Lightning in Florida during the summer is always plentiful. Early evening thunderstorms always provide a spectacular show. Below are a few lightning images I shot from the beaches in Destin, FL on August 10, 2011.

Lightning from a storm out at sea streaks above people walking along beach. August 10, 2011

A bolt of lightning can be seen hitting water many miles away while streaks dash across the sky. August 10, 2011 Destin FL

I just added a collection of portraits I took in Dhaka Bangladesh last year to a gallery page. Click on the link below.

Dhaka Portraits

While helping with tornado relief in Tuscaloosa I met a man named Ricky. Ricky lives in a trailer park that was completely destroyed by the tornado. While several of Ricky’s neighbors were killed in the tornado, Ricky and his dog peanut were fortunate to survive.

Ricky has since moved back to the trailer park. Friends have helped him get a used trailer and mission workers including Mission Love Seeds have helped Ricky with cleanup and to improve his trailer.

Ricky is creative and good with his hands. He uses wire salvaged from tornado debris to make crosses.

Ricky begins making a cross

Wire wraps around the jig for the cross

Scrapped wire used to make the crosses

Finished cross

Finished crosses sit on a stump that serve as Ricky's workbench.

Before and after picture of Ricky's trailer park.

Special thanks to John and the Tuscaloosa Police Helicopter unit for the aerial flyover.

Part II of Images from Tuscaloosa Alabama where an EF-4 Tornado roared through the middle of town. Thanks to John and John of the Tuscaloosa Police department for the helicopter ride for the aerial photos.

Part of an apartment complex in Alberta City destroyed by the April 27 tornado.

Path of tornado through Tuscaloosa. McFarland mall is to the top right and hospital is top left.

Two cars in Alberta City pushed into a basement. Amazingly several students survived in the basement as the cars shielded them from the tornado.

An apartment complex in Alberta City completely destroyed

A mailbox sits open on Crescent Lane. The mail no longer runs on this street as most of the homes are completely gone.

It’s been several weeks since an EF-4 tornado tore through the heart of Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011 and there is still a massive amount of cleanup to be done. I was in Tuscaloosa the past few days and visited many of the neighborhoods that were completely destroyed.

All that remains of this home is the bathroom.

A bible lays in the ruins in the rubble of someones home.

OK marks many of the driveways

Makeshift signs are left behind to mark people's homes.

It’s early morning on April 28, 2011 and the smell of pine consumes the air. All I hear are the sounds of chainsaws buzzing from all directions. The dirt road I walk along was covered by a dense forest yesterday. This morning however, there is only blue sky.

It’s been two days since I’ve slept, yet I am not the least bit tired. Maybe it’s the adrenalin or just the shock of seeing complete devastation. I’ve seen it many times before, but not in my own backyard and not under these circumstances. Just a few hours ago, I was climbing through a web of fallen trees and debris searching for a cabin that was no longer there.

The day before you could see no sky. Chainsaws can be heard in all directions

On April 27, 2011 one of the largest tornado outbreaks in Alabama history swept through the state. As of this post there are over 230 deaths in Alabama alone. Tragically two of the deaths were the mother and aunt of a good friend of mine, David Woodall.

Earlier that day my wife, David and I were chasing a tornado near Birmingham when we learned of a tornado heading toward his mother’s cabin on Lake Martin. We immediately turned south and headed back to her cabin.

After several hours of of dodging more tornadoes we finally arrived at a road block near Lake Martin. With a little persuasion they allowed us to continue at our own risk. We managed to find our way around downed power lines and trees to the road where David’s mother lived. Several hundred yards before reaching the cabin we could go no further. Massive trees blocked the road and we had to continue on foot.

It was around midnight and we began climbing through the web of tangled trees trying to find the cabin. There was no road, no signs and no trees standing. Though David had been to the cabin thousands of times, he could not recognize where we were or where to go.

Along with a few friends and search and rescue teams we spent much of the early morning hours searching for his mother and aunt. My only light was a small LED flashlight and an iPhone. The search team setup a huge work light but it was too far away to cast any light near our search area. Unfortunately, the cabin took a direct hit from an EF-4 tornado and was completely blown away. Around 2:30 a.m. the search team found his mother. I proceeded out of the devastation to tell David using the eerie glow of the work light to find my way out. When daylight broke searchers found his aunt.

It’s taken me a week to decide about how to post these images, and I came to the conclusion to present them as I normally would. Photographs record a moment in history that will never occur again. Generally most people have pictures of birthdays, kids playing, and happier times. But life is not always happy and unfortunately can be tragic. “Falling Man” is a good example. As horrific as the image is, it reminds us of what happened on September 11, 2001.

I went to the visitation of David’s mother (Becky ‘Bebeck’ Woodall) and aunt (Alice Lee). Each had a large board with pictures from their seventy plus years in life. The photographs provided a great history of their lives and even if you didn’t know them, the photos gave you a glimpse of how much they enjoyed life.

The images below document my personal experience on April 27-28, 2011. They are a reminder that we are not in control and as Bebeck and Alice did, we should live each day to the fullest.

Chasing tornadoes near Birmingham on April 27, 2011

Road block south of Kowaliga Bridge on Lake Martin

Searching through debris in rain using small led and iPhone light. iPhone photo

A spotlight was the only way to find your way out of the destruction.

facebook status after searching for cabin.

Officials discuss search and rescue operations during early morning hours. Lake Martin April 28, 2011

As the sun rises a man makes his way through the debris

Volunteers help sort through what is left of cabin.

The first sunset seen from this vantage point.

Thanks for the Memories - Memorial left at site.

In Memory of Becky Woodall and Alice Lee.

Becky Herren Woodall and Alice Herren Lee

SPECIAL THANKS:
To all the volunteers and friends who helped that night and with cleanup of the cabin.
Also to my friend David and his family who has been there for us, especially when there is an Officer Campbell involved.

On April 15, 2011 there was a large outbreak of tornadoes in Alabama. I had the chance to document storm chaser Dan Whittaker of StormSquad.net that afternoon. The first video is a four minute video of our group trying to intercept a tornado near Pine Apple, AL.

The second video is a short version that has been on news outlets such as CNN, WSFA, ABC33, WBRC Fox 6, WeatherUnderground.
See the CNN iReport of this Video.

You can also view the post – Tornado Outbreak

VIDEO USAGE
Video may be used by news media and non-commercial websites.
Please credit Earl Baumgardner earlb.com
To contact – Email
A note back on usage would be appreciated.

Pine Apple Tornado – Full Version

Pine Apple Video – Short Version

On April 15, 2011 Alabama experienced one of the largest tornado outbreaks in decades. Over the course of two days hundreds of tornadoes were reported from Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia. Many of the tornadoes turned deadly.

I spotted my first tornado of the day in Greenville, AL. A funnel cloud continued northeast as I followed on Interstate 65. Along the way I met Dan Whittaker, a storm chaser, and he agreed to let me document his chase for the afternoon. So with my wife and two dogs we set off following Dan to find the next storm.

After a few hours of chasing we saw two more tornadoes including the one in Monroe County that destroyed the Bethlehem Church. Fortunately we did not come across any injuries.

Below are shots from a tornado just south of Pine Apple, AL. This storm passed through the area between 5:30pm and 5:45pm. Dan got us in great position to get these amazing images. The tornado photos were taken from the intersection of County Rd 84 and 47 looking north.
Link to Google Map of Tornado location – CLICK HERE

NOTE: Dan is a member of North Carolina Storm Squad. You can check out his page at http://www.stormsquad.net

VIDEO! – Be sure to look at these related post with video of the tornado. The video has been shown on many news outlets including CNN.

Watch the dramatic Video we shot of this Tornado!
See the CNN iReport

VIDEO AND IMAGE USAGE:
News and non-commercial websites and blogs may use images and video with proper credit.
Credit – Earl Baumgardner earlb.com

Tornado on the ground south of Pine Apple, AL. April 15, 2011 5:40pm

Tornado south of Pine Apple, AL. April 15, 2011 5:40pm

Storm Chaser Dan Whittaker watches as the tornado passes to the north. April 15, 2011 5:40pm

Only minutes after the tornado we came across the Bethlehem Methodist Church which was completely destroyed. April 15, 2011 5:50pm

Path of Pine Apple tornado.

This Filipino lady let us in her home to see her living conditions. The humanitarian group I was shooting for was building a new house in her village.

She lives in a village named Galilee that sits on a hillside overlooking a valley of rice fields.

Filipino lady living in the village of Galilee.

Her stove is typical of Filipino homes.

This is her home.

Below the village of Galilee are miles of rice fields.

These three Thai elephants were severely mistreated by their former owners. One of the elephants constantly sways back and forth as she was kept on a tight chain much of her life. Another actually killed her Mahout, probably by accident. Park staff tell me that because she killed her former owner, she has very low self-esteem as elephants are very sociable and understand such actions. Since she has been at Elephant Nature Park her self-esteem has improved.

These three elephants stay somewhat isolated from the others.

Elephant Nature Park
Chiang Mai Province, Thailand