T&T Residence is a private home that was designed by Q_arts Arquitetura in 2016. It is located in Itaara, a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The home is a small farm with a slope of approximately 20 meters, and with a surrounding landscape that is practically untouched by man. This grants the home a level of tranquility and peace unimaginable in a large city. Due..
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Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska erupts with color…
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska erupts with color during the short fall season. You can find more than gorgeous views and amazing wildlife here, though. Field research continues to uncover evidence of prehistoric animals and the first people to settle the continent. Photo by Katie Cullen, National Park Service.
5 Simple Ways to Pay Off College Debt Faster
If you have a massive debt on your student loans, you’re not alone. Many people do.
The standard repayment period for student loan debt is 10 years. That means you will be spending a chunk of your monthly income to repay your student loans for a decade.
If you apply for a program based on your income, it is possible to be approved for a lower monthly amount and a longer loan term. An income-based program can help you if you’re finding it a challenge to make minimum monthly payments. Take note that it can make your monthly payments longer.
For many people, the 10-year repayment period is a long exercise in denial. Paying their monthly student loans means they may not be able to save for a house, buy a new car or take a nice vacation. We only have so much disposable income and if college debt repayment is part of your monthly budget, it can effectively eliminate most of your spending money. You’ll have a hard time gaining financial freedom.
One solution is to repay your college debt more quickly. Once you no longer have debts to repay, you’ll have money to pay for other things. It can become the seedbed for your first house, raising a family, buying a new car or traveling to Europe.
How can you pay college debt off more quickly? Here are five simple steps to consider.
Pay More Than the Monthly Minimum
This is probably the best way to pay off student loans faster.
You can pay off your student loan debt quicker than 10 years by raising the amount you pay every month. Any extra amount you can pay goes toward the principal, not the interest. Lowering the principal will decrease the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.
If you can pay $75 per month more on a $10,000 student loan with a 7 percent interest rate, for example, you can save almost $700 over the loan’s life.
Some loans do charge a penalty for prepayment, so be sure to check with your lender. It’s also a good idea to double-check that any amount above the minimum will go toward the principal. Most loans do, but you want to avoid surprises by knowing what your lender’s policies are.
Re-Evaluate Your Repayment Methods if You Have Multiple Sources of Debt
Many people simply pay whatever minimum is owed on every debt they have, whether it’s a credit card, car loan or student loan. However, there are methods to manage your debt so your overall burden is removed more quickly.
The first method is called stacking or laddering. In stacking, you sit down with every debt you have, read the paperwork, and find out what the interest rate is. Then, you prioritize the debt with the highest interest rate. The higher the rate is, of course, the more money you are paying both every month and over the loan’s life. The idea behind stacking is to reduce the debt costing you the most the fastest. It ends up costing you less.
Say you have a Visa credit card with $600 at 12%, a department store credit card with $300 at 11% and a student loan of $10,000 at 7%. If you have $20 extra per month, you’d put it toward the credit card. Once you are free of credit card debt, you then put the $20 extra toward the student loan.
The second method is called snowballing. With this, you place any extra money toward the debt with the lowest dollar amount, ignoring the interest rates. In the example given above, you’d pay your extra $20 for the $300 department store card. Once fully paid, you can add the $20 to your Visa card repayment.
The idea behind snowballing is that you can pay off smaller amounts of debt more quickly and that it provides psychological impetus to keep going.
Get a Higher-Paying Job or a Raise
One of the best ways to pay any debt faster is to increase the amount of money you earn. The more money you have coming in, the more easily you can utilize the first two methods.
One of the best ways to get a job with a higher salary is to find a high-paying career with low-cost degrees. You can be trained as a medical biller or electrician, for example, at a relatively low cost and be paid more in your first job out.
Any raise you receive in your current job can be used to raise the amount of your student loan payment. If you don’t want to put all of your raise toward a student loan payment, just allot a portion of it.
