They go by many different names: thermal pools, mineral springs, spas, baths, hot springs — or my personal favorite — Mother Nature’s jacuzzi. These steamy soaks are typically a product of geothermal heat or volcanic zones, which means they’re found in some of the most geologically diverse and beautiful terrains in the world. Many of us are familiar with well-known hot spring locations like Iceland’s Blue Lagoon or Pamukkale in Turkey, but those closer to home often fly under the radar. What you likely didn’t know is that the U.S. boasts 1,661 known hot springs, most of which are located in the western part of the country.

Hot Creek Geological Site, Mammoth Lakes, United States. Photo by Cody Saunders

Many of these springs are too hot to soak in, but even after you subtract those from the list, there’s still a wealth of steamy pools that are within road trip distance from most major cities across the Pacific Northwest, Colorado Rockies and the Southwest. Some are tucked away in the high desert while others are nestled in the dense forest, only accessible by hiking in. So, that’s where this guide to natural hot springs that are off-the-beaten-path comes in. Covering 71 springs in total, this outlines hot springs that have been left mostly au naturel — because there’s really no better way to “soak up” the magic of nature than to soak in it.

To help make your hot spring quest easier, this guide covers all the important information you need to know like location  number of pools, type of access and whether or not each spring is clothing optional. Yes, at some, you can even leave your suit at home! Always remember to leave the springs and their surrounding areas in the state that you found them, or if possible in even better condition than when you found them by picking up trash. Pack out what you pack and leave no trace to help preserve these natural gems for generations to come.

The following maps and locations were provided by CarRentals.com

Arizona

Arizona is known for some of the most spectacular sites in the U.S. — think Grand Canyon National Park, the Kofa Wildlife Refuge, Antelope Canyon and Havasupai Falls, but did you know that it’s also home to a handful of off-the-grid thermal springs? Most of these aren’t an easy task to reach, but they’re well worth the hike. You can enjoy hot springs in Arizona that sit perched alongside a river, up above the Roosevelt Damn or tucked away inside colorful canyon walls.

California

The golden state is home to some of the most diverse terrain in the U.S. that will meet the needs of any outdoor enthusiast. From national parks and beach-side camping, to sand dunes and surf to snow accessibility, it might actually be true when Californians say they have it all. But, did you know it also boasts over 300 hot springs? Since hot springs in California span the length and width of the state, these natural gems are a short road trip away from most major cities.

Colorado

Colorado is internationally renowned for its breathtaking mountain scenery and powdery slopes. Village towns like Vail, Breckenridge, Aspen, and Telluride are just a few ski resorts that have put this state on every winter lover’s radar. And just like we hoped, where there are snow-covered slopes, there are hot springs. Colorado is dotted with incredible thermal waters from natural rock pools to resorts surrounded by evergreens. Take a break from a long day of playing in the mountains to dip into some of nature’s best.

Idaho

For people who’ve never been to Idaho, potatoes might come to mind when they think of this state. This, among other misconceptions, is what helps make Idaho a hidden gem. While farming is prevalent, its geographic diversity and low population density, mean that Idaho is, in many ways, defined by its landscapes. The snow-capped Sawtooth Mountains, millions of acres of protected forest, whitewater rivers and volcanic plains are just a few highlights. Unique geological location also means there is an abundance of Idaho hot springs to enjoy — 232 to be exact, and unlike many other states, almost all of them are safe to take a dip in. There’s really no better way to “soak up” this state’s magic than to soak in it.

Just another picture perfect Idaho hot spring. Photo by Michael Bonocore

Nevada

Nevada is often defined by its vast expanses of desert, vivid nightlife, 24-hour casinos, and entertainment industry. On the flip side, it makes for some of the best road trips to explore its awe-inspiring landscape and eye-opening destinations, in particular, natural springs, which are sprinkled all over the rich geothermal areas of the state. While some Nevada hot springs are extreme enough to foster a thriving geothermal energy industry, others have been tapped into to create remote and relaxing springs that will leave you craving for more.

