My Photography Journey
Some of my first visits to Warwick and the Southern Downs in the 90's were during summer when my parents first moved here. I remember taking photos of cloud formations along the range and while I didn't understand much about what was actually going on in the atmosphere, I knew the clouds were different. They were immense, towering, cumulonimbus thunderstorms and when I developed the first roll of storm cloud photos, I was instantly hooked.
The cloud formations were fascinating and I just had to know what causes them. This eventually brought forth an intense passion for me to document the weather and the world around me. Visual observation was not enough. The camera became my tool and I have spent many years honing the craft of photography, learning the ins and outs in order to capture the beauty and essence of amazing cloud formations and severe weather phenomena across the Darling Downs. I enjoy looking back at the old photos and examining the formations with an understanding of what causes them.
Storm chasing started to open up my eyes to new parts of the country I had never seen and incredible and emotional experiences when forced to see devastation happen in front of me. After the first few Super cells I took the leap and upgraded to DSLR digital photography while learning about the atmosphere and how the world uses energy to balance, create and destroy. Since then I have been on a mission to document my experiences propelled by a love for nature. I do this in order to share how beautiful and horrifying this world can be and hope that it is seen by many.
I created a photography page on facebook which has gained tremendous momentum over the last 5 years, with a fan base I never thought possible when I started the page and received my first page like. "SE QLD Weather Photography" on facebook had become my unofficial web page to share my storm chasing experiences and weather photos, that is, until now, the journey continues...
Welcome to my website!
Chris McFerran
AS FAR as photographers on the Southern Downs go, few have reached global heights like Chris McFerran.
In 2014 the Bureau of Meteorology chose his photo "Van Gogh” for their 2015 calendar, which saw him gain maximum exposure.
The remarkable photograph appeared in the New York Times, and closer to home, the Australian Weekender magazine.
His photography has captured the colour, beauty and fury of the region's weather and at the same time, the imagination of people everywhere.
His photos are vibrant, sometimes almost three-dimensional and a common feature is his use of clouds as a focal point.
Jonno Colfs Warwick Daily News
6 March 2018
Weather Exposure Exhibition 2016
WARWICK Art Gallery has worked with four exceptionally talented local photographers to present its latest exhibition Weather Exposure.
Four popular local photographers will participate in the exhibition; Stephen Reid, Chris McFerran, Caralee Mirfin and Terry West. The Southern Downs landscape is renowned for its beauty, wide open spaces and distinctive seasons.
Most of the images in the exhibition are of the local area and feature magnificent captures of storm
Chris McFerran reminisces about taking photos of clouds on the Southern Downs twenty years ago.
"While I didn't understand much about what was actually going on in the atmosphere in the early days, I knew the clouds were different. They were immense, towering, cumulonimbus thunderstorms and when I developed the first roll of storm cloud photos, I was instantly hooked. The exhibition will feature framed and canvas printed enlargements of the works and a digital presentation in the gallery by Terry West and Caralee Mirfin. To compliment the artwork, the gallery has temporarily borrowed three of the late Father McKey's weather instruments from Father Joe McKey Museum and Archives, housed in the original church at St Mary's, Warwick.
Weather Exposure will be on display from Thursday March 10 until Sunday April 10, 2016. All four photographers will be at the official opening on Friday March 11 at 6.30pm
Excerpt from The Queensland Times 8th March 2016
