April 28, 2005: Preparations under way, trip web page started

We're getting down to less than two weeks away! Starting on May 11, we'll be going into 'standby mode' here in Charleston, watching for an active severe weather pattern to set up over the Plains. As soon as we get signs that a favorable setup for severe storms is developing, we'll be on the road heading west on I-64. My brother Matt Robinson (raleighskyline.com, pittsburghskyline.com) will be in from Raleigh, North Carolina to make the trip west with me. Matt is a talented photographer and will be our official digital still photographer on our trip. Soon after, we'll be teaming up with William Coyle from Virginia Beach, Virginia (valightning.com); Dave Crowley and Justin Teague from Tulsa, Oklahoma (stormguy.com); Fabian Guerra from Chicago, Illinois; Kurt Hulst from Grand Rapids, Michigan (midweststorm photographers.com); and Mark Sefried from Morton, Illinois (vortexhunter.com). Several other observer friends from across the country are still finalizing their trip plans and also may be teaming up with us for the last half of May in Tornado Alley.

This blog will serve as our reporting outlet for the storm photography expeditions. We'll be posting reports, photos and video clips whenever we can find the time and an internet connection. Stay tuned to this site so you can ride along with us on a 'virtual storm photography expedition'. If it's tornado and storm photos/video that you're looking for in the meantime, our 2004 Plains Event Trip page has plenty from last year's season to keep you busy!

Above all, we'd appreciate your prayers for a safe and successful trip.

- Dan