In September of 2025, my work is generating the most income it ever has in my career. Yet, I'm being forced to shut down my successul operation, against my will, due to one cause alone: 95% of that revenue is being stolen by piracy and copyright infringement. I've lost more than $1 million to copyright infringement in the last 15 years, and it's finally brought an end to my professional storm chasing operation. Do not be misled by the lies of infringers, anti-copyright activists and organized piracy cartels. This page is a detailed, evidenced account of my battle I had to undertake to just barely stay in business, and eventually could not overcome. It's a problem faced by all of my colleagues and most other creators in the field.
Another one of my unconventional interests is bluegrass music. I'm not a fan of country, but bluegrass I can get in to. A few years ago, I was learning to play 5-string banjo (Scruggs style). It is a difficult and fun instrument to play, and I plan to take it up again when I can afford it.
In a normal year, I'm out storm chasing in the Plains during Memorial Day weekend, so I always miss the Vandalia festival in Charleston. Thanks to the unfavorable observing conditions in the Plains this weekend, I'll actually get to go to Vandalia this year. The event is a bluegrass festival held on the grounds of the State Capitol. At Vandalia, amateur and professional musicians come from all around and start impromptu jam sessions all around the Capitol lawn. The cool thing is that you don't have to be in a band or even be a pro - if you've got an instrument and know how to play, you can join in and start jamming with any of the groups. The result is a number of acoustic bluegrass concerts under the trees at the Capitol unlike any other. No amps or electronics, just old-style back-porch bluegrass jam sessions like you'd have seen 60 years ago in the rural areas of Appalachia. Vandalia started today and continues tomorrow at the West Virginia State Capitol.
Here is a video clip of a few of the Vandalia jam sessions today.
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From Dan: Please Read
To my regular readers, I offer my apologies for this heavy-handed notice. Unfortunately it has become necessary, so please bear with me!
Please don't copy/upload this site's content to social media or other web sites. Those copies have been a critical problem for me, seriously harming this site and my photography/storm chasing operation by diverting traffic, viewers, engagement and income. "Credit" and "exposure" does not benefit this site or my operation, rather they threaten my ability to cover my operating expenses. Please read my full explanation for this notice here.
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