A photog bad dream comes true - DPChallenge Forums

03/08/2008 05:34:34 PM · #1

I have bad dreams all the time that I forget my camera somewhere and I usually find it smashed to pieces (in the dream). I take really good care of my camera stuff (at least i thought I did). I am so fortunate to have what I have - that's why I feel so absolutely horrible about what happened today. My ears were ringing and I though I was going to puke. I watched my stuff drop into a raging winter river -

Here's the story:
We are having an unrelenting winter storm here is Cleveland. My driveway is horrendous and I spent a few hours shoveling but there was no way we were getting out today. When my friend stopped by (in his 4-wheel drive jeep) his offer to go take a little trip to check out all the snowy madness seemed like a breath of fresh air -- so I went (with the camera of course). We went into the park and I got some nice shots from inside the jeep. Then we stopped on the bridge overlooking the river. The water was flowing pretty quickly and had it was a good photo opportunity. I got out. I got some decent shots but somewhere along the line I must have nudged the lens-release button - I'm really not sure how this could happen but my hands were pretty darn cold (about 18 degrees or so with snow-filled wind blasting on them).

Anyway, I was looking through the viewfinder and suddenly everything got kinda hard to see - I thought maybe I needed to turn the polarizing filter but honestly don't remember what I did next --I guess the camera was already mostly dislodged from the body - all I can remember is watching the lens (and polarizing filter naturally) plummet into the water. I still have that "frame" in my brain - SPLOOSH! I ran around to the side of the bridge where the water was flowing - I ran as if I could do something- Almost killin gmyself - the snow was so deep I couldn't see what I was jumping over - I was going to jump in - but he was yelling to me to stop. There was no way - I was insane.

i couldn't believe it - I feel so irresponsible. I felt like I was taking money straight from my family and tossing it in the water. The lens I always wanted ... washed away.

Sorry for the sad story -- maybe I'll wake up and be back to normal.
Here's some pics I took before the loss.

<------ this is where it is now :(

Message edited by author 2008-03-11 12:19:02.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/08/2008 05:39:07 PM · #2

Serious bummer, Tate. Do you have a rider on your homeowner's insurance for your camera gear? It would be worth giving them a call and letting them know what happened.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

03/08/2008 05:50:30 PM · #3

Man, that sucks!!!

I still have residual pains from the emptiness I felt in my gut the day my brand new 70-200 lens ($1600, btw!) fell out of the backpack while hiking down a mountain. At least, I still had the lens and was able to fix it. Better still was that I had purchased a warranty on it that fixed it free of charge. I can only imagine how you must have felt seeing it fall into the river and knowing that it is "so close" and yet ... so far away!

Well, the best thing to do to get over this kind of predicament? Run out and buy and even better lens!!! :-)

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/08/2008 05:52:08 PM · #4

Yikes man, that's awful!

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

03/08/2008 06:31:36 PM · #5

A little sacrifice to the river god goes a long way.

I lost a lens this way -not mine either, which made it worse. It slipped out of my pocket, where I had stowed it for a second in order to negotiate a crack in the bolder I was standing on. I watched it, slowly, ever so slowly rolling away from me, while describing circles, during the course of which I attempted to crawl towards it, only to miss it by a few feet each time. Eventually,

it came to rest quietly in a shallow gully of washed out rock sloping gradually toward a 200 ft cliff dropping off into a roaring white-water abyss. Last thing I remember was the sound of a metal cylinder spinning on basalt - lovely sound, actually. I knelt there, for a spell, looking at a vacant spot, waiting for the lens to jump back up or any alternate miracle.

It took, I remember, a little self-discipline not to jump after it...

Message edited by author 2008-03-08 18:33:06.

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

03/08/2008 06:37:45 PM · #6

Man that sucks! I feel for you. I cracked my 50 b& fliter(thank god it was on the lens) and I felt sick for pissing $50 bucks down the drain, I cannot imagine the stomach pain you have. Do you have homeowners as they might cover it, minus your deductible.

03/08/2008 06:51:41 PM · #7

I knew this thread would make me feel better ... thanks.

Regarding the insurance: I was naive to say the least. I made claim when I dropped a 200$ lens at a friend's wedding a few years back. It was no problem. Little did I know, doing that put me in a position where my next claim (according to the insurance guy) would most likely result in them dropping me (like a lens?) If I had only known.

Buying another lens is not an option unfortunately. I could only justify the original purchase because I sold my old motorcycle.

Hmm ... maybe I could sell a few of my ribbons -- I certainly would. I know some of these online games use actual currency where people buy weapons and things with actual dollars - maybe DPC could be like that ;)

Message edited by author 2008-03-11 11:59:52.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/09/2008 12:09:35 AM · #8

Tate - don't let the insurance guy intimidate you - I think that's what he's trying to do. What they probably WILL do is raise the rate on the part of your insurance that covers your camera equipment. It won't be by that much. Ask DrAchoo - I think he's had more than one claim with his equipment - he keeps submerging it. But at least ask the questions! And good luck. Though you do pretty darn good work with your other two lenses, I might add.

citymars

Nikon D700

03/09/2008 12:16:16 AM · #9

Ow, that seriously sucks. I'm glad your friend helped stop you from going into the icy river!

Breeee123

Nikon D3

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/09/2008 12:46:52 AM · #10

Originally posted by Melethia:

As someone who works in the insurance industry (although nothing to do with cameras or equipment) I have to agree with Melethia. DEFINITELY submit the claim, and then promptly go and shop for alternate insurance in the event they do drop you or raise your rates. There are plenty of insurance companies out there who will be willing to write you another policy, and even if you have to pay an extra hundred or two in premium, isn't it worth it? That's really what you're paying for when you buy insurance.

03/10/2008 04:20:31 PM · #11

Good news! My insurance guy thinks it should be a "slam dunk"! So if all goes well, I should get $ for the lens!
Looks like it's not an absolute snow-job after all â�¦

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

03/10/2008 04:22:33 PM · #12

Excellent! I was about to dig this thread up and ask you if you'd talked to them yet.

03/10/2008 04:24:59 PM · #13

Thanks for the encouragement.

Originally posted by Melethia:

Excellent! I was about to dig this thread up and ask you if you'd talked to them yet.

03/20/2008 12:40:30 AM · #14

I wanted to thank those that insisted that I go through homeowners - It worked out and I have new equipment (although I've replaced with cheaper stuff just so I feel better - and who wants to buy the same thing twice :)

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

03/20/2008 01:49:51 AM · #15

Well, that's a story with a not too bad ending.
I figure that if nothing ever happens to your equipment, then you aren't getting the good shots.
I watched one of my S3 Pro's go over on a tripod the night of the eclipse, with a 300mm 4.5 ED IF on it. Lucky for me it landed in soft sand, and not on a rock. No damage done, just a little dust off and it was fine. I do remember that adrenalin rush though. I am more careful about leaning a camera on a folded tripod against my vehicle or anything else now.
One other time, I almost lost an S3 with 18-70 ED to a gator. He hit the lens, but I was pulling it back when he bumped it. I think that the lens shade made first contact and bumped it out of his mouth as he was striking at it.
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Message edited by author 2008-03-20 01:52:18.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D