Oregon

Often considered one of America’s best outdoor playgrounds, Oregon is home to glacier-clad volcanoes, vibrant high deserts and icy rivers that keep fisherman, backpackers and whitewater kayakers coming back for more. However, you don’t have to be an outdoor junky to appreciate this state’s natural beauty.

For those simply looking for a breath of fresh air with a stunning backdrop, Oregon delivers. A mix of climates means that you can bask in a steaming pool that sits perched above an icy river, under a canopy of pine trees or enjoy the scenic backdrop of an Oregon hot spring in the open plains.

Utah

Utah has no shortage of amazing outdoor activities and is commonly known for its multi-day adventures along remote byways, like the “Mighty Five” national parks. But there’s more to this state than sweeping vistas, arches, alcoves and epic canyons. Chances are, if you’re visiting one of these incredible sites, you’re likely near one of the many hot springs in Utah. Just remember, that while nudity is widely accepted in many thermal pools across the U.S., it’s actually illegal here. Don’t dip without your suit!

Washington

There may be fewer hot springs in Washington than most states in the Western U.S. — 30 in total — but its beautiful secluded locations and pine tree forests make up for the quantity. The Pacific Northwest is not only known for its vibrant green outdoors but also its heavy snowfall. With a white blanket covering the state of Washington during the fall and winter, there’s really no better way to defrost than by taking a hot springs road trip — just make sure you come prepared with good tires and chains.

Hot springs have been called the “fountain of youth” for their claimed anti-aging effects that mineral water can have on skin. More commonly, people visit these natural gems to experience nature in its most primitive form and soak up the incredible landscapes around them. However, that doesn’t mean they’re 100 percent safe or sanitary. Even popular springs that have been known for their consistent temperatures, can change without warning. Don’t forget that thermal springs are heated from the energy that comes within earth’s core, so you should test the water and read any warnings before jumping straight in. For many visitors, a hot springs road trip can be a way to relax sore muscles, set off on new adventures or clear away the winter blues. Use our guide to help you plan your road trip and rent a car to see some of the best and off the beaten path soaks on the western side of the U.S.

Mammoth Lakes, California. Photo By Robson Hatsukami Morgan

This version of this guide originally appeared on the CarRentals.com blog

The post 71 Natural Hot Springs To Warm Up In This Winter appeared first on Resource Travel.

My original plan this past summer was to collect as much footage as normal, but to not put out a “Monsoon V” until 2019 when I had two years worth of crazy haboobs and lightning to make it truly spectacular. But the monsoon had different plans and put on a pretty dang good show in 2018, starting off with a decent dust storm on July 5th, then the best haboob chase I’ve ever had on July 9th, an epic green hail core on July 11th and finally another fantastic dust storm day on August 2nd.   Sprinkled in there…more dust storm, some at night, spectacular lightning, and tons of microbursts and stormy clouds, plus a few rotating supercells to put some icing on the cake. It was one of the best monsoon seasons I’ve chased, so I couldn’t help but get to work on Monsoon V after just one chasing season.

The first haboob of the season rolls through central Arizona, seen here along Casa Blanca road east of 347

A monster haboob approached Vekol Valley Road along Interstate 8 on July 9th

An unexpected sight in Arizona…a monster green hail core on a storm that looks more like it belongs on the central plains of the United States than it does out in the deserts.

A severe thunderstorm kicks out a bolt that lands in the mountains northeast of Willcox, AZ as seen from Highway 191

Two bolts slam into the ground near Bowie, Arizona, absolutely dwarfing the Chiricahau Mountians.

A lightning caused wildfire continues to burn as a thunderstorm moves towards it.

A gorgeous haboob crests these mountains south of Sacaton, Arizona

A huge haboob swallows not just most of Phoenix, but here in downtown Tempe

A gorgeous rainbow and downdraft move over Marana, with lightning flashing in the middle of it.

A lightning bolt lands near Castle Rock in the mountains of the Coronado National Forest

Stoic saguaro watch as lightning blasts the landscape around them.

