Hard Lesson to Learn, Me & the Camera & Lens went into the Lake..... It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of hours in the boats and canoes photographing birds and or...

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of hours in the boats and canoes photographing birds and or landscapes. Sunday was not much different. My buddy showed up with his boat so we could photograph the Osprey nesting at Blue Cypress Lake. Only difference this day, Dave had taken the front swivel chair out while working on the boat. No problem I grabbed a bucket to sit on while steering the boat from the front deck using the trolling motor. Without the seat I had more room to maneuver and soon abandon the comfort of the bucket. I would kneel while moving and stand while shooting. We ducked behind some cypress trees to capture osprey chasing each other. A slight breeze and a gentle rock were the conditions. I had just turned the boat around and switch off the trolling motor and we were slowly moving forward. I turned my back to the front of the boat and was looking up thru the trees. Now all time slows down, without warning we hit a submerged stump, instant stop. I'm going in no question.... In a flash I turn the camera off, as my ass is bouncing off the edge of the boat, I'm unwinding the camera strap from around my left wrist, as my upper body passes the front deck I toss my camera towards the boat. I see the camera gently land on the edge, pause and begin to roll off as the boat rolls upwards again, my last vision as I go into the drink. Maybe 3 seconds in the water. One Nikon D600 & the newer version of the Nikon 80-400mm lens. Camera and Lens have been in rice since Sunday, getting shipped out today. Camera may be fixable not sure about the lens, it was soaked, still standing water inside the glass. I almost cried on the way home, no monies to replace the eqipment.... It did get me to thinking, I do buy Insurance when I travel out of the US. Who can afford insurance, who can't when they have an accident. Guess I'm sharing my story to remind us all you can't fix Stupid and accidents do Happen. If you camera sits in the closet maybe don't worry about it, if you use it all the time, maybe think about getting insurance......

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

martinfisherphoto wrote:

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of hours in the boats and canoes photographing birds and or landscapes. Sunday was not much different. My buddy showed up with his boat so we could photograph the Osprey nesting at Blue Cypress Lake. Only difference this day, Dave had taken the front swivel chair out while working on the boat. No problem I grabbed a bucket to sit on while steering the boat from the front deck using the trolling motor. Without the seat I had more room to maneuver and soon abandon the comfort of the bucket. I would kneel while moving and stand while shooting. We ducked behind some cypress trees to capture osprey chasing each other. A slight breeze and a gentle rock were the conditions. I had just turned the boat around and switch off the trolling motor and we were slowly moving forward. I turned my back to the front of the boat and was looking up thru the trees. Now all time slows down, without warning we hit a submerged stump, instant stop. I'm going in no question.... In a flash I turn the camera off, as my ass is bouncing off the edge of the boat, I'm unwinding the camera strap from around my left wrist, as my upper body passes the front deck I toss my camera towards the boat. I see the camera gently land on the edge, pause and begin to roll off as the boat heaves upwards again, my last vision as I go into the drink. Maybe 3 seconds in the water. One Nikon D600 & the newer version of the Nikon 80-400mm lens. Camera and Lens have been in rice since Sunday, getting shipped out today. Camera may be fixable not sure about the lens, it was soaked, still standing water inside the glass. I almost cried on the way home, no monies to replace the eqipment.... It did get me to thinking, I do buy Insurance when I travel out of the US. Who can afford insurance, who can't when they have an accident. Guess I'm sharing my story to remind us all you can't fix Stupid and accidents do Happen. If you camera sits in the closet maybe don't worry about it, if you use it all the time, maybe think about getting insurance......

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of h... (show quote)

That's a shame. My "insurance" is an Olympus Tough waterproof camera. If I had been paying insurance premiums on cameras since I began shooting, I'd have to lose a dozen Leicas to break even on the payments.

djtravels Loc: Georgia boy now

I once heard the definition of insurance. It's something that guards against a financial disaster. So if you had a Kodak Brownie you would probably not want insurance. On the other hand.......
Tough luck, bad day, but an eye opener for all. Took courage to post. Thanks from us all.

Shutterbugsailer Loc: Staten Island NY (AKA Cincinnati by the Sea)

martinfisherphoto wrote:

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of hours in the boats and canoes photographing birds and or landscapes. Sunday was not much different. My buddy showed up with his boat so we could photograph the Osprey nesting at Blue Cypress Lake. Only difference this day, Dave had taken the front swivel chair out while working on the boat. No problem I grabbed a bucket to sit on while steering the boat from the front deck using the trolling motor. Without the seat I had more room to maneuver and soon abandon the comfort of the bucket. I would kneel while moving and stand while shooting. We ducked behind some cypress trees to capture osprey chasing each other. A slight breeze and a gentle rock were the conditions. I had just turned the boat around and switch off the trolling motor and we were slowly moving forward. I turned my back to the front of the boat and was looking up thru the trees. Now all time slows down, without warning we hit a submerged stump, instant stop. I'm going in no question.... In a flash I turn the camera off, as my ass is bouncing off the edge of the boat, I'm unwinding the camera strap from around my left wrist, as my upper body passes the front deck I toss my camera towards the boat. I see the camera gently land on the edge, pause and begin to roll off as the boat rolls upwards again, my last vision as I go into the drink. Maybe 3 seconds in the water. One Nikon D600 & the newer version of the Nikon 80-400mm lens. Camera and Lens have been in rice since Sunday, getting shipped out today. Camera may be fixable not sure about the lens, it was soaked, still standing water inside the glass. I almost cried on the way home, no monies to replace the eqipment.... It did get me to thinking, I do buy Insurance when I travel out of the US. Who can afford insurance, who can't when they have an accident. Guess I'm sharing my story to remind us all you can't fix Stupid and accidents do Happen. If you camera sits in the closet maybe don't worry about it, if you use it all the time, maybe think about getting insurance......

