This up close stuff is getting out of hand

[Mark Sudduth]

It was AJ Fable. Wasn't there someone named Fable last year who "faked" a tornado? Showed some old video from a Kansas tornado and passed it off as being recent or something. I seem to recall the name "Fable". That's all I have on this matter.

 

[Jim Saueressig]

I have said before I think it is within our rights to go into the damn thing if we want..... As long as we are not hurting another.

On the Florence storm the other day I was going under the wall for a wide angle shot hoping it would drop next to me. There were chasers already filming and or running with their cameras to film the funnel, hoping for a soon to be tornado all over the side roads and on the shoulder about a mile to mile and a half away so I wanted to go on up closer and some yahoo (I hope not a chaser) tried to block me by running out in front of me. I zipped around him and another yahoo trying to block 77 with his pickup (or turning around in the middle of it very slowly but blocking it all the same) and went on down the road up under the edge of the wall to shoot my shots.

If I want to go up under it out where no one will be effected if I did get tagged I think that is my concern. Maybe if I am unlucky those of you back a mile or so will get lucky will get video of me being dropped on or thrown by a nader.... That being said I am not truly interested in being hit but it was obvious I wanted in closer than some of the rest of you out there a mile or a mile and a half away.

 

[Jared Thompson]

This was the video I saw that I think Jay was mentioning.. it is also on Foxnews.com http://www.foxnews.com/video/index....ralObject=6093785&referralPlaylistId=playlist

 

[Joey Ketcham]

It was AJ Fable. Wasn't there someone named Fable last year who "faked" a tornado? Showed some old video from a Kansas tornado and passed it off as being recent or something. I seem to recall the name "Fable". That's all I have on this matter.

I don't know about the faked tornado stuff you speak of, but AJ Fabel is a member on here.. goes by AndrewFabel... he's not very active, only has like 9 posts but he was active on here as recent as June 3rd.

 

[Robert Dewey]

Not sure if anybody else saw the video today on CNN of somebody getting up close toa large tornado yesterday but it was hilarious how the CNN wx guy was commenting on it. He was blasting the "chaser" for being so close. Talking about how debris could easily hit him and he said "a NOAA radio and a camera does not make you a chaser but you got it on CNN so thats something I guess" being extremely sarcastic.

Usually I could care less how close somebody gets if they feel thats what they need to do BUT...the guy in ther video is screaming the whole time about how big it is and how its doing damage and that he "way too close". He is sooo loud and non stop that its beyond annoying. Its much better video when its muted (hint hint). Have no clue who shot it and dont care really just thought it was hilarious how even the media folks who go overboard on everything even said this was overdoing it. Next time just film it and dont say a word and it will be much better quality. Yelling about OMG its huge and Im too close just makes it annoying..

I seen that... incredible footage. But, the yelling is ridiculous. He sounds like the guy from the popular Tourette's syndrome skits on YouTube [caution: strong language].

 

[Jay McCoy]

I have said before I think it is within our rights to go into the damn thing if we want..... As long as we are not hurting another.

LIke I said I dont really care if people get close up or not if thats what they need to do to get satisfaction. This was more about the yelling and screamin the entire length of the video about how big it is and how close he was and all the damage it was doing. Very annoying. It ruined the video. On mute it is wild video but with sound its something I would prefer to not watch. Not to mention it makes the person look foolish and unprofessional to the public which is what the CNN wx guy was saying. He was blasting the guy.

 

[Danny Neal]

Who was the guy that altered a tornado (I think mirrored it.... Mulvane? or another) and passed it off on major news companies.

 

[Jim Saueressig]

LIke I said I dont really care if people get close up or not if thats what they need to do to get satisfaction. This was more about the yelling and screamin the entire length of the video about how big it is and how close he was and all the damage it was doing. Very annoying. It ruined the video. On mute it is wild video but with sound its something I would prefer to not watch. Not to mention it makes the person look foolish and unprofessional to the public which is what the CNN wx guy was saying. He was blasting the guy.

LOL, Jay, My reply was general not at you at all. I agree though, there are some chasers that I cannot watch their video because of all that trash. My least disliked line is I'm (insert feet or yards here) from it..... when in fact it is more like a half a mile or a mile or more in some cases....

I was pretty irritated at the morons trying to block me the other day and this was the right thread to spew a bit.

 

[Dan Cook]

Who was the guy that altered a tornado (I think mirrored it.... Mulvane? or another) and passed it off on major news companies.

Andrew Fabel I believe.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Andrew Fabel I believe.

I found an old ST post about him..

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=17392

 

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

Andrew Fabel I believe.

Now that's interesting. Yesterday and today I saw tornado video from someone called "A. J. Fable"(Not sure on spelling of last name) on CNN International.. And the weather folks on the international side weren't very easy on him.

EDIT: It seems for me, that I saw the same video Jay did.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Inside Edition this afternoon reported that he had his 2 young son's with him. If someone wants to get close to a tornado putting their own life in danger, then so be it that is their choice and I don't really care. But when you go putting the lives of others in danger, especially your two young kids, that is just being reckless and irresponsible.

I don't know how old his kids might be, Inside Edition said they were young so I'm assuming they probably aren't old enough to stay home alone, drive or didn't really have a choice but to go with their daddy on his storm chase as he probably had nobody who could watch them.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Now that's interesting. Yesterday and today I saw tornado video from someone called "A. J. Fable"(Not sure on spelling of last name) on CNN International.. And the weather folks on the international side weren't very easy on him.

EDIT: It seems for me, that I saw the same video Jay did.

A.J Fabel.... A.J are the initials of his first and middle name.

 

[Chris Carter]

Sounds like we have alot of Jo's out there.

Qoute from the movie Twister "I wanna see it, I wanna touch it!"

A close call to me is accidentally making a mistake and getting too close to the action. People take cover from tornadoes for a reason, and being a chaser doesnt give us the right-a-way to come up within a stones throw of it and take pictures. But if people want to gamble their lives, well then i wish you luck and hope you get some awesome pictures. But me, i like to stay back and watch the whole picture. Cameras do come with "zoom" you know.

A friend of mine once told me, there is more to a severe thunderstorm than just a tornado, sometimes you have to step back and get a good look at the whole show.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I've come to the conclusion that getting deadly close is the new way of tornado chasing. Many people find it interesting, like bull fighting. I honestly have no problem with it anymore, although I don't personally push the limits on purpose. In addition, I doubt that anyone getting torn apart will slow things down. We all have free choice and I think the only issue right now is trying not to be the first guy or gal killed by getting too close. What a way to be remembered!

This is the way tornado chasing has evolved -- (as once feared by David Hoadley) -- just like mountain climbing and scuba diving. My own prediction is that tornado chasing will indeed soon be like other risky pursuits and a certain number of dead or maimed (by twisterizing) will be accepted as part of the pursuit and not a big deal.

I guess the only good is that the media is slowly getting bored with close up shots because there are almost an unlimited source of them now days and videographers are willing to accept .50 and bragging rights for a clip that use to fetch over 5k.

I'm glad I'm at the age where I value my life and long term health (e.g., being able to walk, play the piano, have my vision) and the camaraderie now days more than getting too close. But it's here to stay so sit back and enjoy the show!

W.