Consolidate and Refinance Your Loans
If you have student loan debts from several different providers, you may be able to pay less per month if you consolidate the loans. You need to apply for loan consolidation and a repayment plan.
If your student loans have a high-interest rate, apply for a loan consolidation with a lower interest rate. The best sources for refinancing and consolidation are often nontraditional lenders with digital platforms, such as Sofi, rather than banks. You will have to have an excellent credit score to qualify.
Use Any Windfalls to Pay Down Student Debt
A windfall is any money you weren’t expecting. An aunt dies and leaves you money in her will. You get an unexpectedly high tax return. Your company gives out bonuses.
Again, any money applied to the principal reduces the amount of interest you’ll have to pay. That, in turn, lowers the amount you pay over the life of the loan. So, putting all or some of your windfall money toward student loan debt will help you pay it off more quickly.
These five methods are proven strategies for paying off your college debt faster. The faster you pay it off, the more you can spend on other things and save money for the future.
What’s the best way to pay off student loans for you?
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Restaurant in Shanghai, China designed by Tsutsumi & Associates
This 102 square meter indoor project, located in Shanghai, China, was designed in 2017 by Yoshimasa Tsutsumi and Shi Weiwei, both partners of the architectural firm Tsutsumi & Associates. The Japanese restaurant’s cuisine is mainly based on rice. Using the sufficient height of the space, the entrance was established as a high point, and the rest of the space as a low point. This perspective makes the centripetal space attract..
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Rustic and Cozy Hotel Located in the City of Bresanona in Italy
This wonderful hotel with a rustic style is located in Bresanona, Italy. In the past, this place remained closed for a long period of time and after that it was used as a warehouse. For the reopening of the building, it was necessary to find a new function that would benefit the residents of the city. Thinking about modern spaces, where modern and contemporary elements of today’s architecture are reflected,..
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These Tools Make Personal Branding Easy and Affordable
Imagine this:
You found your ideal opportunity to work in sports or your dream job of coordinating events for your favorite baseball team. So, you wrote your resume, created an awesome cover letter, and then passed your application.
Then, you sent your follow-up email and wait.
While you’re on pins and needles, your employer is doing their research. JobsInSports conducted a survey and found that 22 percent of employers say the first thing they do when they review an application is search the candidate’s name in a search engine.
They’re looking for a strong online presence that can wow them. In other words, you need to brand yourself to stand out.
The good news is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money and time on personal branding. There are a lot of personal branding tools you can use to make the process easier and more affordable.
Check them out:
Your Website
What do you want to show up when your potential employer googles your name?
This is where your personal website fits in.
You don’t need to pay a lot of money to work with a website designer or learn how to code on your own. Companies like Squarespace make building a website simple. They provide excellent customer support to help and guide you in building a professional site in minutes.
When you build your website, consider what you want employers to find.
You should include a page that highlights your personal interests and another page that showcases your resume. Aside from that, focus on creating content. This can show your passion for your expertise, which can help you stand out.
In fact, our survey found that approximately one in 10 employers say candidates who start an industry-specific blog stand out from the competition.
If you’re looking for work in sports, select a topic you love, which aligns with your career and write about it. For example, as a hopeful events coordinator for a sports team, you can highlight trends in the industry, comment on common best practices used in event planning, and offer tips on shopping for liability insurance providers.
This shows you’re an expert. Plus, you’re creating content that’s educational to others in your field.
Suffering from writer’s block? Use tools like Hubspot’s topic generator to help with content ideas. They provide five suggested titles that can help spark your creativity.
Your Look
Personal branding also involves developing a specific look that represents you as a professional and as a person. A logo is a perfect way to communicate those things in visual form.
There are several tools that make logo design straightforward. You don’t need to teach yourself graphic design or hire a pricey designer. For example, Canva helps users design logos, infographics, slideshows, and more in a user-friendly way. They offer a free version for basic designs.
Also, Adobe offers Spark Logo Design maker for free. They take you step-by-step in establishing a theme, a font and personalizing the design.
