Pursuit - A 4K storm time-lapse film
2,570,080
Published 2017-07-25
Blu-Ray discs available here: mikeolbinski.com/shop/
Music by Peter Nanasi, find his work here: peternanasi.bandcamp.com/
Follow me: twitter.com/mikeolbinski /
-------
On June 12th, I broke down into tears. Minutes earlier, I had been outside my truck, leaning against it, head buried in my arms, frustration and failure washing over me. I wanted to quit. I got back in the car and as I drove, the pain got the better of me and the tears came.
This past spring was a tough one. Supercell structure and beautiful tornadoes had been very hard to come by. In fact, the tornado in the opening of this film was the only good one I saw this entire year. I had been on the road longer than ever before. Driven more miles. I was away from my family for 12 straight days at one point, and when I got home, I had to tell them I was going back out 24 hours later for June 12th. It was just too good to pass up. It promised to be a day that I could get everything I had been hoping for this spring and I had no choice. My wife understood, even though I knew she wished I stayed home. And I wished it too.
I knew right where I wanted to be that day. But this year I struggled with confidence in trusting my instincts. Maybe it was because the lack of good storms this spring made me question my skills, or maybe it was something else inside of me. Whatever the case, I let myself get twisted and unsure, and found myself 80 miles away from where I had wanted to be when the tornadoes started to drop and the best structure of the year materialized in the sky. The photos from Twitter and Facebook started to roll in and I knew I had missed everything.
It may not be easy to understand why, but when you work as hard as I did this spring, a moment like that can break you. I felt like I let my wife down. But mostly I let myself down. I forgot who I was and that's not me. Or it shouldn't have been me. I failed myself. And it seemed like the easy choice to just give up and head for home.
But I didn't. I'm not sure why, but the pain slowly began to subside. I realized it was only 4pm and the storms were still ongoing. Maybe if I could get in front of them the day could be saved. Ninety minutes later, I got out ahead and saw some of the best structure I'd seen all spring and a lightning show that was so incredible it's one of the very last clips of this film.
And that's why this film is called "Pursuit." Because you can't give up. Keep chasing, keep pursuing. Whatever it is. That's the only way to get what you want.
I learned something about myself on June 12th which carried over to the final few days of chasing this spring. I trusted myself again and those days were incredibly rewarding. This was who I'd been all along but had forgotten. I can't wait for next year.
The work on this film began on March 28th and ended June 29th. There were 27 total days of actual chasing and many more for traveling. I drove across 10 states and put over 28,000 new miles on the ol' 4Runner. I snapped over 90,000 time-lapse frames. I saw the most incredible mammatus displays, the best nighttime lightning and structure I've ever seen, a tornado birth caught on time-lapse and a display of undulatus asperatus that blew my mind. Wall clouds, massive cores, supercell structures, shelf clouds...it ended up being an amazing season and I'm so incredibly proud of the footage in this film. It wasn't the best year in storm chasing history...but I got to chase storms and share it with you guys. All worth it.
I wanted to do something new this year, so I worked with composer Peter Nanasi to develop a custom track for Pursuit. I'm super excited about it and loved the process of exchanging ideas and building the song as the editing of the film progressed. I am so thankful to Peter for what he came up with, I'm in love with this track!
The time away from my family turned out to be over a month all told. I'm always and continually blessed by a wife who supports what I do and backs me completely. But not only do I have her to thank this spring, but also her parents who hung around for a good chunk of May and early June, to help out wherever needed, watch the kids, run errands and generally be there for Jina. I don't have enough words to convey how appreciative I am for them being around while I was gone.
I think that's about it. I could write a lot more, but I'd rather you watch the film and hopefully have a taste of what I saw this spring. There is nothing quite like strong inflow winds, the smell of rain and the crack of thunder. I miss being out there already.
I hope you enjoy and I'll do my best to answer any questions in the comments below!
Technical Details:
I used two Canon 5DSR's along with a Canon 11-24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 135mm and Sigma Art 50mm. Manfrotto tripods. The final product was edited in Lightroom with LR Timelapse, After Effects and Premiere Pro
All Comments (21)
-
I watch this film now often with my son. Most of the time in his bed right before he sleeps. He is 8 with autism and this film continuously amazes both of us. Every time we are done we pick our jaws up off of the floor and move on but the thought feeling of being in an incredible storm sticks with us both. We go to sleep with that feeling and it is just amazing. He just told me to tell you that this is the best movie he’s ever seen! Thanks man. Your hard work is appreciated!!!!!
-
EARTH! What a beautiful powerful amazing planet. And for a brief moment we get to live on it
-
Let’s just appreciate that he is still hearting comments after all this time!