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of h... (show quote)

Maybe a proper seat for the boat should be on your "bucket list"

leftj Loc: Texas

martinfisherphoto wrote:

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of hours in the boats and canoes photographing birds and or landscapes. Sunday was not much different. My buddy showed up with his boat so we could photograph the Osprey nesting at Blue Cypress Lake. Only difference this day, Dave had taken the front swivel chair out while working on the boat. No problem I grabbed a bucket to sit on while steering the boat from the front deck using the trolling motor. Without the seat I had more room to maneuver and soon abandon the comfort of the bucket. I would kneel while moving and stand while shooting. We ducked behind some cypress trees to capture osprey chasing each other. A slight breeze and a gentle rock were the conditions. I had just turned the boat around and switch off the trolling motor and we were slowly moving forward. I turned my back to the front of the boat and was looking up thru the trees. Now all time slows down, without warning we hit a submerged stump, instant stop. I'm going in no question.... In a flash I turn the camera off, as my ass is bouncing off the edge of the boat, I'm unwinding the camera strap from around my left wrist, as my upper body passes the front deck I toss my camera towards the boat. I see the camera gently land on the edge, pause and begin to roll off as the boat rolls upwards again, my last vision as I go into the drink. Maybe 3 seconds in the water. One Nikon D600 & the newer version of the Nikon 80-400mm lens. Camera and Lens have been in rice since Sunday, getting shipped out today. Camera may be fixable not sure about the lens, it was soaked, still standing water inside the glass. I almost cried on the way home, no monies to replace the eqipment.... It did get me to thinking, I do buy Insurance when I travel out of the US. Who can afford insurance, who can't when they have an accident. Guess I'm sharing my story to remind us all you can't fix Stupid and accidents do Happen. If you camera sits in the closet maybe don't worry about it, if you use it all the time, maybe think about getting insurance......

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of h... (show quote)

So if you can afford to travel outside the US why can't you afford to buy a new camera and glass?

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

So sorry Martin. Is there any chance the house insurance would cover it or part of it?

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Sorry to read this, it sounds like you are injury free so that is the blessing here.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

It takes several years of saving to travel to Costa Rica. I can also save for several years to replace my equipment. I also just recently lost my Good paying job and now self employed. Will take several years to get back where I was. I can just stick on a credit card, but I still have a daughter to raise which has a serious medical condition. Some things are still more important to me than my passion for photography, Sorry..........

leftj wrote:

So if you can afford to travel outside the US why can't you afford to buy a new camera and glass?

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Shutterbugsailer wrote:

Maybe a proper seat for the boat should be on your "bucket list"

😀😂😆😨

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Any chance you can get some cost relief through your Homeowners policy?? How many camera's/Lens do you have. Maybe a rider on your Homeowners would be a thought?

leftj Loc: Texas

insman1132 wrote:

Any chance you can get some cost relief through your Homeowners policy?? How many camera's/Lens do you have. Maybe a rider on your Homeowners would be a thought?

The horse is already out of the barn.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Sorry. In the last two months I badly damaged two lenses. My 24-70 rolled out of my opening door onto a concrete floor. The on a shoot my tripod fell forward in a tight space and crashed my 14-24. I have PPA insurance ($500 deductible). Sent both to Nikon for repair – cost $1,000. They are good as new. P.S. The total cost equaled my deducible so no claim filed.

Jim Bob

martinfisherphoto wrote:

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of hours in the boats and canoes photographing birds and or landscapes. Sunday was not much different. My buddy showed up with his boat so we could photograph the Osprey nesting at Blue Cypress Lake. Only difference this day, Dave had taken the front swivel chair out while working on the boat. No problem I grabbed a bucket to sit on while steering the boat from the front deck using the trolling motor. Without the seat I had more room to maneuver and soon abandon the comfort of the bucket. I would kneel while moving and stand while shooting. We ducked behind some cypress trees to capture osprey chasing each other. A slight breeze and a gentle rock were the conditions. I had just turned the boat around and switch off the trolling motor and we were slowly moving forward. I turned my back to the front of the boat and was looking up thru the trees. Now all time slows down, without warning we hit a submerged stump, instant stop. I'm going in no question.... In a flash I turn the camera off, as my ass is bouncing off the edge of the boat, I'm unwinding the camera strap from around my left wrist, as my upper body passes the front deck I toss my camera towards the boat. I see the camera gently land on the edge, pause and begin to roll off as the boat rolls upwards again, my last vision as I go into the drink. Maybe 3 seconds in the water. One Nikon D600 & the newer version of the Nikon 80-400mm lens. Camera and Lens have been in rice since Sunday, getting shipped out today. Camera may be fixable not sure about the lens, it was soaked, still standing water inside the glass. I almost cried on the way home, no monies to replace the eqipment.... It did get me to thinking, I do buy Insurance when I travel out of the US. Who can afford insurance, who can't when they have an accident. Guess I'm sharing my story to remind us all you can't fix Stupid and accidents do Happen. If you camera sits in the closet maybe don't worry about it, if you use it all the time, maybe think about getting insurance......

It's hard to fix stupid.. I've spent hundreds of h... (show quote)

Man, I'm so sorry. I wouldn't call your experience stupid, just quintessentially human. Take care.

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

How many of us could share a story or two about happenings like this. We feel your pain in a big way.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

Martin, so sorry to hear this story. When time slows down like that, you KNOW you are in trouble. And so close to saving the gear - I hope for good news on repair.

edit - and Jim Bob said it well... part of the human condition, we get "comfortable".