A lightning bolt exits the clouds above and pierces the clouds capping a mountain range south of Interstate 8 in southern Arizona

A set of strong bolts rai down over the Sil Nakya community on the Tohono O’Ddham nation

A beautiful thunderstorm on the east side of the McDowell Mountains.

A stunning sunset storm out in Vicksburg, Arizona lasted for almost two hours.

The post Haboobs, Lightning, and Hail: See the Frighteningly Beautiful Arizona Monsoon appeared first on Resource Travel.

So when Phoenix based storm chaser and photographer Mike Olbinski woke up on July 9th in Blyth, California, he knew he had to rush home based off the weather models he checked first thing in the morning.

Olbinkski detailed the chase on his Facebook post.

I kinda had the entire day mapped out before breakfast based on models and how this same deal happened on July 29th, 2016…and sure enough it played out the same way.

 

Except BETTER. Because this time the storms were early. And we had 150 miles and hours to stay in front of a churning, dense haboob. From driving through it near Stanfield, to a gorgeous haboob approaching Vekol Road, then it was to Gila Bend and after that is when it really came to life and was a dream to chase all the way to Yuma.

 

Better yet was the fact that this wall of dust was so thick, NO traffic came from the east for at least an hour. All it was was about 5-7 storm chasers leapfrogging each other, jumping out along Interstate 8, hootin’, hollering and high-fiving.

It’s no secret that we are big fans of Olbinski’s storm chasing photos and time-lapse films. In fact, we have brought you along for the ride in 12 of his previous storm chasing experiences, and all are as beautiful and fascinating as the ones before. So when I saw this incredible moment on his Facebook post, I had to sit down with Olbinski and get the story.

That is one big haboob! Is this the biggest one you have ever seen?

No, it’s not the biggest, but I’m definitely ranking it #2 all-time now! The best will always be July 5th, 2011. That was the first time-lapse I ever did of a haboob and it went viral within an hour of sharing it online. One that size won’t be seen out here again I don’t think, but this one from July 9th, 2018 was absolutely stunning.

When the wall is quickly approaching, is there ever a fear of the unknown about being inside of one?

No fear for me really. I’ve been in countless dust storms, and they vary in intensity and strength. However, we could definitely tell this was a dense one and if you got stuck inside for too long, it would be very hard to get back out with the low to zero visibility. For a time-lapse guy like me, I usually let it hit me, wait about 20 seconds, then race out of it as fast as possible. The good thing about this one is that it was so dense, we really had no cars to worry about on the interstate because they’d all pulled over behind it.

Some of your footage looks to be taken from inside the haboob. After it would descend on you, what was the game plan?

That footage was in Yuma and was basically when it was dark and we decided to call the chase. So we pulled into a lot and waited it out. The wind and sand was so intense. I think my windshield may have thousands of tiny little dings in it now from what I noticed today. Once it passed, we went back east towards home to hopefully catch some lightning, but it ended up just being rain and wind.

How long were you chasing this one?

The storms that really helped spawn on this hit around the Casa Grande area, as well as rolled through Phoenix around the same time. So I was on it from the start west of Casa Grande around 4:30pm. The last video was shot at 8:30pm when we gave up, so a solid four hours. It was a dream to catch it with all that time and daylight left. I’ve done two similar chases the past two years, both of them were AMAZING haboobs, however, they came after dark or right at sunset too early, and the chase west to Yuma was so dark that the photos were impossible to do much with. But July 9th…150 miles of chasing and tons of stops and fun photos along the way. Great times.

Your friend Greg McCown has a photo of you and fellow chaser John Sirlin standing outside as the haboob seems mere meters away. Did he snap those pics and then you immediately ran for cover in the vehicle?

I think the haboob was further away than it looked! Those are monsters, being nearly 3000-5000ft tall. So while it looked close (and it still in reality was), it wasn’t a “shoot and run” situation completely. However, I’m sure within the next five minutes of those pictures, we were packing up. Sometimes you get in front long enough to time-lapse for half an hour, sometimes a mere 5-10 minutes.

