Willard Sharp Photography & Storm Chasing

Willard Sharp Photography & Storm Chasing Award winning extreme weather & night skies photographer based out of Madrid, IA. I love being outside, enjoying nature and all of its beauty.

I'm passionate about capturing the beauty of storms, the Milky Way, auroras, landscapes, and more. I’m a storm chaser, landscape, weather, and night skies photographer based out of Madrid, Iowa. This page will showcase my best work as well as how to articles on weather and night skies photography. Prints are available at http://willardsharpphotography.com/online-store/.

Among the many Milky Way photos that adorn my walls, this breathtaking shot featuring Devils Tower stands out as a beaco...
09/01/2026

Among the many Milky Way photos that adorn my walls, this breathtaking shot featuring Devils Tower stands out as a beacon of inspiration, reminding me that even in the darkest of nights, beauty and wonder await discovery.

I've been reflecting on this chase season and the direction my photography is going and I'm quite happy where I'm at. Su...
09/01/2026

I've been reflecting on this chase season and the direction my photography is going and I'm quite happy where I'm at. Sure I would have liked to get out more this year. I think that every year. But I am very fortunate to get out and seek out the wonders of nature without any pressure or expectations. I don't need to see every cloud or feel the need to stream endlessly either to make a living or for a dopamine hit. Selling prints is my side hustle and I'm appreciative of all the support I have from my fans. I'm only a few short years from retirement and then my new full time job will be photography and chasing. But on my terms.

This year I focused on the photography and as I already knew that is where I need to be when I chase. I did stream to my YT channel a few chases. What I learned from that is streaming is a distraction for me. And going forward I will no longer stream. I have some ideas on what my YT channel will become so keep an eye out for that.

As we head into fall depending on how my back surgery goes I'm going to hit the vendor and craft show circuit to sell prints and art. I'm also working on storm chasing and photography presentations for local organizations and I'm going to be making some announcements about that soon. Until then I thank you for supporting this crazy passion of mine. More excellent photos are on the way!

The lunar eclipse as I followed it over the Roseman Covered Bridge in Madison County. The individual shots where taken w...
08/30/2026

The lunar eclipse as I followed it over the Roseman Covered Bridge in Madison County. The individual shots where taken with my 600mm lens and I composited them along the general path the moon would take. When the eclipse was at its peak it was directly over the bridge.

I know some don't like composite photos and thats ok. Art can be done in many ways each according to the artists tastes. The way this turned out was beyond my expectations.

Its costs $0 to support a photographer from Iowa. I love all things that are amazing skies.
08/30/2026

Its costs $0 to support a photographer from Iowa. I love all things that are amazing skies.

After dealing with some chaos at home, it’s finally time to start editing my lunar eclipse photos! For my first image, L...
08/29/2026

After dealing with some chaos at home, it’s finally time to start editing my lunar eclipse photos!

For my first image, Lets keep it simple—a single shot of the eclipsed moon with the stars visible around it.

During a normal full moon, the Moon is so bright that those stars are essentially washed out. But as the Moon entered the Earth’s shadow during the eclipse, the stars began to reappear, creating a completely different scene.

📷 Nikon Z7 II | 600mm | 0.6 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 12,800

This is just the first of what I’m sure will be several eclipse images I’ll be sharing. More to come!

What do you think—do you prefer the single-shot eclipse images that show the stars, or the tighter close-ups of the Moon itself?

Sky conditions are looking good across much of the US for lunar eclipse viewing tonight. Clouds will be a problem across...
08/27/2026

Sky conditions are looking good across much of the US for lunar eclipse viewing tonight. Clouds will be a problem across the eastern US and portions of CA. Locally in Iowa you can't ask for a better forecast. Clear skies with no real smoke issues to speak of. Get out and enjoy the show!

The lunar eclipse is only 2 days away! Are you planning on taking photos of the eclipse? Be sure to checkout my latest b...
08/26/2026

The lunar eclipse is only 2 days away! Are you planning on taking photos of the eclipse? Be sure to checkout my latest blog post on camera settings and many other tips. We also may have northern lights Thursday night into Friday morning. How exciting would that be?

Blog link in the comments.

An August lunar eclipse is on tap this Thursday evening August 27th. In Iowa the penumbral Eclipse begins at 8:23pm CDT ...
08/25/2026

An August lunar eclipse is on tap this Thursday evening August 27th. In Iowa the penumbral Eclipse begins at 8:23pm CDT with the moon just above the horizon. Partial eclipse begins at 9:33pm CDT with maximum eclipse starting at 11:12pm. The moon will move across the SE sky into the southern sky as the eclipse takes place. Right now the cloud cover forecast looks mostly clear in Iowa so be sure to get out and enjoy the view. My favorate is when the moon starts to become a blood red color.

Will I be out photographing the eclipse? You betcha I will. I have a special foreground I'll be scoping out tomorrow in preparation for Thursday.

Want to photograph the eclipse but your not sure on camera settings? I'll be updating my blog tomorrow evening on my website with updated camera settings to help you capture great photos.

It costs $0 to support a photographer from Iowa.
08/11/2026

It costs $0 to support a photographer from Iowa.

I'm keeping an eye on the possibility of northern lights tonight if and that's a big if current conditions hold. May hav...
08/08/2026

I'm keeping an eye on the possibility of northern lights tonight if and that's a big if current conditions hold. May have a corridor of thinner smoke in Iowa that will work out before thunderstorms start firing after midnight. Will be watching closely.

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