Subject: AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!
General
posted by SteveKeeling on Monday, November 21st 2011 @ 4:45 PM
Major disaster! I got an emergency call on Saturday morning to ask if I could cover a wedding that a friend had been booked for.
I arrived with just 10 mins to spare before the ceremony. Got out the gear: camera, tripod, flash and a borrowed 16-35 L 2.8.
Slung my rig over the shoulder and got going up some steep steps. Made it to the top - out of breath - need to get fitter. Then disaster! The camera weight pulled the thread out of the camera strap plate. The whole rig fell 5 ft to the road. The flash dissolved into a pile of bits and the camera bounced on the road. I gathered up everything. Checked to see if I had any chance of using the camera just as the bride started down the isle. Thank goodness the camera was at least functioning. Light very difficult with setting sun right behingd the bridal party - get the shot - just get the shot was in my mind. I got the shot and made it through the service with at least a few reasonable shots on the card.
Serious depression now replacing adrenalin charged shock. My beloved 550EX in bits - the hot shoe plate on the camera torn out of its setting and broken in two and deep scratches to the camera body and lens hood.
Put the flash back together - try it out - it seems to work. The foot is broken but I can replave that part cheaply. The hot shoe is replacable. The scuffing has come out with some wet and dry rubbing and Brasso polish on the hood. The lens and camera seem to be OK.
Worst of all is that this was a love job to help someone out - not even a paid gig. Also not insured. But it look as though I got away with it - I can tell you that that Canon gear is built mighty tough.
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