Just a bit about myself...
My name is Todd Torsrud, and I'm a meteorologist. I am a resident of the Central Florida area, and the weather here is great...well, 8 months out of the year it is...lol! I was born in Frankfurt, Germany, raised in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and have lived down here in Florida for the past thirty-three years and counting! I grew up in the military, and that makes myself a military brat. My father was in the military for twenty years, and he retired in late nineteen eighty-nine. My father got the purple heart for fighting in the Veitnam conflict. He was a very talented illustraitor, and a freelance photographer. I guess it's like father...like son, in that I picked up the photography bug. I also learned how to draw like him when I was young. Even though, I wasn't that good, I at least tried my best. I also looked up to him a lot, and it showed. He also saved my life from a tornado in the Orlando area back in nineteen eighty-three on February second. I'm not going to go into the story, but you can read it HERE. My mother raised myself the most, and it shows in how I treat people and how I conduct myself in public. So I have to thank my mother for that. She has been supportive of what I've done...even this! My sister is my best friend, and we always talk about thing regardless of what it may be. She is an Advance SKYWARN storm spotter, and has a Masters in Education. She's in pursue of her Meteorology degree like myself. I'm going to try to take her out on a few chases, so she knows what it is like.
My company...
My company started out as the Florida Extreme Stormchasers back in late 2008, and it was around for some time. I got it to be somewhat popular on Twitter and Facebook. And I was always thinking about how I could change it with time. I created a website, and a banner magnet for my car. So I thought I was set forever...not so fast! I got to the point in 2010 of giving up weather photography all together, but I came to my wits. I thought about changing the name, and how I wanted it to go in the direction I wanted it to go. So I changed the name at the beginning of the year (2011) to Weather Chaser Todd, and I haven't looked back since! The reason I picked Weather Chaser Todd is it was universal wherever I go chase at, and I'm not stuck to one actual state. Plus, I can chase with anyone, and still do my own thing for my website.
Wait...
Now in the middle of July 2013, a new name has begun with a new chapter in my professionalism as a professional weather photographer and videographer. I've taken 2 of my favorite things I like to do, and merged them into 1 name. I love weather, and I love photography...so WeatherPhotog was born!
Why weather?
I've been following the weather here locally in Central Florida for almost eight years now, and counting! I love weather more then anybody out there. As in, I'm willing to drop everything I'm doing to watch the weather. My first weather photo was an anvil thunderstorm to my south over St. Cloud, Florida. I took several photos of it, and I was beyond excited. I posted it on MySpace (I do not have that anymore). After that photo was taken, I was hooked on weather, and had to learn everything about it. I did a research on how do I chase storms, and came up with stuff which didn't help me out. I ask someone on MySpace (when I had it) about it, and this person told myself to go to your local National Weather Service website and see when the next class for SKYWARN is being offered. So in mid to late October 2008, I was a certified SKYWARN member. Then next month, I went on my first weather photography journey, and haven't looked back since. When looking back, I was interested in weather back in high school during my Senior year because it was time to face my fear of weather, and learn from it and study them. My goal is to become a Research Meteorologist by the time I'm Fifty, or sooner...lol! Also, I'm addicted to clouds in their structure, color, and height. You can ask anybody that knows myelf. They will tell you that he's addicted, and we don't think there is a cure for that addiction...lol!
I still haven't made it out to the Plains, or the Deep South to photograph tornadoes, and I haven't done my first hurricane yet. However, I have been through four hurricanes, and they were Erin (1995), Charley (2004), Frances (2004), and Jeanne (2004). Erin was my first experience with a hurricane, and for myself at the time was not a fun time. I had to hold our front door shut the whole time because the door wasn't the best door at the time. Plus, I was up for twenty-four hours that day, and finally past out around five o'clock in the afternoon. Now, the other three hurricanes were another story amongst themselves. Charley scared the absolute crap out of my family and I. We ran from Frances because we didn't want another Charley-like experience, and the durations was going to be endless. And by the time Jeanne came, we were so exhausted from getting ready for a hurricane every two weeks, we just stayed put in our house, and just road it out.
And my weather photography career is still to be continued...
My Gear I use to document weather with:
I shoot with a Canon Rebel T3i with 18 megapixels, and Full 1080p HD. I am also using a GoPro Hero4 Black edition, and it shoots in both 4K and Full 1080p HD. Using 2 lens (for the time being) which is EFS 18-55mm on a 58mm lens, and SLR 11-16mm Ultra-Wide angle 77mm lens. I use 6 filters to give it a better quality. I do use a timer remote for my camera for time-lapses. I also have an all weather cover for my camera while I shoot in bad weather. I also use a Vivitar professional tripod with a quick release. I now work with an Apple Mac Mini and a MacBook Air with my photos (Lightroom), and videos (Final Cut Pro X). I also have a rain suit, need a paintball mask, maybe a new helmet (we'll see about this one), and all this will come in handy during hurricane season.
