Biography: Mike Theiss

Hurricane Videographer, Storm Photographer, News Photographer, Travel Photographer, Adventurer, and Video Producer Mike Theiss

Mike Theiss, 30, owner and webmaster of Eye in the Tropics is a native of the Florida Keys and has been interested in weather since the early age of six years old. He would sit with his father on the family porch during a typical summer thunderstorm and watch the lightning and listen to the thunder for hours as it shook the entire house. In the 3rd grade he received a detention for running up to a giant dustdevil against the teacher's permission to put his hand inside the vortex to sample the strength of the wind. These childhood experiences along with many other weather encounters helped mold his passion for severe weather but nothing had his attention more than the amazing force and power of a Hurricane ! Mike's first hurricane encounter was in 1987 (age 9) when Hurricane Floyd made landfall in the Florida Keys. He was amazed by the force of wind and how it almost ripped off the passenger-side door of his father's truck. Mike's desire to learn more about Hurricanes was reinforced in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida. Hurricane Andrew was the single biggest event that convinced Mike that he wanted his future to be related to the science and exploration of Hurricanes. Mike started reading any materiel he could find about hurricanes and watching all television specials related to Hurricanes to continue pursuing his dream. In 1998 Mike documented his first Hurricane landfall when Hurricane Georges slammed into the Florida Keys and one year later documented Hurricane Irene in the same place. Mike continued taking college classes on meteorology and storm spotter classes but always lost focus when sitting in a classroom for hours and decided to continue his education by chasing down Hurricanes and Tornadoes and studying them "Live" as they happened in the field. In 2001 Mike combined his interest in weather, photography, video production, film making, and launched Ultimate Chase Video Productions. Mike is constantly shooting video to add to the Ultimate Chase library as well as shooting still photography for Corbis, Getty Images and National Geographic. Mike's videos and photos have been seen worldwide on numerous television shows and news programs. He documents Mother Natures extremes "year round" in hopes that his footage and experiences will help raise awareness to the dangers of storms and teach a sense of "Respect" for Mother Nature and the extreme power she possesses. Mike's email address: mike@ultimatechase.com Mike's photo and video credits and awards

New Website: Mike launches Extreme Nature Still Photography Website in 2008

Photo below courtesy Jim Reed August 29th, 2005: Mike's Video Broadcasted Worldwide ! Record breaking storm surge video shot during Hurricane Katrina is seen Worldwide. The video was broadcasted in Japan, Canada, Australia, England, and on USA networks such as NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, FOX, National Geographic, and The Weather Channel.   Katrina Video Seen Worldwide on National Geographic Click here to view full Hurricane Katrina storm report       Mike traveled to Gulfport to meet up with Jim Cantore and the rest of The Weather Channel crew to appear in the television program "Season's Fury" 2005 appearing on The Weather Channel recapping the disastrous Hurricane Season of 2005.

Hurricanes / Tropical Storms Experienced or Documented: Year Name of Hurricane/Tropical Storm My Location  1987 Hurricane Floyd Florida Keys 1992 Hurricane Andrew South Florida 1998 Hurricane Georges Florida Keys 1999 Hurricane Irene Florida Keys 2000 Hurricane Gordon Cedar Key, FL 2001 Tropical Storm Allison Slidell, Louisiana 2001 Tropical Storm Barry Panama City Beach, FL 2001 Tropical Storm Gabrielle Ft. Myers Beach, FL 2001 Hurricane Michelle Nassau, Bahamas 2002 Hurricane Lili Cocodrie, Louisiana 2003 Tropical Storm Claudette Cancun, Mexico 2003 Hurricane Isabel Atlantic Beach, NC 2004 Hurricane Charley Charlotte Harbor, FL 2004 Hurricane Frances Vero Beach, FL 2004 Hurricane Ivan Pensacola Beach, FL 2004 Hurricane Jeanne Jensen Beach, FL 2005 Hurricane Dennis Landfall # 01 Key West, Florida 2005 Hurricane Dennis Landfall # 02 Ft. Walton Beach, FL 2005 Hurricane Emily Playa Del Carmen, Mexico 2005 Hurricane Katrina Landfall # 01 Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Florida 2005 Hurricane Katrina Landfall # 02 Gulfport, Mississippi 2005 Hurricane Rita Landfall # 01 Florida Keys 2005 Hurricane Rita Landfall # 02 South-West Louisiana 2005 Hurricane Wilma Miami Beach, Florida 2007 Hurricane Dean Dominica - Lesser Antilles 2007 Hurricane / Nor'easter Noel Peggy's Cove - Nova Scotia 2008 Tropical Storm Fay South Florida / Mississippi      Total Hurricane Landfalls Experienced or Documented: 22      Total Tropical Storm Landfalls Experienced or Documented: 5