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Impending Storm
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
For 12 years, National Geographic photographer Carsten Peter chased tornadoes alongside researcher Tim Samaras and his team. Samaras, his son Paul, and Carl Young died Friday, May 31, chasing a tornado that touched down near El Reno, Oklahoma.
Many of Peter's photos appeared in the pages of National Geographic magazine, but others were not published. We asked Peter to share some of these unpublished photos—and talk about his memories of Samaras.
"For me, it's really tragic to lose all three friends at once. This is unbelievable," he said. "You can imagine, if you work together for 12 years, we have incredible memories together. Now I feel quite alone with these memories."
In the photo above, Young (at left) and Tim try to estimate the size of a massive thunderstorm bearing down on Piedmont, Oklahoma, in 2012.
"There were tight situations, especially in this storm, because there was huge hail," said Peter. But he felt safe when chasing storms with Tim, he added.
—Jane J. Lee and Melody Kramer
Published June 3, 2013
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Big Kahuna
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
As Tim Samaras waits for a wave of thunderstorms to form in Colorado in 2009, he readies the 1,600-pound (726-kilogram) camera he calls the Kahuna, a relic from the Cold War retrofitted with digital sensors so it can capture images of lightning.
Published June 3, 2013
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All Systems Go
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
In this picture, taken in 2009, storm chaser Samaras aims his specially built camera at an incoming storm, hoping lightning will strike.
Published June 3, 2013
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All Hail
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
Samaras shows off a souvenir from a hailstorm in 2012 near Piedmont, Oklahoma. Shortly after this picture was taken, the hailstorm started in earnest. "It was just too dangerous to stay outside," said National Geographic photographer Peter. "It was like bullets shooting out of the clouds."
Published June 3, 2013
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Gathering Clouds
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
Storm chasers Paul Samaras (at left) and Carl Young ready equipment as they wait for an incoming storm near Piedmont, Oklahoma, in 2012.
Although Peter also chased tornadoes with other researchers over the years, his main partners were Tim, Tim's son Paul, and Young.
"I can't imagine [quitting chasing] completely, because I'm totally fascinated by these storms and by meteorology," said Peter. "[But] it will never be like it was. Never ever. [It's] like a huge opportunity and friendship just collapsed, imploded."
Published June 3, 2013
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See More Pictures of Samaras and His Work
Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic
Published June 3, 2013
4 comments
Thank you for your contribution to mankind. We've created an online memorial in your honor. You will never be forgotten and your legacy will move on. http://www.thememorium.com/Memorials/TimSamaras
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