Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Snead.
Hi Justin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in South Carolina, severe weather was never something I got to experience as a child. It wasn’t until 2018 that the spark to start doing storm photography (and subsequently storm chasing) fell into my lap outside of the town of Waseca, Minnesota. While driving down Highway 14, I saw a weird looking cloud upon the horizon. As I pulled over to stop and stare at it, my phone went off as a tornado warning was placed on the storm. With adrenaline beginning to pulse through my body, my camera shutter constantly clicked and something just felt right about the moment. I knew in my soul that this was where I belonged.
Fast forward a few years and I now co-lead workshops with a few storm chasing tour companies chasing weather across the US alongside selling storm photography both in the NFT scene and as prints.
When I am not chasing storms in the Midwest, I am working as a travel surgical technologist helping understaffed hospitals across the country.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to storm chasing was a rather difficult one to begin taking. Upon finding my newfound hobby, I quickly discovered that there were two major obstacles I would need to navigate around in order to be successful.
The first obstacle in my journey was learning how to forecast where storms will be forming. Under the mentorship of fellow storm chaser Chris Jackson, I began studying hours on end after I got off work. These studies still go on today as forecasting severe weather is not an exact science (after seeing some of the courses meteorologists take, I am also convinced I will never go to school for it).
The second obstacle in my journey has been learning how to master editing photos that not only speak to my soul, but the viewer as well. While most people do not consider photography to be art, I’ve always looked at it as a way to express my emotions through edits alongside evoking those emotions within the viewer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a photographer, I specialize in the capture of unique supercells, lightning and tornados and other weather events that occur in the Midwest of the United States. My work is known within the storm chasing community for its unique, moody style.
One of the things I am most proud of is building a community of storm chasing friends, photographers and supporters who support my vision of storm chasing full time.
Hard work, passion and an intense desire to showcase some of Mother Nature’s rawest yet dramatic scenes are what help to set me apart from others.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned from having to endure the Covid-19 crisis as a healthcare professional is that we should enjoy life to the fullest extent. In a world where we are constantly on the move and looking for quick hits of dopamine, learning to relax and truly embrace the small details that make life worth living has been a rewarding experience for me.
Pricing:
- Storm Chasing Tours- $500/day
- NFTs- Varies in ETH (Cryptocurrency)
- Prints- Varies in USD
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://linktr.ee/TheDreadlockTraveler
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedreadlocktraveler/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DreadlockTvlr
Image Credits
Tim Baca
Justin Snead
