About
Tom A. Warner
I was born and raised in a small town in northern California called Paradise. After I graduated from Paradise High School in 1983, I attended the University of California, Davis. There I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Science in 1988. I then began an aviation career in the United States Air Force and served 8 years as a pilot. I spent my first year in pilot training in Enid, Oklahoma. It was there that I got to first witness the fierce Plains thunderstorms and this sparked my interest in weather photography. I have been an active photographer of Atmospheric Wildlife since.
In 1990, I moved to Rapid City, South Dakota and piloted the B-1B Lancer for 5 years. The Black Hills of South Dakota were simply spectacular and reminded me of my years growing up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The clear, dark skies of South Dakota provided a great canvas for night/low-light photography and allowed me to develop a long desired astronomy hobby.
In 1995, I moved to Del Rio, Texas and spent two years as a T-38 instructor pilot before returning to Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1997, following my career as an Air Force pilot, I combined my interest in photography and passion for flying by pursuing aerial photography. The challenge and freedom of maneuvering an aircraft to the exact right spot to capture images was very rewarding.
In 1990, I moved to Rapid City, South Dakota and piloted the B-1B Lancer for 5 years. The Black Hills of South Dakota were simply spectacular and reminded me of my years growing up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The clear, dark skies of South Dakota provided a great canvas for night/low-light photography and allowed me to develop a long desired astronomy hobby.
In 1995, I moved to Del Rio, Texas and spent two years as a T-38 instructor pilot before returning to Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1997, following my career as an Air Force pilot, I combined my interest in photography and passion for flying by pursuing aerial photography. The challenge and freedom of maneuvering an aircraft to the exact right spot to capture images was very rewarding.
From 2000 - 2003, I had the job of a life time as I flew an armored T-28 Storm Penetrating Aircraft through thunderstorms for severe weather research. Using data collected from this aircraft, I received my Master's Degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2003.
In 2004, I captured a spectacular upward lightning flash from a tower in Rapid City. I started researching this type of lightning and in 2007 began using high-speed digital cameras to capture lightning at up to 100,000 images per second. For 10 years I actively studied lightning as a research scientist and was the principal investigator for the Upward Lightning Triggering Study from 2012-2014. My research efforts, collaboration and publications are summarized on my Research Blog.
In 2009, I began capturing time-lapse imagery using DSLRs, and the atmosphere in motion is my favorite subject. My YouTube channel contains these and other videos as well as my high-speed video imagery.
In 2012, my family and I started traveling abroad and to date we have had the incredible opportunity to travel to all seven continents and over 60 countries. My Around The World image gallery contains images from our travels.
In 2009, I began capturing time-lapse imagery using DSLRs, and the atmosphere in motion is my favorite subject. My YouTube channel contains these and other videos as well as my high-speed video imagery.
In 2012, my family and I started traveling abroad and to date we have had the incredible opportunity to travel to all seven continents and over 60 countries. My Around The World image gallery contains images from our travels.