-
Have to comment again: As a professional photographer and artist who has done some storm chasing myself, this is a beautiful work of art. I'm jealous and intimidated.
-
This has entirely and forever changed my perspective on storms.
-
There are no words to describe this………. I love how at times it felt like being under water in the sea.
-
As a severe weather enthusiast, it took a very long time to get to that point. My journey is like many other storm-lovers’ stories; It started when I was 9 years old. I’ll never forget it. A tornado came barreling through our front yard one calm September evening, without warning. I remember staring out of our big bay window in awe at what was happening outside. I knew that I should be taking cover, but they say people become almost Mesmerized by tornadoes, and that’s exactly what it felt like. I couldn’t look away, almost to my detriment. But, just as quickly as the funnel came, it disappeared, and all was right in the world again. Except, something was awakened in me. This deep-seeded fear sort of crept into my 9 year old self, not at first, but slowly over time. It got to the point where I was terrified if there was even a slight breeze, and if it was thundering out, forget it. I was rolled up in a ball at the foot of my parents bed, crying & hyperventilating from fear. This fear lasted my entire childhood. I always remember being afraid that a tornado would come. In the shower, I’d be afraid to wash my hair because thoughts of what would happen if a tornado hit while I had soap in my hair would race through my mind. This intense fear somehow slowly went away once I was a young adult, maybe in my early 20’s, and was replaced by an intense interest in storms. I don’t know how it happened, but now I live for a good thunderstorm. I even go out and drive to an open area where I have a decent view of the sky when we get severe weather alerts. I absolutely love them now! But it’s not just the storms I enjoy; It’s the cozy feeling of hunkering down with loved ones & battening down the hatches that comes along with it. Like for a moment, the world stops and nothing else matters. It’s the threat of chaos that thrills my soul. I don’t quite understand it, but it’s a truly amazing feeling. Addicting, even. Kind of like when the power goes out and you all huddle together under the warm glow of candlelight. It’s just a cozy feeling. Comforting. I don’t know why I became so afraid of storms as a kid, but I’m positive that the tornado I experienced when I was 9 had something to do with it. I’ve read that it’s common for kids to get PTSD after major storms or natural disasters, and it sounds a lot like what I experienced. But I was never diagnosed officially, mainly because my parents likely didn’t think it was anything worth seeing a doctor over. But whatever it was, I’m glad that I’m no longer crippled with fear whenever nature decides to grace us with her presence & put on a show. I’d be severely missing out.
-
The music is just amazing. If you wanted to capture the ominous creeping up of a storm this is it. The cinematography is truly stunning as well. Perfect combo of music and visuals
-
“This, too, shall pass.” Even the fiercest storm. Beautiful and spectacular scenery!
-
For over twenty years, since I was a teenager, I have imagined opening an epic fantasy movie with a time-lapse of a storm building over the sea. Watching this humbling work of art just now I found myself back on that seashore, this time thinking, "what if..." Thank you. X
-
My 5 year old and I are hooked on time lapse videos before bed
-
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen... Rev. 1:7
-
Holy cow! I would really love to see this in iMAX
-
As a photographer myself, I understand these are a lot harder than they look to make! Really appreciate it. It takes dedication and skill to pull this off with no mess-ups. This is literally one of those things you need to often do frame-by-frame stills in RAW and painstakingly edit together for HOURS. Not to mention the travelling and staying up! And making sure everything is sturdy and in place. One good gust of wind and a loosened tripod and all the work could be ruined and have to buy expensive equipment all over again. Also never knowing what to expect in that weather. A stray lightning bolt could ruin the camera, even if it's not a direct hit. But in the end, it's worth it and SO satisfying to realize you finished it and to sit back and watch it. VERY GOOD JOB!
-
An absolute masterpiece! From the ethereal visuals of nature's power to the haunting and beautiful music, this is art for the ages.
-
Terrifying, powerful, overwhelming, but most of all incredible and even beautiful. Sometimes it seems like we’re under the sea, sometimes it doesn’t even look like it’s from our planet. I can’t believe my eyes! Thank you so so much for your talented work (and I believe we also have to thank to you wife)
-
Breathtaking and being a chaser myself I can only begin to imagine the hundreds or thousands of hours put into this. This is absolutely highly commendable work.
-
I was sitting in front of my computer screen, in a chair, but by the ending i literally stood up to clap for this. overwhelmingly incredible work <3 claps
-
Masterful cinematography, perfect music. Brilliant!!
-
When you've been lock down for 2 months and one morning came across this amazing video " i started crying"😭 I feel so much good now. Thanks Mike