When you create your logo, first look at who you’re competing with. Then, think about what sets you apart from them. Once you know this, establish a tone, font and color palette that fits that.
See Also: 6 Tips for Designing the Perfect Logo for Your Brand
Your Damage Control
When potential employers google you, they don’t spend much time digging deep into the results. So, you’ll want the best results about you to show up right away.
Ensure all negative results associated with your name are not among the top results. You’d rather your professional website and LinkedIn profile rank high, not your party pictures from college.
Reputation management is crucial as you execute your personal branding strategy. Use tools like BrandYourself to help you manage and track Google results tied to your name. Another way to monitor results associated with your name is to set Google Alerts. This tool will notify you when new results arise.
Your Social Media
When you’re working on personal branding, don’t overlook your social media presence. Our survey found that 13% of employers say the first thing they do is check a candidate’s Facebook page after reviewing their application.
What’s more, employers also said candidates can stand out the most when they share industry content on social media and engage in professional groups through platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook.
To put it simply, start engaging! Join professional groups that align with your career, start discussions, and share your ideas. The more you publicly network through social media and share your knowledge, the better you look.
Tools like Naymz can help you track and manage your social reputation. Use the insights you can get from it to see how your peers view your credibility and what level of influence you have.
See Also: 5 Instagram Tools That Can Boost Brand Performance
Personal branding is essential in today’s competitive job market. When you strategize, look for ways to simplify your process and make the most out of your actions. Find the perfect personal branding tools to help you with that.
How are you simplifying your personal branding strategy?
The post These Tools Make Personal Branding Easy and Affordable appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
7 Things a Person with a Mental Illness Doesn’t Want to Hear
You’re reading 7 Things a Person with a Mental Illness Doesn’t Want to Hear, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
In the United States alone, nearly one out of every five people is suffering with one or more mental illnesses. That means that when a person passes you by on the street, they have a better chance of having a mental illness than of having green eyes.
Yet, why are so many people struggling with knowing what to say, or maybe what NOT to say, when they are talking to a person with anxiety, depression or maybe even PTSD? Have you ever been involved in a group conversation at a party, only to hear a friend tell a newer acquaintance that he knows all about her struggle with OCD because his mother is a “neat freak” and asked him to keep his room clean when he lived at home? Pretty awkward, right?
So, let’s take a look at just a few of the many things that you should never say to a person who has a mental illness. We can all learn a thing or two, right?
- “Stop focusing on negative things.”
I think we’ve all gone to a negative place before, where no matter what we do to shake ourselves out of it, that’s where we reside for day or two. Maybe we’re jealous of the neighbor’s new car, or perhaps we spent an afternoon thinking about mistakes that we’ve made. But eventually, most of us snap out of it and go about life as usual.
When a person has a mental disorder, sometimes even the happiest moments can be overtaken with feelings of depression or anxiety over what comes next. This is all part of the illness, and completely not within the boundaries of control. We should all keep in mind that people don’t choose to be mentally ill, and no amount of focusing on an upcoming vacation or getting a raise at work will push away symptoms of illness.
- “Everyone feels that way at one time or another.”
Sure .. sometimes we all have had a bad day or even a bad week, or perhaps we have experienced a feeling of hopelessness when we lose our job or have some other type of financial or social setback. However, these feelings and emotions are temporary. Something good will happen the following day, and most of us will forget all about what had us in a disheartened place the day before.
But it’s not like that for a person suffering with a mental illness. Depression isn’t something that will just “go away” because your favorite band comes to town or you close on your first house. It can take years of therapy and medication adjustments to balance out a person’s levels of anxiety. So, please don’t dismiss it with a, “I felt that way yesterday, too”.
- “Keeping busy should help.”
We have all probably found ourselves using diversion tactics at one time or another before. Maybe we’re thinking about our busy Monday morning, so we go out for a movie Sunday night to get our minds on something else before the start-of-the-week alarm clock rings. Sometimes we even just call a friend and reminisce about old times to stop thinking about an ailing parent or that test your doctor wants to run next week. We’ve all been there.
