[Leica] #2 --- YOUR RE-ACTIONS TO THIS LEICA short story FOR THEBOOK?

[jhnichols at lighttube.net (Jim Nichols)]

;~))

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <tedgrant at shaw.ca>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 2:07 PM
Subject: [Leica] #2 --- YOUR RE-ACTIONS TO THIS LEICA short story FOR 
THEBOOK?


> Only two for today. :-) Your comments appreciated: Good, bad or ugly. 
> Thank you Remember a proper editor will be editing the copy.
> ==========================
> Cold Water, Dry Camera
>
>
>
> Photographers do some dumb things in the pursuit of pictures; quite often
>
> not thinking of the consequences of their actions. One rarely, if ever, 
> considers it might be fatal! It's always, " get the picture!" Or nearly 
> so!
>
>
>
> It was a cold January day in Ottawa. Temperature 20 below zero,
>
> ice crystals in the air over the open water of the fast flowing
>
> river creating hoar frost on trees. It was magical as a photograph!
>
>
>
> I tested the ice a couple of times by jumping up and down, not a very good 
> move in the event you were on a weak spot, splash!  It appeared to be 
> solid enough so I didn't give it another thought, being more intent on the 
> picture possibilities.
>
>
>
> Shooting as I made my way along the ice, I inadvertently moved farther 
> toward the open river for a better angle of the sun and trees.  Suddenly 
> there was a sharp crack and I dropped straight down and found myself 
> standing on the river bottom up to my armpits. Instinctively I reached up 
> to keep the camera dry and reached towards the ice still attached to 
> shore.
>
>
>
> Photographers are concerned about their gear first and body second or it
>
> appears that way.  Standing in the water wondering how the hell I was
>
> going to get out I made my first move.  Pulling my hat off, I put my 
> camera
>
> in it and placed it on the ice in front of me, pushing the bundle as far 
> as
>
> I could towards shore.
>
>
>
> It never fails, there are never other photographers around to photograph 
> you,
>
> if nothing else assisting in your recovery.
>
> With some effort I managed to pull myself onto firmer ice and crawl to
>
> shore pushing my hat & camera ahead of me on the dry ice.
>
>
>
> By the time I reached my car, clothes, camera and I were beginning to
>
> freeze solid.  Shivering uncontrollably I managed to start the car and get 
> the heater on.
>
> Then drove home for a hot shower and dry clothes.
>
>
>
> I was extremely lucky in this case, sometimes getting the picture is the 
> last
>
> thing a photographer ever did.
>
>
>
> The saying, "My last pictures will be my best!" isn't always true.
>
>
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>
>