This month’s Instagrammer does whatever it takes to get his shots of extreme nature, whether that’s standing on a live volcano or chasing rampaging tornadoes.
Mike Theiss was given his first camera at 8 years old and immediately started photographing his great passion, weather related events. With a thirst for travel, as he grew up Theiss travelled the world capturing startling, dramatic images of extreme nature, eventually fulfilling his dream of taking photographs for National Geographic.
What makes @extremenature special
Whether it’s the dramatic nature pictures or his vibrant travel shots (Theiss describes travel as his other great passion), his photographs capture stunning moments taken from unique, sometimes frightening, vantage points.
‘I would describe my style as hard core to get the shot. I will shoot at any hour in any weather conditions to get the shot I want,’ Theiss explains. ‘I want the viewer of my photos to say “wow”, either because it’s so dramatic and scary (storms) or because it’s so beautiful and inviting (travel). As long as I get a “wow” I am happy.’
What caught our eye
Theiss’ work is a powerful combination of drama, colour and timing. He has the knack of waiting for the perfect moment to get shots, which really capture the energy of natural events like lightening, eclipses and hurricanes.
What photograph is he most proud of
Of all his work and all the dangerous situations he’s put himself in to capture images, Theiss says he is most proud of his documentation of Hurricane Katrina for which he was nominated for a National Emmy award for Best Cinematrography of the Year.
Where is he right now
‘Right now I am in Tornado Alley chasing storms for 5 weeks,’ says Theiss. ‘This is my 14th year in a row to fly out to Tornado Alley and spend the entire month of May and June chasing tornadoes.’
What next
It’s hard to imagine that someone who has travelled to 36 countries still has a bucket list but Theiss says he does. ‘One of the biggest items on my bucket list is going to the Maldives. I’ve seen so many amazing images from this location so it’s right at the top of my list of places to go and take amazing photos.’
Read more
- Check out our previous Instagrammers of the Month Simon Upton and Kardinalmelon
- Discover how to add colour and depth to your Instagram pictures
- Read our guide to creating the perfect underwater photograph.
1 Comment
pointsandtravel@gmail.com
June 4, 2015 at 4:31 pmI truly enjoy Mike’s photos, in fact we were just working side by side in Jamaica this week! He is amazing!