Any advice for amateur storm photographers on how to safely photograph one?

If you see one, and you’re new, definitely keep ahead of it. Don’t wait for it to hit you. And be very cautious if you are trying to punch one to get to the other side. You never know who might have stopped in the middle of the road because of low visibility and didn’t pull off to the side.

What was it like to experience this incredible moment with your kids?

Well, my kids probably just love being with dad, on the road, getting snacks and being on their iPad…but we do have a ton of fun watching these storms, and while they don’t always understand it all, they definitely let out a few “wows” for this dust storm. And I got some cute shots of Eli on top of my truck, a selfie with them together and a dust storm behind us and my daughter was shooting BTS video all day which I loved. Hopefully someday in life they will look back with fond memories on all this, because for me it’s already amazing now.

So there you have it. Another day, another incredible storm chase with Mike Olbinski. Look out for his upcoming completed time-lapse film of this entire storm on an upcoming feature on Resource Travel.

See more from Olbinski on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post See the Massive Dust Storm That Swallowed Southwest Arizona appeared first on Resource Travel.

A heavy downburst of rain explodes outwards as it hits the ground, sending dusty outflow headed for Casa Grande. Lightning shoots out of the front of the rainshafts slamming in the ground.

But the Arizona based photographer is probably best known for his film series ‘Monsoon’, which brings viewers inside the heart-pounding storms that descend on the southwestern desert every spring and summer.

With today’s release of ‘Monsoon IV’, Olbinski once again delivers a tour de force of powerful storm time-lapse clips coupled with music that was seemingly composed just for this very film. And indeed it was, perfectly.

A lightning bolt at the Grand Canyon hits on the top of one of the little island plateaus on the eastern side as seen from Navajo Point.

The film is made from 110,000 photos taken over 13,000 miles of storm chasing from Desert Center, CA to Wilna, NM to the northern and southern borders of his homestate of Arizona. It seems like a monumental project that Olbinksi undertakes every year. But luckily for us, four years in and he doesn’t seem to be growing tired of the hard work. And the southwestern desert doesn’t seem to be tired of producing incredible storms for him to capture.

Stunning light bathes the mountains in Organ Pipe National Monument as lightning strikes in the hills.

Check out more from Olbinski on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.

A large haboob rolls west along Interstate 8

A lightning bolt exits the base of the storm but travles miles across the sky to slam into the ground well away from the main rainshaft.

Never did I ever expect to see a monstrous haboob over Organ Pipe National Park complete with a gorgeous shelf cloud structure over it. Unbelievable sight to see.

For my personally, a rare lightning strike out ahead of a haboob or dust storm, this one west of Gila Bend along Interstate 8.

A bolt starts up high and pierces the clouds as it slams into the ground in the town of Safford, Arizona

A wide angle was not e nough to contain this huge positive bolt on July 31st

A lightning strike lands in the Chiricahua Mountains just south of the town of Bowie, Arizona.

Two powerful bolts slam well away from the storm on the south side of the Safford area

Two similar bolts hit together in the span of four seconds.

A brief, but pretty haboob or dust storm rolls across the Tohono O’Odham Nation on August 23rd, 2017

A lightning strike hits in the Table Top mountains west of Stanfield, Arizona

A forest of saguaro stand tall like needles against a stunning rainbow after a monsoon storm rolled by

Lingering dust creates a hazy scene as bolts drop on the town of Tacna, Arizona

A skinny storm with a skinny bolt slams down into the desert south of Interstate 8 about 20 miles west of Gila Bend

A huge positive strike slams into the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

A thunderstorm with hail and rain moves across the Grand Canyon, dropping lightning into the cliff faces below

Two similar bolts hit together in the span of four seconds.

An isolated thunderstorm over the Chiricahua Mountains drops three lightning bolts as the moon aids in creating some beautiful backlight.

A huge positive strike lands well away from the precipitation core of this storm over the Grand Canyon, slamming in the plateau near the VIllage

A beautiful supercell spins across the open desert just north of Lordsburg, New Mexico

The post The Dramatic Monsoon Season in the Deserts of the Southwestern United States appeared first on Resource Travel.

