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THESE ARE SOME PICTURES OF TORNADOES.
The big difference is the way I pursue storms and put them on film. As an artist, I'm always looking for the perfect
shot or a specific scene. Someone once said, "Artists seek perfection in their work to make up for imperfections in their
life." That fits me. I've given up on any kind of a serious personal life or family and dedicated my life to my work. As for
technique, I'm a color freak. Most storms have a lot of flat colors. Hurricanes are all grey. It's a challenge to find color.
When I do find color, I like to saturate the film with long exposures. This gives my images the vivid colors. I also like
to exploit "beauty light," the intense and colorful light right before sunset.
"As the towering storms drew closer, the sky darkened, and the clouds became translucent
from constant internal lightning flashes. Some lightning bolts leaped from the top of the storms, reaching toward the heavens.
The top of the western-most storm was bathed in a wondrous golden glow from some distant sunset, while overhead, a few bright
stars shone like diamonds set on the storm's amber crown. We sat quietly and simply absorbed the show as it unfolded over
the endless emerald fields which flowed to-and-fro from the breeze. Then it dawned on me; this was the essence of chasing.
I had begun to fall in love with the Plains."
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 "In the world of storm chasing -- Warren Faidley is considered
at the top
of the list." (MSNBC)
Over the past 15 years storm adventurer Warren Faidley has pursued,
photographed, written about, obsessed over, filmed, cursed at and somehow survived some of the planet's most breathtaking
and savage weather. During his action-packed career of over 19 years, it is likely he has experienced more assorted extreme
weather events than anyone -- including baseball-sized hail, flash floods, lightning strikes, an F-5 tornado and the interior
of a category 5 hurricane -- the most violent of storms. On numerous occasions, beginning at age 12, he has narrowly escaped
disaster while pursuing extreme weather.
Unlike the majority of "storm chasers" who are, in reality, part-timers, researchers and hobbyists who chase a few storms
a year, Warren is the real deal. He was the first person to make a successful, professional career solely from storm chasing
-- covering all forms of bad weather and natural disasters -- year round and full time. His diverse client list, ranging
from National Geographic, Paul McCartney to the NFL is evidence of his skills at capturing extreme storm events on film.
Warren became a full time extreme weather journalist in 1989 after graduating from the University of Arizona and working
as a photo journalist for several newspapers and magazines. Warren's first hand experiences of outwitting dangerous weather
has produced best-selling anecdotes, award winning images and made him one of the most sought after experts, photographers,
lecturers and personalities concerning storm chasing and storm survival. Each year his images, footage and adventure stories
reach millions around the world in magazines, radio, television, the internet, advertising, lectures, motion pictures and
books.
Here is a QuickTime introduction about Warren and his work
Copyright 2003 VOA.
The following interview questions were assembled and abbridged from assorted news
interviews. The unabridged, extended version can be found here.
Media inquires may be sent here.
Edited by Laura White
"The Indiana Jones of storm chasing." (Nippon Press)
When did this incredible story begin?
Once upon a time, I was born in Topeka, Kansas, in the heart of Tornado Alley, on May 11 -- the height of the tornado
season. Shortly there after, a killer tornado tore though the neighborhood. I don't remember it, but I'll bet if I could have
walked I would have run out the door to see it!
Editors note: Warren and his tricycle seen to the upper right. This is not an acceptable mode of tornado chasing!
I understand your first childhood chase nearly killed you?
Yes. When I was 12 I was swept away by a flash flood in Tucson, Arizona. I conducted my first "chase" along the banks
of a swiftly-flowing riverbed. The side gave way and I fell into the floodwaters. I was carried under water and held my breath
as long as I could. I remember the little movie playing -- the vivid memories passing by as death approaches. The credits
were rolling just as my foot found a rock -- allowing me to stick my head above the water and breath. That single event had
a profound effect on my life -- I knew then and still do -- I had to live life to its fullest.
When did you first realize you might make a career out of chasing severe weather?
