NO NO NO--THIS IS NOT A RIDDLE!
What stormchasers do is watch tornado videos. They show each other the video they took during their chase vacations, their spur-of-the-moment chases, and professionally produced videos like ours. Some watch videos so much, and see the same storm from so many different angles that they actually can identify the tornado--just like Click and Clack on Car Talk can identify a Dodge Dart just from the noises that the caller imitates. So we have a little "self test" for those of you out there, whether you are a chaser or just a "severe weather enthusiast." It is called
We will use John Brosio's paintings to test your knowledge and recollection! Give it a whirl! Get paper and pencil out, and write down your answers for each of the five paintings. Each painting, correctly identified, is worth 20 points, for a total of 100 points. Note that two of the tornado paintings are composites--so you get 10 points if you can name one, and 20 points if you can name two.
Now, the tornado in painting #1 is a composite of two different tornadoes. Each of these tornadoes is worth 10 points, and if you can name both, you will get 20 points. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. Time is up!
Ready for #2? Okay, here goes. The artist used only one tornado as his subject in painting #2. He used the video taken by a well known Kansas chaser to refer to as he was painting. The artist's father is in the foreground, facing the storm. If you can name this twister, it is worth 20 points!
Now, for #3. In it, "compositional concerns arose that influenced him to change the way the actual storm looked"(in other words, he made it easier to see the funnel!) However, photographs of this tornado are commonly seen on the internet. The shape is a dead give-away. Can you identify the tornado in painting #3? You will earn 20 points if you can.
Painting #4 is a composite again, influenced by two tornadoes. One of the funnels is best known from a still photo that has been widely used for more than 15 years. Can you identify one? If so, it is worth 10 points. If you can identify both, it is worth 20 points!
The #5 painting portrays a twister that two well known chasers videotaped. The artist admittedly did "change a few things." If you can name it, you will get 20 points!
Have you identified all five paintings? Then, lets see how you did! Go to the answer page!