Stunning Time-Lapse Video Captures the Beauty of Swirling Stormy Skies

Storm Time-Lapse by Mike Olbinski

Photographer and filmographer Mike Olbinski shoots weddings year-round, but he also embraces the outdoors to capture swirling stormy skies in springtime. The avid storm chaser recently released Vorticity 2—a stunning time-lapse video comprising 122,000 frames captured over 54 days over almost 40,000 miles across America during the spring months of 2018 and 2019.

“I made the tough decision last year to save everything I shot that spring and combine it with whatever storms I captured in 2019 and make the best possible time-lapse film I could,” reveals Olbinski. “It was incredibly difficult to sit on that collection of footage for over a year, but I'm glad I did. When you've done a few of these, at some point you gotta work even harder to top yourself and I did my best to make that happen.” The talented time-lapse artist’s hard work certainly paid off. The resulting short film showcases the mesmerizing, billowing storm clouds, swirling cyclones, and electric fork lightning sequences from some of America's most significant storms. Olbinski says, “My storm chaser friends will recognize some memorable supercell/tornado events like Tescott, Tahoka, McCook, Hoisington, Cope, Imperial, Quinter, and Denver City (my personal favorite).”

The stunning visuals are made all the more powerful with accompanying music by Luke Atencio. His cinematic tones add drama to each scene, creating the sense that human beings are at the whim of these almighty storms. “None of these clips would come alive without the right music and I searched and searched and searched for months until landing on the right tracks back in May,” says Olbinski. “Luke Atencio has such a gift and two of his songs were blended to create the track for this film.”

Watch the incredible Vorticity 2 film below and check out more of Olbinski’s projects on his website.

Mike Olbinski captures the incredible beauty of a storm in his latest time-lapse video, Vorticity 2.

Mike Olbinski: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Vimeo
h/t: [TwistedSifter]

All images via Mike Olbinski.

Related Articles:

Photographer Turns Six Years of Documenting Storms into One Mesmerizing Time-Lapse Film

Time-Lapse Video Gives a Dazzling Tour of Earth From the International Space Station

Captivating Time-Lapse Captures the Vibrant Energy of New York City

Colorful Cacti Bloom Like Explosive Fireworks in Time-Lapse Videos

Breathtaking 6K Time-Lapse Captures SpaceX Rocket Launch Over California

Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Staff Writer and Video Editor at My Modern Met. She earned a BA in Fashion and Textile Design at the University of Ulster in Belfast. Originally from Northern Ireland, she lived in Berlin for many years, where she fostered a career in the arts, dabbling in everything from illustration and animation to music and ceramics. She now calls Edinburgh home, where she continues to work as a writer, illustrator, and ceramicist. Her ceramics, often combined with hand-painted animation frames, capture playful scenes that celebrate freedom and movement, and blend her passion for art with storytelling. Her illustrations have been featured in The Berliner Magazine as well as other print magazines and a poetry book.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits