The Pursuit of Power — Severe Weather Calendar 2026 showcases Europe’s leading storm chasers through their most powerful weather imagery. The fifth month, May 2026, features storm chaser Giorgio Pavan and his majestic mothership supercell looms over the plains near Venice, Italy.
The interview series for featured photographs in each monthly edition of the calendar offers a closer look into the photographer behind the scenes, his approach to photography, his passion, and his striking storm images.
Don’t forget to follow Giorgio’s social channels and support his work — you’ll find all the links at the bottom of the interview.
About the Photographer – Introduction: Giorgio Pavan
Let’s start simple — who are you? How old are you, and where in Europe do you call home?
My name is Giorgio Pavan, I’m 39 years old, I work as an HVAC technician during the week, and as a storm chaser during my free time.
I live in NE Italy, in the Venice area.
When did your passion for storms and photography begin? Was there a specific moment that pulled you into chasing?
I’ve been a weather enthusiast for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I used to have an analog camera that I took with me on vacations and holidays.
Years later, when the internet arrived, a whole new world opened up to me: pictures from the States, the first videos on YouTube…
That’s when I realized that storm chasing wasn’t just something done by crazy people in the movie Twister.
Gear & Chasing Setup
What’s inside your camera bag and chase vehicle today? Any must-have gear you never leave home without?
Not much actually, hahaha.. I have a full-frame Nikon, a couple of lenses, and a drone. A must-have gear is an extra battery for the camera and an additional SD card.
What part of storm chasing gives you the biggest adrenaline rush or emotional high?
Definitely, a close call with a lightning strike is the most adrenaline-pumping one. I bet everybody understands why … :)
The Chase Experience
The photo we selected for the calendar is genuinely inspiring. What was the atmosphere like around you — the mood, the light, the energy of the storm — and what went through your mind as you pressed the shutter?
It was a supercell I intercepted on my way to southern Veneto, where I had another chasing target planned later. As I was driving south, I kept checking the radar and watching the storm develop. The intercept took place in a commercial area, with roads busy with cars and trucks.
At first, I was astonished by the colors, the contrast, and the sheer size of this mothership supercell; I couldn’t believe my eyes. Then I realized I was squeezed into a narrow corridor between the storm and the sea, constantly thinking about the best escape route.
There wasn’t much time to enjoy the moment—mostly quick thinking and decision-making.
How far has this passion taken you? In how many countries have you chased or photographed storms so far?
Since I am lucky to live in one of the most storm-active areas in Europe, I haven’t chased in any other country than Italy.
Tell us about your chase vehicle — is it a normal car, or have you turned it into a lightning-hunting machine? Do you chase solo or with partners?
An absolutely normal car. I mostly chase alone, but it can happen to meet a friend and chase together.
Describe your ultimate dream chase: location, storm structure, light, terrain — the perfect scene.
The best chasing dream for me is a semi-stationary supercell overseas in the dark hours, with positive lightning and a bit of moonlight.
The best point of view is from a cliff. Absolutely dreamy.
Be honest: a powerful supercell forms 20 km away… right as a boring work meeting is about to start. What happens next?
That’s when the ‘bipolar’ side kicks in :) I’ll keep tracking the storm on radar and make sure the sky webcams at home are running. Installing a couple of webcams on my rooftop has been the perfect solution when I can’t chase.
Inspiration & Milestones
Which storm chasers or photographers have inspired your journey? Anyone you look up to, even today?
In the early days, Red Timmer from the TV series ‘Stormchaser’ was a big inspiration for the chasing part. Pecos Hank is one of the best for the video’s production.
Along with the photographers, I really admire Roger Hill and Mike Olbinski.
What moment in your chasing or photography career are you most proud of — a capture, a trip, or a personal milestone?
I can’t pick a single moment or episode. I’m really proud of myself when, after hours of checking weather models and setting up a chase, I find myself in the right place at the right time and can catch the most epic situations.
Sometimes the forecast is the most challenging part: it’s not just about understanding weather parameters, but also about knowing the area you’re chasing and relying on personal experience.
What’s the closest call you’ve ever had? Any dangerous moments you’ll never forget, and what did you learn from them?
I fear lightning, and at the same time, I’m deeply attracted to it. Shooting bolts on the beach is something that really scares me, because you know, you could easily be the next target.
It has happened a few times that I was way too close to a cloud-to-ground strike, so whenever possible, I leave the camera outside shooting while I take shelter in the car.
Connect With Photographer’s Work
And finally, where can people follow your work and chase adventures online? (Facebook, Instagram, X, website, TikTok,…)
You can find my photos and adventures online at:
- Instagram: @giorgiopavan_photography Instagram page
- Facebook: Giorgio Pavan Photography Facebook page
Final Note
Thank you, Giorgio, for being part of the Pursuit of Power project!
Your story and visuals help showcase the strength, beauty, and diversity of European storm chasing.
The Calendar has 13 pages – a cover page plus 12 monthly pages.
The calendar can be purchased here: Pursuit of Power – Weather Calendar 2026
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