Storm Chaser Jim Reed Wins MSNBC Picture of the Year Award

Extreme weather photographer Jim Reed's rare photo of a supercell thunderstorm has been honored as MSNBC's Picture of the Year. Reeds photo was chosen from 558 photos submitted by more than 100 international photojournalists.

Columbia, SC (PRWEB) January 21, 2005 -- Extreme weather photographer Jim Reeds photo A Bolt From The Gray" was selected as MSNBC's Picture of the Year by readers who visit the popular Web site. Reeds photo was chosen from 558 photos submitted by more than 100 international photojournalists.

The photo, taken on June 5, 2004 in south-central Kansas, shows an isolated lightning bolt striking the ground beneath a striated tornadic thunderstorm during a colorful sunset.

Defined as a supercell" by meteorologists, the storm featured in the honored photo crossed nearly half the state in a rare due south direction before weakening. The severe cell prompted multiple tornado warnings and dropped hailstones the size of baseballs.

The hail was a hazard," admits Reed. To capture as much of the storm as possible, I had to run out into a field and aim almost straight up. Hail was falling all around me."

Reed, who works full-time as a professional storm chaser, has been working on a long-term project about Americas extreme weather and changing climate since 1991. The 1,717 tornadoes that occurred in the United States in 2004 was an all-time record.

MSNBC readers vote for the Best Picture of the Year from images featured throughout 2004 as part of the Week in Pictures.

Other winners include Dan Powers of The Post-Crescent, who won second place. AFP-Getty Images photographer Jens Schlueter took third place. Lenny Ignelzi of the Associated Press took top honors in 2003. You can view more of Reeds photos at: jimreedphoto.com

A courtesy copy of the photo is available upon request. For additional information, please contact Jim Reed at: 803-782-6226 or 316-371-9621 or by email at: jreed@jimreedphoto.com

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