But “getting your mind off it” doesn’t work so well for someone with a mental illness. Yes, maybe they will push through the activities or events that you plan to “cheer them up”, but diversion isn’t a sound replacement for therapy treatment. Does this mean that you shouldn’t go shopping or watch Monday night football with your good friend? Of course not! Just don’t see it as the magic wand that will “cure” a disease.
- “I know how you must feel.”
Sometimes seeing people close to you hurt will make you want to empathize with them, explaining that you think that you honestly do feel their pain. Maybe you’re having an especially difficult time dealing with an emotional loss of some kind, or perhaps you have another friend who has been diagnosed with a sleeping disorder. But do you really feel the way a person with a mental condition must feel?
If someone close to you is suffering from a mental illness, the last thing they want to hear is how their ongoing pain is identical to what you experienced for a week or two until you found a solution for your problem. Plus, let me tell you that anxiety and depression are not the same things, so explaining away about how your aunt had anxiety and went through exactly what a person who has depression has experienced will not score you any extra points in the “good listener” category.
- “Plenty of people are worse off than you are.”
Everyday we see people who are down on their luck or need a little extra help. Thankfully, there are organizations that make attempts to offer assistance whenever possible. Many people live hard lives, and most of us are grateful to help whenever we can.
However, people with a mental illness aren’t just “going through a rough patch”. And no matter how worse off someone else’s life might be, it doesn’t automatically wipe away the symptoms that they have learned to deal with each and every day. And there is often no trigger whatsoever to bring out symptoms for a person who is suffering with a mental illness, so knowing that someone else is out there suffering more than you won’t ease the feelings of stress and helplessness. Plus, telling a person that they have it a lot better than other people belittles their experiences.
- “You should try herbal tea.”
We live in a time period where there are herbal and holistic remedies for just about everything, and it’s fantastic! Having trouble getting that eight hours of sleep? Try drinking some chamomile tea. Does your energy level need a little boost? Try rhodiola. Really … there’s a solution that is definitely worth a try for most aches, pains and uncomfortable situations.
But let me assure you that a pinch of ginger and a lavender sachet will not erase the symptoms of PTSD. Of course, most soothing substances can help bring a bit of calm, but it’s rarely enough to make a drastic everyday difference. An over-the-counter remedy will not likely provide better results than a course of treatment that has been prescribed by a professional. Try offering to listen when having a discussion, rather than offering advice. After all, isn’t that what a therapist is for?
- “Maybe your therapy is making it worse.”
It’s probably a true statement to say that we have all probably had a few misconceptions about therapy and the way it works. Even though we’ve come a long way, some still get this notion that dredging up all of those experiences that were so carefully covered over will do way more harm than good.
However, saying something along those lines to a person with a mental illness is most definitely urging them to take three steps back. And let’s think about this for a moment. Would you encourage someone with a broken arm not to see a medical professional because it might hurt a bit to set the bone? I didn’t think so, which is why it is extremely important that we support those that we love while undergoing treatment, only offering words of encouragement.
As we all become more educated about mental health, we will learn to see the symptoms that a person displays as a part of the illness, not something that they can control or just stop doing at a mere suggestion. The attitude towards those suffering with a mental disorder has really improved, helped in part by celebrities and common, everyday people who are starting to speak up about their own personal struggles. More and more people are reaching out for help, seeing a therapist and utilizing methods to stay engaged in treatment. Learning how to support those that we love as they are going through treatment can only lead to more positive outcomes and a unified, better world. Why not start today?
Angela Ash is a professional article writer and editor, specializing in online content and authoritative blog topics. Her additional therapy-related content may be found at http://ift.tt/2g6pVpt. Angela is also the Content Manager for Mentegram, a mental healthcare technology company that is bridging the gap between patients and their therapists. They have helped over 200 therapists provide better care to more than 1,500 of their patients, and she loves sharing experiences that could assist others to do the same.
You’ve read 7 Things a Person with a Mental Illness Doesn’t Want to Hear, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
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The Fear of Returning to Poverty – The Simple Dollar
Photographer Spends Years Documenting His Daily Commute on the New York Subway
Brooklyn, New York, 2015
Photographer Andre D. Wagner‘s first book, Here for the Ride, is a beautiful compilation of contemporary New York street photography. Turning his mundane 9-to-5 commute into an opportunity, Wagner began documenting his subway rides from Brooklyn to New York. This work evolved into the monograph, which contains 62 images that weave a personal story of life in the city.
From 2013 to 2016, Wagner dutifully carried out his work, continuing a tradition of street photographers who have immortalized the Big Apple. As if nodding at this past, he works with black and white film, a habit he picked up at the beginning of his photography career and never thought to change. “I like the harmony of monochrome, and nothing looks as good as silver gelatin prints,” Wagner shares with us. “All of my heroes—Roy DeCarava, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand—shot in black and white so it was a natural choice for me.”
As time passed, Wagner’s work evolved into something bigger—the images got stronger and he began to see the project move from a way to pass time into Here for the Ride. And indeed, the work tells a strong narrative, collectively allowing viewers insight into the soul of the passengers. Encased in the train car for just a short time, Wagner’s quick thinking and visual instincts helped him build this photographic time capsule.
New York City, 2015
And while these photographs depict small, personal moments, they can also be read for wider impact. In particular, Wagner cites his photo of a black family sitting next to a white family on the subway as a personal favorite. “It’s not often that I recognize that a photo will be impactful in the moment, but at that time I knew and kept photographing until the interaction ended.”
Here for the Ride, published by Creative Future, is divided into two interrelated documents—a hardcover book featuring the primary photographic narrative and a paperback that includes a profound essay depicting how the photographs visually portray American life from a socio-political standpoint, as well as an in-depth interview and a series of images that delve deeper into the process and thoughts behind the book. The first editions are limited to 750 copies and are available for purchase on the photographer’s website.
Here for the Ride is Andre D. Wagner’s timeless look at contemporary life on the New York subway.
Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 2014
Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, New York, 2014
Brooklyn, New York, 2014
Essex Street, Manhattan, New York City, 2013
New York City, 2014
New York City, 2014
Fulton Street, Manhattan, New York City, 2014
Brooklyn, New York, 2014
Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 2014
Brooklyn, New York, 2014
Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 2014
Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 2013
Andre D. Wagner: Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Andre D. Wagner.
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Vintage Photos Reveal the Gritty NYC Subway in the 70s and 80s
Photographer Documents What People Are Reading on the NYC Subway
The post Photographer Spends Years Documenting His Daily Commute on the New York Subway appeared first on My Modern Met.
Interview: Storm Chaser Travels the U.S. Capturing Severe Weather with His Fearless Dog
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Texas based storm chaser Mike Mezeul II was the kind of kid that day dreamed about the clouds. Having now photographed storms for over a decade, the fascination has evolved into an awe-inspiring body of work that will leave you with an appreciation for the power and beauty of nature.
Mike’s foray into storm chasing started as a side project from his job in the advertising photography world. Since then, he has turned his childhood passion for weather into a career, and he travels throughout the United States capturing severe weather with his adventurous four-legged best friend, a rescue dog named Joplin.
We were grateful to catch a glimpse into the life of a storm chaser with a Behind The Lens look into Mike’s awe inspiring weather photography. Learn more in our exclusive interview, below.
Storm chaser Mike Mezeul II travels the U.S. photographing severe weather with his rescue dog, Joplin.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey into photography?
