Jason Weingart : Photographer. Storm Chaser. Author. Weather Nerd.

My name is Jason Weingart, and I love photography and adventures. I graduated with my bachelor's of science in photography from the University of Central Florida in the winter of 2012. I have been shooting professionally for five years.

Growing up in the Rust Belt of NE Ohio my interest in weather was present at a very young age. In 3rd grade, a local tv meteorologist visited our classroom and showed us the infamous tornado overpass video. After that, I would constantly watch VHS tapes of tornadoes. Whenever a severe storm caused us to take shelter, I would stay outside and watch it as long as I could. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my first response was always a "storm chaser". As I got older, and life happened, that thought sort of fell out of my head, although I would still stand outside and watch storms.

I pretty much enrolled in photography school on a whim. Until then, I had never picked up anything more than a point-and-shoot camera. At the time, I was stuck in a dead end job, and didn't have much going on in my life. What did I have to lose? I quickly learned just how challenging photography is. I always tell new photographers not to get discouraged with their work, like everything else, it takes time. My pictures were downright awful when I first started.

Jason Weingart photographs the early stages of the Tahoka, Texas tornado. May 5, 2019. Image by Savannah Weingart — Jason Weingart photographs the early stages of the Tahoka, Texas tornado.
May 5, 2019. Image by Savannah Weingart

I started out shooting a lot of sports, which I enjoyed, but I kept that storm chasing thing in the back of my head the entire time. Once I got comfortable using a camera, I set out to get some storm photos. I got my first lightning photo in August of 2009, and was instantly hooked. I began studying meteorology, and chasing storms every chance I got. It became my thing at school. While all the other students were busy trying to become the next Irving Penn, I was wondering what the next severe weather setup would do, and if it would be worth my time to drive to it from Florida.

I enjoy teaching photography as much as I do actually taking photographs. I thought I would get my master's degree and teach photography at an institution but I actually prefer our workshops, which give us the freedom to teach our guests in the most efficient way and give them an unforgettable adventure full of learning.

Got a question? Let me know and I will respond promptly.

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