 About a year after my near death experience I decided to ride my bike into the center of a large dust devil, a tornado-like
thermal vortex. I got the big idea after watching the Wizard of Oz. I formed a chase group of neighborhood kids. We wore old
jackets and safety goggles to protect us from the flying debris. On several occasions I was able to penetrate the interior
of a dust devil. My weather adventures lead to my first job, collecting deadly scorpions. The heavy monsoon rain storms drove
the critters out of their hiding places, ready for the taking. I dodged the lightning bolts and sold the scorpions to an old
geezer who put them into plastic paperweights, the kind sold at roadside travel stores. Eventually, some parents found out
about my near drowning, scorpion trade and dust devil adventures. The majority of my "devil squadron" were banned from hanging
out with 'that Faidley kid'.
"Like the boy who can't resist opening the cellar door to find out what is making
that gnawing sound, Warren Faidley wants to meet the monster." (Jim Malusa for Destination Discovery
Magazine. December 1992.)
When did you see your first tornado?
Just by chance, my first tornado was an F-5 (318 mph) monster near Red Rock, Oklahoma on April 26, 1991. I nearly drove
into the beast when I lost track of it in a line of trees. It hit a house in front of me. There was pink insulation falling
on the windshield. I half expected body parts to fall. My foot was shaking on the accelerator and I felt like throwing up.
You can hear the mix of excitement and terror in my voice as I shot the video footage.
Here is a QuickTime storm clip of the April 26, 1990 tornado
"He's faced the fury of lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes but he's never been
afraid." (Slight misquote from the National Enquirer. August 1994)
What was the scariest moment of your chasing career?
You will have to wait until I write a book! There have been too many to mention here. One of the recent events occurred
in 2003 when I was caught up in the "inflow" circulation feeding into a nighttime tornadic storm in west Texas. I was fleeing
an absolutely wicked storm on I-40 near McLean, Texas when the winds became so intense, the chase truck would barely move
-- rocks were being lifted off the road cracking the windshield -- I could see debris flying by in the dust. I was literally
being sucked into the tornado's circulation! I finally made it to Shamrock, Texas with tornado sirens blaring. I heard storm
spotters on the radio reporting a tornado crossing the road right behind me -- hitting several cars! Two other scary events
come to mind: The time I drove through a gauntlet of windshield shattering, baseball-sized hail in western Kansas and
the night a tornado was bearing down on my motel room in Nebraska and I had nowhere to hide. During that event, I pretty much
decided I might die -- so I decided to go out shooting. I grabbed the video camera and let it roll. People were huddled in
the hallways, some of them crying. I figured the wind, hail and tornado sirens would make a great parting shot for the "Faidley
Kid!" Fortunately, the tornado missed the motel.
Here is a QuickTime storm clip of the hailstorm Warren drove through
 The movie Twister. How were you involved?
I was one of the initial consultants for Twister. I assisted the art and scouting departments during the initial research phase of the film. The film never had
a full-time consultant. I'm often asked, so I should note, none of the characters in the movie were based on me. They were
all based on scientists, mostly from the NSSL where Crichton got a lot of his references. I was invited to the premiere in
Oklahoma City and I got to meet everyone. The one thing that irritates me is I did not get the consulting credit I was promised!
Editors note: Universal used one of Warren's tornado images for the movie poster and CD box.
Is there any hope of a future "Cyclone Cowboy" story?
Maybe. This comes up every so often. There have been discussions about optioning my life's adventures for a script or
screenplay. People from Hollywood occasionally call and chat and ask questions, but I have not committed to anything yet.
I've had a lot of unusual experiences during the 18 years of chasing -- you know -- the "truth is stranger than fiction" stuff.
Maybe someone should do a weird twist on the story. Is Tarantino available?
Now you have my curiosity. What was one of those "strange" moments?
We found a small child standing in the middle of a deserted highway while we were chasing a tornado.
What is your most memorable chase?
There have been many chases I would consider as "memorable." But the year of 2004 is at the top of the list. Three
"High Risk" days that produced so many tornadoes, I lost count. I really lucked out and picked some of the best storms on
each day and was able to maneuver into favorable shooting positions. I shot more graphic tornado footage and still images
on those three days than all the previous years combined. On the last day of my chase season, I drove through a weak "F-O"
tornado in West Texas for S&%$'s and giggles. I knew it was a weak, nothing to worry about twister, so I said what the
heck. It was a great way to cap off a great season. (Don't try this at home... his chase truck is designed to safely survive an F-0 to F-1 tornado).
Here is a QT Movie sample of the 2004 chase season
C.S.S.R-
Center for Severe Storm Research
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