Photos: American storms

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Different kinds of thunderstorms have different temperaments. The West Coast has tepid storms. The Midwest has vengeful ones. And Arkansas’ storms are relentlessly all-encompassing.

When Jeff Emtman hitchhiked across America storms sought him out. They’d churn all afternoon afternoon in the western skies, then clash with him come evening. Jeff photographed these encounters as he hitchhiked from Washington State, down to Mississippi and back again.

These storms are the backdrop to the most recent episode of KCRW’s Here Be Monsters. 

American Storms, 2011. Photos by Jeff Emtman

Listen to Here Be Monsters’ The Natural State of Hitchhiking and subscribe to Here Be Monsters for more stories of the unknown.