I got my first camera, a Yashica MG-1, at the age of 15. I had no interest in photography then, but my dad gave me his camera that he had in the Air Force because he didn’t know how to use it and figured I could learn. I didn’t have a means of transportation back then, so getting around was limited and therefore, so were my subjects. I started my photographing very manly things, like ladybugs and flowers in my parents garden. I had no idea what I was doing, so I took a pad and pen with me and made notes for each frame on lighting conditions, settings, etc. I then saved up my money to get the film developed. From there, it was seemingly endless trial and error. I would look back on my notes and try to understand what I did wrong and how to improve. Over the years, I shot thousands of frames and eventually started getting some of my work noticed as social media came about. I started getting small gigs but then they ended up leading to larger ones, and now I do much of the advertising work in the city I live in. I focused on just shooting advertising, sports, and concert work for a while, but also shot severe weather and landscapes on the side. Eventually, that work became more dominant in my life and a few images went viral. It was then when I started getting requests for workshops and lessons, so I took the jump in 2014 to teaching photography. It has been the best decision ever.
What are some of your interests?
Besides photography? I’m really into hockey and rock climbing. Both are a nice escape from any stresses and I love the challenge. I also like to nerd out quite a bit by just learning random facts about totally random things. Whether that’s just googling on the internet or visiting museums, I love to just learn things most people don’t know.
Where do you call home?
Right now, Allen, Texas. But I really don’t have a place to live that is “mine.” Back in April, I decided to put all my belongings into storage and travel as much as possible. I even built a bed for the back of my Subaru. Luckily, my parents live in Texas and are kind enough to let me crash there when needed.
You’ve photographed severe weather and tornadoes for over a decade, what inspired you to become a storm chaser?
I was always that kid during elementary school who was laying on the picnic table staring up at the clouds rather than playing tag or seeing who could climb on top of the monkey bars the quickest. The sky has always fascinated me and I even remember at one point, being terrified of thunderstorms, but still loving them. When I got my camera, I thought it would be really cool to try and shoot lightning and storms. Even though I didn’t have a car or way to get to them, I would remove all the screens from the second level of my parents house and wait for the next storm to come through. When it did, I would shoot the storms from the open windows. Once I turned 16, it was game over. I had a car and I was out-and-about following and documenting the weather.
A few years ago, you decided to start traveling with your trusty 4-legged companion Joplin, can you tell me a bit more about adopting Joplin and her background story?
Joplin is my storm chasing, partner-in-crime. An old girlfriend and I adopted her spontaneously one day from an SPCA event. We didn’t know it at the time, but Joplin was sick with parvo, so she immediately went into the emergency vet the next day. I had previously lost another dog due to parvo, so I didn’t have high hopes of her pulling through, but sure enough almost two weeks later, she did. During her time in the vet, we named her Joplin, after the city of Joplin, Missouri which was hit by the EF5 tornado back in 2011. My girlfriend and I had both volunteered in Joplin after the tornado and were amazed at how much hope the people there had, that we decided that Joplin was full of hope, so hence the name.
How has traveling with your storm chaser sidekick improved or impacted the experience?
It’s been great, haha. She doesn’t say a word, obviously, but I know she enjoys it. She loves sticking her head out the window and tasting the rain. I don’t think she has ever been scared. It’s also been a ton of fun documenting her with the storms, she’s seen 13 tornadoes.
Can you describe a typical day on the road in the life of a storm chaser?
It’s usually a pretty long day. Typically, the chase starts a day prior to the actual chase day. During that time, you look over forecast models and hope to see trends that indicate where the best atmospheric ingredients will combine 24 hours later. Those models help you get into position for the storms the next day. Typically you have a general idea where you will be, like the Texas panhandle, but it’s still too early to pinpoint an exact location. The morning of the chase, it’s reviewing more data and hitting the road. It’s called storm chasing for a reason, because 99% of the time, you end up in the wrong city to start, so you are constantly monitoring weather trends and repositioning yourself. This is the most stressful part in my opinion. Once the storms fire, the chase is on. It’s great to have just one storm develop, but those days are few and far, so you still have to make sure you choose the right storm based upon the environment it’s in and moving in to. Once you are chasing, it’s all a bit of luck from there on. You need the right storm, the right visibility, the right road network, the right light, and the patience to see something.
