Nebraskaland

December 2024 • Nebraskaland 25 don't chase storms for the adrenaline part of it. It's the awe of nature — that's what I do it for." Most of his best shots come from timelapses, something Hollamon began doing in 2017. His goal in the field is to capture seven to 10 seconds' worth of images — enough for a good clip in an eventual storm chasing film. Hollamon has created six timelapse films, each about five to 10 minutes long. They feature stirring music set over clips of dramatic skies and are among his proudest creations. His most recent project, called "Finding the Light," was his biggest challenge yet. A month after starting work on this project, tragedy struck: In August of 2023, Hollamon lost his youngest son, Trey. He was just 23 years old. "Parents aren't supposed to lose their kids," Hollamon said, wiping away a tear. "It's been really hard. … And it's absolutely killed some of my creativity." When he began working on the project again, he did so with Trey in mind. "Kind of what I tried to convey, even with the quote at the start of the movie, was just a lot of light and dark. He was a real light," Hollamon said. "And that part of it, as a photographer, that's what we strive for. It's chasing light." His work as a storm chaser and photographer has led to some bigger insights. "It shows me, more than anything, that we're really not in control," Hollamon said. "There's bigger things at work." As a setting for revealing truths like this, Nebraska is special, he said. "I wouldn't change where I live for anything. I love Nebraska," Hollamon said. Asked what suggestions he has for an aspiring storm chaser, Hollamon recommended educating yourself first. He and Snead use the National Weather Service to track storms, and "generally they're very accurate," Hollamon said. But you'll need to learn how to read models and know which models to trust, he said. Websites like Tornado Titans are a good starting place. Friends of his began a grassroots movement called Girls Who Chase, another solid resource. Beginning storm chasers can also book trips with tour companies and see their process. "I kind of learned on the fly," Hollamon said. "I went with experienced storm chasers to start with. If you know a storm chaser that's experienced that you can get out with, that's a great way to learn, too." Does he have a favorite storm? Honestly, no, Hollamon said. "Every storm is its own. They're all relevant on their own terms. "Man, I've seen some beautiful stuff," he added. "So I'm lucky in that regard." N To see more of Matt Hollamon's work, visit him on Instagram, Facebook and Flickr. View his storm chasing fi lms on Vimeo and YouTube. The photographer, shown here on a country road with mammatus clouds behind him, has been photographing storms since 2016. PHOTO BY JUSTIN SNEAD

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