The ultimate sacrifice, lighthearted.

[Bryce]

Yesterday I re visited a mine I wanted to get more, better pictures of without torturing my fellow hunters. In the two weeks since I was there last, the police had gone in and detonated a box of 60 year old dynamite that was left there...
Anyway, once I got inside and started to set up, I found the cable release I'd left there the previous trip. Yes, right where I'd left it, rusting in the mud. It had been my favorite. I observed a moment of silence, remembered the years it's been with me, and threw it lovingly down a winze. RIP.
So I'd like to devote this thread to gear casualties, losses in the line of duty. Anyone else?

 

[BrianShaw]

When you say "mine", I assume you mean underground mine... like for metal ore or coal?? I once spent a decade photographing in mines. One day a Vivitar strobe jumped off my camera as I was climbing a very long ladder in a raise (vertical shaft). I heard it tumble down as it tumbled downward, bouncing numerous times off the ladder and the side of the opening. At one point it released it's final emission of photons. It was a quick but dignified way to go.

You are a very sensitive person, Bryce. Thanks for remembering the fallen equipment.

May your cable release rest in peaces. :angel:

 

[rogue_designer]

Back in 1998 or so, I was photographing Wells cathedral - in a misguided attempt to re-create Evan's "Sea of Steps"

I dropped my Sekonic Studio II from the top of the stair case, and watched it bounce and shatter all the way down the steps.

One of the acolytes was a photography buff and helped me bury the fragments of the light dome in the gardens behind the "bishops walk" cloister.

 

[JimG]

Forgive me Barnack, I was distracted talking to someone while cleaning a 1936 Elmar that was once my father's and in perfect condition when I noticed I had not removed the dust before I wiped it clean. The cleaning marks were there just like I new they would be. I put the lens away and never used it again.

 

[Bryce]

Brian-
Yes, metal mines, hard rock. This is Washington State's Apex mine, one of the more successful gold mines in local history.
So, what were you doing underground? Work? Art?

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian-
Yes, metal mines, hard rock. This is Washington State's Apex mine, one of the more successful gold mines in local history.
So, what were you doing underground? Work? Art?

Work. Doing workplace and accident scene documentation for the Bureau of Mines and Mining Safety and Heath Administration to support a number of scientific studies. I never did get to any WA mines. My partner went to Lucky Friday, which had a 7,000 ft. shaft... straight down with no stops. The deepest I ever went was 5250 feet at Homestake Gold in SD. The most scared I ever was involved a day in a low-seam coal mine. The entire opening was less than 42 inches.

 

[physiognomy]

Luckily I've never seen the demise of something that caused me serious mental anguish, but I did recently loose the lens cap of a J-12 the first day I got it... It was at the zoo after photographing some penguins... I had just swaped it out with my 135mm & when I went to put it back on the lens cap wasn't there... I had moved a total of 100yds in 10mins, but do you think I could find it? Bugger!

Peter

ps JimG I sympathize... I have had similar (non photographic) experiences and the results still hide in the back of my wardrobe.

 

[JohnM]

When I go out shooting, I actually like to carry an SLR and a rangefinder - the rangefinder went around my neck with a neckstrap and the Canon SLR would have a palm/handstrap.

It was a film SLR - not all that heavy - I could actually use the rangefinder while holding the SLR in the crook of my arm. I'd then let go of the rangefinder - held with a neckstrap - and get a hold of the SLR again.

After years of doing that, one afternoon last spring, I had the SLR to my eye, took a picture and then lowered it and just let it go like I would do to the rangefinder. I instantly knew what I did, but there was no undoing it - SLR crashed to the pavement. Broke the lens, an EF 50/1.4, right off of the camera mount - camera and lens both lost.

 

[clarence]

Forgive me Barnack, I was distracted talking to someone while cleaning a 1936 Elmar that was once my father's and in perfect condition when I noticed I had not removed the dust before I wiped it clean. The cleaning marks were there just like I new they would be. I put the lens away and never used it again.

I believe this is known as an NBC - Non Battle Casualty.

It's one reason why I almost never use anything more than a blower on my lenses.

Clarence