What time of the year is best for encountering severe weather? Are there certain conditions you look for?
In the United States, definitely mid-April through early July. This is when the atmosphere is usually primed in the central plains. You have the cool, dry air coming down off the Rocky Mountains, and that air mass usually interacts with the warm, moist air coming northward from the Gulf of Mexico. Now there are a lot more ingredients that need to come together from there, but that’s the general start for a severe weather setup.
Do you have any memories you would like to share of your time searching for storms with Joplin?
One of my favorite memories is when we finally got the shot of her in front of a tornado back on May 24, 2016. It had been two years of trying to get the perfect tornado for her to safely sit and pose in front of, plus I didn’t want her posing with a tornado that did any damage to property or life, so that was needed as well. When it happened, I remember her just chilling in the car and not really in the mood to get out, so I grabbed her and ran her out in the field and put her down and started to try to get her to look at me. I think she gave me one look before wanting to just lay down and sniff the dirt lol. We go the shot though!
From conceptualizing to post processing, how much planning goes into a shoot?
Really, not too much when you are dealing with severe weather. I mean, we all have our “dream shot” but really, you are not in control of what or where you see something out there. With that said, I definitely have visions for shots I’d like to get, but obviously need to be flexible on how to shoot them since mother nature is the one who says, “the tornado goes here.” As far as post goes, what you see is what I saw.
Has experiencing such severe weather impacted how you see the world?
Definitely. I feel like I appreciate what goes on above our heads much more than others. I also take warnings for severe weather and tornadoes much more seriously than most. I feel that’s from the numerous stories I’ve heard from people who survived tornadoes. Most said, “we thought it was another false alarm.”
What challenges have you faced?
As far as photography goes, it’s a very saturated industry, so creating work that separates me from the next person with a camera is challenging, but I like challenges. Also, many people don’t shoot what I do, so it’s nice to have a bit of an upper hand with that.
What’s a must have in your gear bag? How important is gear to your process?
Whether it’s severe weather, landscape, or astro, my Nikon 14-24mm lens MUST be in my bag! The gear is important, but shouldn’t be the reason you do or don’t get a shot. The eye is much more important and the best camera is the one in your hands, regardless of how new or old it is.
How much post processing goes into a completed photo?
Not much, I really like to keep my imagery close to what was seen with the naked eye. I’m not much into manipulating images into something that wasn’t. Typically, a bit of color correction, contrast, and sharpening goes into the image.
Can you share with us a few tricks you may have learned while shooting the weather?
You’re going to get wet, haha. I mean honestly, the weather is unpredictable so you need to be flexible on what and how you shoot. Circular polarizing filters are great when shooting the sky as they can really bring out some nice contrast. Also, a rain cover for your camera is a must. No matter where you try to hide, mist and rain will find you. It’s also important to have an understanding of the weather before even thinking about going out to shooting severe weather. There are so many variables that can come together very quickly to get you in a sticky situation. There are also a lot of hazards to deal with out there, i.e. lightning, large hail, microbursts, flash flooding, etc.
What are your plans for the future? Do you have any upcoming projects?
Right now, I’m really focusing on where to live and preparing for my 2018 workshops. I always take the month of May off to chase, so I’m always looking forward to that. I have some ideas for projects/series though for severe weather, I just can’t give away all my secrets just yet!
Do you have any words of advice for aspiring photographers?
Don’t take no for an answer. If photography is something you want to pursue as a career, it’s a tough road ahead, but not an impossible one. You will have plenty of people tell you that you cannot do it, but that’s the biggest load of bs out there. Find a way to shoot imagery that the industry hasn’t seen much of. Let your creative juices flow and never think that you cannot do something. Also, as I mentioned before, don’t let “not having the best gear” limit you. You can give me a $10,000 oven and I’ll still burn down the house.
Mike Mezeul II: Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to use images by Mike Mezeul II.
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