But while most of Geraci’s work is centered around his home in Washington D.C., he has made it his mission to take some time to get away from the hustle of the nations’ capital, and nowhere could be more opposite than the quiet and peaceful landscapes of Northern Arizona.

Geraci described the experience on his Facebook.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling over 1000 miles to capture 7000+ photos of Northern Arizona – through fog, snow, and mud. It was one hell of an adventure!

It looks like one hell of an adventure. And with alot less industry than that incredible time-lapse you made in China.

Follow Drew Geraci and District 7 Media on his website, Facebook, Instagram and Vimeo. 

The post Experience the Serenity of Northern Arizona in This Time-Lapse Film appeared first on Resource Travel.

Determined to make up for my lost time in Utah, my girlfriend and fellow photographer Sarah Korin and I hopped on a flight to Salt Lake City from our home in Seattle, Washington. After meeting up with our good friends Adam & Stacha in Salt Lake City, we headed south to St. George. This was the official start of our 1,129 mile loop of Utah’s best sights. We even crossed the border into Arizona briefly. I compiled a list of my favorite locations visited during the road trip, and my favorite photos to accompany them. The photos are mostly digital, but you’ll find some film images hiding in there as well.

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion Canyon

The Zion Canyon is still an incredible site, no matter how many times I look back through my photos from the overlook, which is the best bang for your buck view in Zion. Just past the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel lies a small parking lot that leads to a 1-mile roundtrip, short, mostly flat hike to the viewpoint that offers spectacular views for minimal effort.

Angel’s Landing

One of the tougher hikes we did on the trip was also the most breathtaking. Once you navigate the chain assisted climb around a busy trail you are greeted with is a view that I couldn’t even dream up. A different look down Zion Canyon from a great height and sheer drop off on three sides of you is a humbling experience.

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Arguably, one of the most photographed locations in the United States, and for good reason. A very easy walk from the parking area leads you to a massive view of the iconic Colorado River scene. Visitor after visitor approached behind us, nearly everyone gasping at the grand sight that just smashed their retinas. Most images you’ve seen are huge panorama’s that are beautiful but seriously fail in depicting the scale of this view. Go there!

Monument Valley, Arizona

From the iconic road shot to the fantasy-esq buttes erupting from the valley floor, Monument Valley is one of the most spellbinding places I have ever seen. The land is part of the Navajo Nation and the people have great respect for Monument Valley, and hold it sacred. You do really feel at one with the earth when you explore, especially when you can camp with the Mitten and Merricks buttes right in your face. That was easily one of my favorite nights of the trip.

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

Very easily overlooked, as this amazing canyon is nestled up right next to its much busier brothers in southern Utah, the town of Moab and Arches National Park. I enjoyed watching the sunset here with my friends as well as shooting a couple of rolls of film while the light was fantastic.

Mesa Arch

What a shit show! Seriously one of the craziest locations we visited. We woke up at 3:30 to ensure we got a good spot to view the sunrise illuminating the arch but we were far from the first people set up. Once sunrise approached a tour bus of tourists offloaded and our nicely spaced set up became a cramped, awkward mess. Many of them trying to set up tripods in front of ours and complaining that people were in their way. Still, despite the craziness, I’m elated with the photo I have from here.

Arches National Park

Well, just like Zion, you could easily spend a week here and not get enough. We spent the day exploring some of the lesser popular locations and enjoying the non-rushed day as the rest of the trip had been very tightly scheduled.

We started by soaking in some sun at the Petrified Dunes and Parade of Elephants. 

We found our way into the narrow canyon of Surprise Arch due to the low traffic of the area while we waited for the evening light for Delicate Arch. Surprise Arch is a narrow hike through sandstone walls and deep sand. Once you come around a corner, true to its name, an arch cut from the canyon walls. We shot some portraits on the Leica M3 with Portra 400 because the lighting and color of the rock were too perfect.

