The chat group allowed these storm chasers to share their passion at a time when most of us were confined at home. There are now more than 120 active members in the chat, but for a long time, most of them had been chasing storms by themselves due to pandemic restrictions.
This year, the members have been organising more storm chases with each other. For some, it’s the first time they’re meeting in real life.
PRECISION IN ACTION
It was fascinating to document these passionate photographers, as I observed how they planned and carried out storm chases. For budding storm chasers, here are some tips when it comes to taking that perfect shot.
Plan ahead: You should scout out the weather pattern at least 72 hours before any potential storm chase. This allows you to be on location early, so that the thunderstorm is in front rather than on top of you. It makes capturing that lightning strike much easier and you can avoid getting drenched.
Location matters: Find high, sheltered areas that give you a panoramic view of every direction. Even better if it comes with interesting foregrounds like MRT stations, iconic buildings or water bodies. The SG Storm Trackers have created their own Google map with pinned locations of good vantage points across Singapore.
Handy equipment: Get a camera with interval (timelapse) or live composite function. As lightning is unpredictable, you can activate the timelapse function for ease of shooting. A remote control is also useful. Don’t forget to invest in a sturdy tripod or a clamp too. These come in handy when you are shooting from high vantage points, and times when you’ll need to secure your camera against the elements.
Catch One Billion Joules on CNA or on CNA’s YouTube channel on Jul 7, 9pm.