For myself, I’d say that the show has had a positive effect on income. Even with textbooks, my licenses tend to split pretty heavily towards publishers wanting shots of the TIV for their chapters on storm research. This is funny to me since I have a good thousand+ stock images of both years of Vortex 2 which you would think would be much more relevant, but much like viewers would rather watch Reed Timmer use a potato cannon to launch widgets into the inflow jet of a tornado while screaming like a little girl instead of watching Wurman and Bluestein and Burgess and crew methodically do actual science, apparently many text books would rather show something sexy/cool about storm chasing in their science chapters as opposed to something with more relevance. (Which, is primarily why I find it hard to believe that anyone really gave a crap about whether you were associated with the show or not. The kinds of media that are interested in severe weather photography or photographers don’t get their panties in a twist about the kinds of things that chasers do. It’s enough for them that you know what you’re doing, aren’t boring, and have a pedigree of past work or appearances.) But I digress — the point is that the concept of storm chasing has only really come onto the radar of these publications because there was a show getting people excited about it.

Matt is right that despite some of the silly antics Original Media got the chasers to participate in and some of the silly editing they did, there were some pretty amazing chasers on the show and additionally a good chunk of that’s show’s money did go to weather research. Yes, Reed Timmer’s “science experiments” on the show were so absurd as to be satire, but that was essentially part of the script — people didn’t care for real science, so lets have this guy do some pretend science. People liked that other guy’s tornado tank, so lets see if we can build this guy a tornado tank too. Even so, it’s hard to deny that Reed is one of the most talented chasers alive today — and talented also in videography and more crucially in business, which is probably what gets under your skin. On the one hand you point fingers at companies like Lexus for sponsoring Reed, on the other you have your hat out at the top of your home page asking for a car company to donate you a new chase vehicle. (I’m guessing you won’t hear from Toyota!) But even though Reed’s science was non-existent, as we all know Tim Samaras really DOES science, and the money from the show helped to fund it. A good chunk of CSWR’s two new Doppler trucks were paid for by Discovery, and they were crucial to Vortex 2. The money (and NSF money) helped to fund an IMAX movie that pimps Vortex 2. But lets be honest — how can we complain about any of this not relating to science? Are we scientists? I know I’m not. I go out to take photos, not do experiments. How often do you take a break from shooting awesome photos and videos and appearing on television to do real weather research?

I guess what it boils down to is this — you have attempted to brand yourself as the “real” storm chaser — the “Authentic Pro Storm Chaser”, as you put it. You’ve gone so far as to trademark the phrase “Storm Chaser” and given instructions on your page for when it’s appropriate for others to use. You brand yourself a survival expert, etc. Your homepage is mostly photos of you Heroically Standing In Front Of Things. This is all good business for what you are trying to do and have been doing — and I won’t knock you for it. You’re doing it right when it comes to self promotion. But along similar lines, it leaves you less than free to criticize others for doing the same. Reed Timmer has used a show to brand himself as the “real” storm chaser, The Authentic Pro Storm Chaser if you will, and has done it so well that for the most part the majority of people in the United States who know what storm chasing is instantly associate it with him or Sean Casey. The show that did this for him was called “Storm Chasers”, which unless you have lawsuits pending I’m pretty sure puts the final nail in the coffin of your trademark. For the love of God, Reed is in a Budweiser commercial playing himself rescuing a damn beer truck from a tornado. He hasn’t just beaten you at your own game, he’s spiked the chessboard.

In my very limited experience chasing storms, I find that the most dangerous things about storms are lightning and water. You’re very well known for your lightning photography and do you think that it’s safe to wade through storm surge or purposely put yourself in the path of a Category 5 Hurricane like Andrew just to get a video or photo? What do you say to those who are inspired by what you do and want to do the same? It’s like a father who rides a motorcycle telling his son not to ride a motorcycle.

Weren’t you the initial motion picture consultant for the movie “Twister”? How is that movie any different than what you’re complaining about with Storm Chasers? They even had their version of the high school science project with that Dorothy thing filled with all the sensors. Did you give the movie writers the idea for this? If you didn’t, why didn’t you consult with them and tell them that this wasn’t a good idea to put this into the movie since you think it’s such a joke.

What you helped create with the movie “Twister” created the same monster that you’re so against now. The only difference was that you made money from the film and others are now making money from doing the same thing that you do. I’m very sorry to hear that you’re having a tough time dealing with the competition that you helped create.

Matt Grzych

GOOD LUCK!!
John A. Mckinney