Delicate Arch Hike

I may or may not have fibbed and misremembered how long this hike was. The first time I was here I was on a fire assignment nearby and had just enough time to sprint up the trail to catch the sunset. I knew it was long but I didn’t remember how steep the beginning of the hike was; the girls were not happy with me. It was also so damn windy, which led to some visitors losing some water bottles down the bowl and jackets flying around. But, it’s one of, if not the best location in Arches National Park, so no matter the conditions, it was worth it. 

Even after this adventure, I know I have only scratched the surface of the beauty and adventure throughout Utah and Arizona. This corner of the American South West is one of the most beautiful places in the entire country and deserves as much time as possible to enjoy. Until next time….

Kyle Ford is a Seattle, Washington-based lifestyle and travel photographer. See his work on his website, Instagram and Facebook.

The post My Favorite Photos From a 1,129 Mile Road Trip Through Utah and Arizona appeared first on Resource Travel.

• Stunning Film Shows the Dramatic Storms of the American Heartland
• See the Dangerous Power of a Tornado Through a Storm Chaser’s Eye

Monsoon-wise, the summer of 2016 was a slow season for Arizona. There were not as many storms as previous years, and it generally seemed more quiet. However, to a storm chaser, that doesn’t mean anything, Olbinski claims. We wondered why not.

I guess it’s a funny statement to make, but what I mean is that while the season is slow for places like Phoenix and surrounding cities, as a storm chaser, I can venture far and wide to wherever the storms may be even if they aren’t nearby. That’s sort of the beauty of storm chasing. On some nights I’ll end up seeing an incredible lightning storm only 50 miles west of Phoenix and yet everyone in town thinks it’s another bust of a night.

A powerful downburst of rain dumps over the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction, creating strong outflow winds that kick up tons of dust, lowering visibility to zero at times.
© Mike Olbinski

A lightning bolt lands in the Four Peaks Wilderness area northeast of Phoenix, seeming to fork into two directions at the last minute as it strikes the side of a mountain.
© Mike Olbinski

An incredibly cooll scene out at the Four Peaks on July 1st, 2016. Strong winds push a dumping hail core way out ahead of the updraft and on top of the Four Peaks Mountain Range.
© Mike Olbinski

A gorgeous couple of lightning strikes hit the Sand Tank Mountains just after sunset on July 1st, 2016.
© Mike Olbinski

Olbinski chased storms for 36 days for “Monsoon III,” which was less than the 48 in 2015. After an early start in late June, things died for about three weeks. Still, Olbinski loved the season.

Maybe because as a filmmaker, having put out a few of these films now, I’m beginning to focus and hone in more on what I really love to time-lapse. As the years go on, and I learn more and more about chasing storms here in Arizona. I’ve found myself in better spots to capture the stuff I really enjoy.

Another reason why Olbinski says he loved this seasom, is because he finally got what he had been counting on for years: haboobs or dust storms. “My wish came true,” he says, on September 27, when he was able to capture glorious rolling walls of dirt and sand engulfing even Phoenix itself.

© Mike Olbinski

© Mike Olbinski

© Mike Olbinski

© Mike Olbinski

Any other experiences during those 36 days that will stick with you forever?

Actually, the craziest, most intense day of chasing was a nighttime haboob that was racing 70-80mph west across south central Arizona. It didn’t even end up in the film, but I was able to shoot a picture (see below). We had been chasing southeast of Tucson, followed the storms north towards Phoenix, saw a nice shelf cloud and sunset dust storm, but it raced quickly past us towards Phoenix. Knowing what the models showed, I knew the storms would turn west and aim to cross the state towards Yuma. We got out there and suddenly a massive wall of dust began to collect and head west. At Gila Bend, we stopped and with the help of some city lights, we could see the monstrosity moving towards us at breakneck speed. In 2011 we had a historic dust storm hit Phoenix that I time-lapsed and eventually saw it go viral within a few hours. This haboob on July 29th was just as huge and historic, but it happened after dark. It was a tough image to even capture in the moment because of how dark it was and how fast it was moving.

