This picture always reminds me of a lesson I learnt the hard way. Awestruck by the gloriously sunlit Bamburgh Castle one evening, I stood with a group of other photographers braving the incoming waves in pursuit of a memorable image. The rock ledges on the beach made great vantage points to plant our tripods on. The waves were washing over my feet, but hey, my boots are waterproof, and after all, it's only water. I fired off a few frames and was enjoying the challenge of catching the swirling patterns in the foam as the waves receded from the beach. Shortly after I exposed this image, the biggest wave of the evening washed over me, submerging me and my tripod knee-high in cold, salty water. I stood rooted to the spot, knowing that if I let go of my camera the whole rig could be washed away. Suddenly a voice behind me shouted "camera bag!" and I turned around, horrified, to see the wave picking up my half-full camera backpack and depositing it into a newly-created tidal pool, where it remained floating briefly before depositing its contents into a watery grave.
Bronica SQAi, 50mm lens, Fuji Velvia 50, 0.6 ND grad.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Pavelin.
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