The Pursuit of Power — Severe Weather Calendar 2026 showcases Europe’s leading storm chasers through their most powerful weather imagery. The second month, February 2026, features storm chaser Stavros Kesedakis and his elephant-trunk waterspout over the Aegean Sea near Rhodes Island, Greece.
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 Stavros’ social channels and support his work — you’ll find all the links at the bottom of the interview.
About the Photographer – Introduction: Stavros Kesedakis
Let’s start simple — who are you? How old are you, and where in Europe do you call home?
My name is Stavros Kesedakis, a storm chaser and photographer, 51 years old.
I am based in Rhodes Island, Greece.
When did your passion for storms and photography begin? Was there a specific moment that pulled you into chasing?
It all started exactly 15 years ago when a waterspout came ashore and hit my workplace, with me inside. That triggered the need to learn more about severe weather and start documenting it.
Gear & Chasing Setup
What’s inside your camera bag and chase vehicle today? Any must-have gear you never leave home without?
I mainly use Nikon gear, with my main camera being my beloved D810 and a few Nikon and Tamron lenses, such as 15-30 mm, 24-70 mm, and 80-400 mm.
As for must-have gear, I’d say my phone so that I can keep up with the latest radar scans, nowcasting, etc.
What part of storm chasing gives you the biggest adrenaline rush or emotional high?
Severe storms in general, with a massive crush for waterspouts, especially when they are near the shore.
Just watching this huge variety of twisters over the amazing blue sea colours of the Aegean Sea, in different shapes, is mind-blowing.
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?
Actually, that was a low-expectations day. It was the last storm in a series of underachieving storms that day, and I was almost ready to call it quits when this one started showing signs of intensifying, with some lightning activity, and the visibility was good.
I decided to give it some time, and this impressive waterspout happened.
Get your calendar copy here: Pursuit of Power – Weather Calendar 2026
How far has this passion taken you? In how many countries have you chased or photographed storms so far?
I chase all storm seasons in Rhodes, Greece.
During May, I travel to the USA to chase tornadoes in Tornado Alley whenever I can.
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?
I usually chase solo, and, believe it or not, when conditions are favourable, I prefer my motorbike. My island is pretty crowded with vehicles, and you can lose a lot of time stuck behind them, so this gives me an advantage of being on time for a storm.
Other times, I share a car with friends who like storms and photography.
Describe your ultimate dream chase: location, storm structure, light, terrain — the perfect scene.
Well, obviously, tornado alley in the US is in a league of its own, so I’ll describe my favourite setup in Rhodes island, which would be a massive rising storm above sea, pretty close to land, and a nice long waterspout extending underneath at sunrise colors.
Be honest: a powerful supercell forms 20 km away… right as a boring work meeting is about to start. What happens next?
Aaahhh, I suddenly feel sick and make a call to the boss, telling him how awful I feel, making sure he can’t hear the lightning cracking the sky behind me lol
Inspiration & Milestones
Which storm chasers or photographers have inspired your journey? Anyone you look up to, even today?
Oh, definitely a lot, from veterans who set the bar high in the early years to nowadays, with some amazing storm chasers who have taken storm chasing to the next stage.
I didn’t want to mention names since there are a lot of them, but I respect and admire all of them and keep them as inspiration.
What moment in your chasing or photography career are you most proud of — a capture, a trip, or a personal milestone?
Probably my first trip to tornado alley was memorable because it was a must-do for me, and the feeling I had when I achieved that.
And especially since it was a very successful chase trip too, it will always have a special place in my heart, and the people who became my second family there.
What’s the closest call you’ve ever had? Any dangerous moments you’ll never forget, and what did you learn from them?
Oh yeah, it was back in 2016 when we were chasing a tornado-warned storm in Oklahoma.
We suddenly lost radar connection and got ourselves into the bear’s cage of that storm, with a tornado entirely hidden in rain, but managed to stay calm and focused.
At the end, we were the only ones who actually got a photo of that pretty small but destructive tornado… but it was a tense moment for sure.
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: @Steve_Kesedakis_photography
- Facebook: Stavros Kesedakis Facebook profile
If you’re interested in purchasing any of my work, feel free to get in touch!
Final Note
Thank you, Stavros, 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