© Mike Olbinski

The storm eventually crossed into California and the next day from San Diego to Los Angeles. It left the sky a hazy mess.

Do you often end up in dangerous situations like that?

The only real danger I feel like I get in, are when lightning strikes are intense and close, so I feel like I need to sit inside the truck instead of risking my life for the shot. Or on the night of July 29th when we were trying to get out of the wall of dust… It was so insanely thick that visibility at times was zero and we’d pull off the freeway to make sure no one slammed into us from behind. It was a pretty sketchy chase that night and I’m pretty good and knowing how to maneuver those things after years of practice, but my nerves were on edge!

A low shelf cloud hangs under the base of a strong thunderstorm near the town of McNeal, Arizona.
© Mike Olbinski

Something like hellfire rains down on these mountains west of Phoenix, with a massive bolt landing right atop Courthouse Rock.
© Mike Olbinski

A shot I’ve been trying to get for years now…last night it happened. A monster lightning strike just behind the iconic Picacho Peak that sits between Phoenix and Tucson along Interstate 10.
© Mike Olbinski

I never really track how many days I exactly spend editing, but I’d definitely say more than 60. I start rendering clips early on in the year, and about a month into our 3 1/2 month season, I pick out a track, lay it down in Premiere Pro and start dropping clips into it just to get a head start on the process. So sometimes it’s everyday working on it, tweaking stuff, adding new clips and seeing where the music and the scene make the most sense paired up.

A beautiful, isolated storm hangs in western portions of Arizona right at sunset.
© Mike Olbinski

A single 30-second exposure yielded a blast of five lightning strikes landing in and around the Gila Bend Mountains on August 18th, 2016.
© Mike Olbinski

Five separate photos are stacked here over the course of three minutes out west of Phoenix along Sun Valley Parkway.
© Mike Olbinski

© Mike Olbinski

Would you consider this third “Monsoon” film your best one?

I would probably quickly say that last year’s “Monsoon II” was better, just based on some of the clips I was able to get, especially towards the end, with the Milky Way clip and a beautiful, isolated lightning storm at sunset. But in terms of editing and all that, I think this one flowed very well, was a bit shorter and more concise and felt overall better. It actually earned a Vimeo Staff Pick within 12 hours of posting it, which was a huge shock to me, so I do think it may be my best work in the way of actually editing a film, but I do wish I had stumbled upon a couple more epic storms to have at the end.

How about compared to your other films?

It’s hard to compare, because of how different the storms are. The monsoon is more of a quiet beauty with lightning and dust, while the plains are chaos and tornadoes and super cells and craziness. I definitely think I’ve improved a lot with musical editing and finding the right clips that go with the ebbs and flows of a song to really help them mesh well together. I think in time-lapse films, music is just selected and clips are dropped without a ton of real thought. It’s one of the most important things to me to truly find that song or track that will help you tell the story you want, and then to use it as best you can.

A bolt from a summer thunderstorm drops just on the north side of the Little Colorad River as seen from the Grand Canyon’s Navajo Point.
© Mike Olbinski

A massive positive cloud-to-ground lightning strike hits just on the north side of Coolidge, Arizona.
© Mike Olbinski

Two bolts split up top and slam into the ground near Coolidge, Arizona.
© Mike Olbinski

Yesterday was a crazy chase, ended up in a little community east of Ajo called Maish Vaya at sunset and completely surrounded by exploding thunderstorms and insane colors in the sky. It was unreal. This was looking north and is the only bolt I caught in this direction as I had less than 10 minutes before it started pouring. Spent the night in Green Valley and am now in Nogales watching the wash through town flow a bit before heading home early this afternoon.
© Mike Olbinski

Nothing more beautiful than lightning against a sunrise or sunset. Awesome morning out near the Four Peaks.
© Mike Olbinski

A monster shelf cloud moves towards the small community of San Manuel in southeastern Arizona.
© Mike Olbinski

© Mike Olbinski

The post Storm Chaser’s Epic Monsoon-Film Shows the Beauty in Forces of Nature appeared first on Resource Travel.