in the summer Miami heat (there were other reasons for not wearing it as well). I certainly would not jump out of a plane for a thrill or bungee jump, I did ride my new motorized bike I built the other day with just one hand while filming with the other at what seemed like 30mph. :-) Reasonable is not an easy thing to get a concensus on. I'm fine being nowhere near a rattlesnake, unless I was trying to collect venom or something, otherwise that's why I have 1365 mm lens on my camera.

He was an artist. Devastating news.

This is a very tragic loss. They were working, not thrill-seeking.
Negative or preaching comments at this time really aren't nice!

Those that are teaching lessons:

We do not need parents teaching us lessons.

We do not chase storms so why teach us?

The news is sad, some respect is in order.

Dave

I was almost t-boned last week and instead of getting upset and yelling I simply waved at the person. They seemed more shook up about it than I was. Driving bumper to bumper in traffic from Vegas at 75-80 mph is not something I want to do but even if you try to drive the speed limit there are people weaving in and out of traffic. I feel safer going with the flow and having more control than less if that makes sense. Sad all the way around and no winners for sure.