Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

I fell off a dock into Lake Travis (fresh water) on Monday with my Nikon D90 and SB600 flash. Both camera and flash are now working. Here's what I did right, and possibly wrong. The first thing I should have done was take the battery and SD disk out of the camera. I didn't. I turned the camera on and off several times. That was bad, I've learned since. I tried out the flash; again, not advised, as things can short out. Once home, I took off the 50mm lens (the camera was dry inside) and opened up every crevice, dried everything with a lens cloth, and then blew warm air from my hairdryer into it. I then placed the camera, lens and everything, including the "corrupted" SD card into a Tupperware box. On the bottom of the box was a 2" bed of rice and with a paper towel on top to avoid rice dust. I sealed it, burping it about every eight hours. All of the beautiful photos I thought were lost loaded. After two days, the camera worked...and then it starting acting up, shooting lots of photos in succession. The flash wasn't flashing, but the screen was displaying info. Back to the box they went. This time, I took out six screws in the flash and wedged bags of silicone into the cracks. I also wedged silicone bags into the battery compartment on the camera. It's Friday, and both the flash and camera are working beautifully...thanks to all of the good advice I've received from my fellow Ugly Hedgehogs. I think you're beautiful!

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

That is awesome Deb!!!
Erv

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

That's really good news (except your justification for getting a new camera has been watered down). Just getting your photos back would have been a blessing.

Add getting rid of the sealed Tupperware and rice thing to your lessons learned. It does not work. Using that hair dryer is what probably saved you.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Rice rarely works URBAN MYTH

Silica gell large bags

Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

Yep. I used the large bags of gel on days 3 and 4. I have no doubt that made a difference. That, and the blow dryer!

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Photographic insurance never been without

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

Good to hear!!

Jusoljoe Loc: Texas

Whew! Another bullet dodged! Congratulations Deb. Happy for you. Now, just a story to tell among fellow photographers like fishermen do. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I'm so glad for you. SMILE

Regardless - warm air - rice - gel packs - I feel they all contributed and you did good trying them all.

Sarge69
PS: About urban myths - I ate 12 oysters and 8 of them worked.

Sarge69

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

:):):):mrgreen:
Erv

DavidT Loc: Maryland

I love a story with a happy ending.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Glad you got everything working!
I'd say, LUCKY!!!!!

Obviously, you need to work on your falling in the lake/keep the camera dry, technique......
I suggest you take a rock of about equal weight and start practicing falling in the lake with the goal of keeping the rock dry, consistently. As you enter the water, you must extend the hand holding the rock(camera)out and above the water level. You may need to bring many dry rocks as you perfect your technique. Falling forwards and backwards.
If anyone asks what you are doing, go ahead tell them. Explain what happened.
Ok, so much for that. lol!!!
Again, glad you got everything working!!
Pat

jimni2001 Loc: Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA

I'm glad that you got your camera working and all is well. What I want to know is did any of your fell photogs get any photos of you falling in? Sorry but my warped sense of humor would just love to see the action. Show us those and I'll tell you how I broke my nose with a slingshot.

Birdguide Loc: Ormond Beach, FL

Congratulations and kudos for not giving up, good things happen to good people, well after they dry off from falling in the lake that is. 8-)

olcoach Loc: Oregon

Glad everything worked out. You have also gotten a lot of advise that some of us may need in the future. Once again this site helps out. Amazing!