Webster University’s Kooyumjian Gallery to Feature Photos of Extreme Weather Events

January 12, 2026

Photo courtesy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Webster University's Kooyumjian Gallery will host two simultaneous photo exhibits focused on extreme weather events. "Extremes: Fire, Storm and Ice" will feature the works of wildfire photographer Kari Greer, award-winning climate change photographer Camille Seaman and award-winning storm photographer and author Greg "Tornado Hunter" Johnson. Alongside their photos will be "Local Extreme Weather Photography from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch," showcasing the work of several current and past photographers at the paper.

Both exhibits run Feb. 13 through April 23. A special reception will be held 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on March 6, where visitors will be able to meet Greer and Johnson.

"This dynamic exhibit shows the raw power and extremes of Mother Nature and serves as both a historical record of major events but also shows off the power of photography to tell a story in a single frame," said Kooyumjian Gallery Director Kristina Richards. "The exhibited images stand the test of time and portray powerful moments, from glaciers breaking apart and huge forest fires, to river flooding, flash flooding, tornadoes, extreme heat, and extreme cold in our own communities."

Greer is a photographer with the National Interagency Fire Center based in Boise, Idaho. She specializes in wildland fire photography and editorial photojournalism. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including Outside Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Wildland Firefighter, and The New York Times.

Johnson is a nationally recognized "tornado hunter" who has transformed storm chasing into both art and science. Since 2010, he has pursued nature's fiercest forces across the U.S. and Canada, capturing breathtaking images that reveal the beauty and power of extreme weather. From intercepting the catastrophic 2011 Joplin tornado to starring in the hit TV series Tornado Hunters and authoring three acclaimed books, Johnson has built a career at the intersection of adventure, technology, and storytelling. His work-featured in media worldwide-offers an electrifying look at humanity's relationship with the atmosphere's most volatile moods, inspiring audiences to respect and marvel at the raw energy of the natural world.

Seaman is a professional photographer who has documented climate change over the past decade. Her photographs have been published in National Geographic Magazine, Italian Geo, German GEO, TIME, The New York Times Sunday magazine, Newsweek, Outside, Zeit Wissen, Men's Journal, Seed, Camera Arts, Issues, PDN, and American Photo, among many others. She frequently leads photographic workshops. Her photographs have received many awards, including a National Geographic Award in 2006 and the Critical Mass Top Monograph Award in 2007. She is a TED Senior Fellow, Stanford Knight Fellow as well as a Cinereach Filmmaker in Residence Fellow.

The Post-Dispatch exhibit will document local history, said Michael Hamtil, Multimedia Director at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "For news photojournalists, the job is always the same: Rush to the scene, try to stay safe, show what is happening, and compassionately humanize the disaster. All while the deadline clock is ticking. Some describe our results as "the first draft of history."

That exhibit will feature images from current and past Post-Dispatch photographers David Carson, Robert Cohen, Wayne Crosslin, J.B. Forbes, Christian Gooden, Jerry Naunheim Jr., Jim Rackwitz and Laurie Skrivan.

The Kooyumjian Gallery is located on the second floor of the Sverdrup Complex, 8300 Big Bend Boulevard, 63119. Visit the gallery website for hours and more information.

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