The Final Photograph by abirkill

The Final Photograph

Last Saturday, with some wispy clouds in the evening sky promising a good sunset, I headed out along the Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver to photograph the Siwash Rock. This would be the last photograph my 5D Mark III took.

Shortly after taking this photograph, I moved my tripod slightly to improve the composition of the photo. While I normally take extra care to ensure my tripod is stable on uneven surfaces, on this occasion I made an error in judgement. My attempt to grab the camera failed and I watched in horror and disbelief as my tripod, camera and 16-35mm f/2.8 lens toppled gracefully over, ending up in the water.

Upon removing the gear from the water, it was immediately clear that, unsurprisingly, all was not well. Canon do a pretty good job of weatherproofing their high-end gear, but total immersion in any liquid, let alone seawater, is certainly not something many DSLRs will survive. Both displays on the camera were blank, and it was making an unpleasant and uncharacteristic grinding noise.

I immediately removed the battery from the camera and dried the camera and lens off as well as I could in the circumstances (not very). With a walk home of almost an hour, it was a long time before I was able to properly clean and dry the camera and lens.

Remarkably, when removing the lens from the camera, the mirror box and sensor were completely dry, but the camera showed plenty of other signs of water ingress. All I could do was dry it externally as well as possible, and then put it in a warm room to dry out internally as much as possible.

The only saving grace to what was a pretty miserable day was that I had signed up for business property cover as an extension to my home insurance when I bought the camera, with the express intention of covering loss or damage to my camera equipment. Still, I didn't get much sleep the next couple of nights, wondering whether on Monday they would find some way to deny coverage.

Thankfully, the initial call on Monday seemed reassuring, and as requested, I sent the camera and lens off to Canon Canada for a repair estimate. The package arrived with them on Wednesday, and within a couple of hours of being delivered I had confirmation of what I already knew -- the camera was beyond economical repair.

I let the insurance company know the outcome and provided them with the requested documentation, and incredibly, they said that they would have a cheque ready by Friday, and that I could pick it up from their office in downtown Vancouver. Today, I collected the cheque, paid it into my bank, and after shopping around the local camera shops for one who would match Canon's direct replacement cost, purchased a new 5D Mark III.

The lens is still with Canon Canada, who are currently determining whether or not it can be repaired, but I am now once again the owner of a functioning DSLR. I have missed a couple of good sunsets, one aurora storm, and am out of pocket by my $250 deductible, but all in all, I'm extremely relieved that the outcome was no worse.

Since I have managed to get the camera replaced, I feel just about able to post this shot, which I feared might be the last I took for some time. As I didn't get chance to complete the shoot, the composition and exposure isn't quite as I would hope for, but hey, it was a nice sunset.
My goodness what a horror story - glad its all sorted now and you're back up and running - fav for me
July 13th, 2013  
What a story! Glad you were able to get it replaced. Buying a new camera would have been painful. It is still a gorgeous shot though!
July 13th, 2013  
You deserve a medal for persevering! I fell off a. Seawater ladder and the expensive camera was rendered useless! That was about 40 years ago! I am SO careful with my camera even though it is not an expensive one! Mind you, I would not be balanced out here on Vancouver rocks! This photo deserves a fav for quality as well as its future! Fav
July 13th, 2013  
such a powerful image love it
July 13th, 2013  
Gorgeous shot! so glad that you were able to get a new camera ...... fav :D
July 13th, 2013  
Fav ... not only for the beautiful image but for the story. So glad the insurance company were forthcoming with payment.
July 13th, 2013  
So glad there was a positive outcome to this tale. I'm taking my camera and new and never used before tripod out to the beach today so I will take extra care now! It is a wonderful shot. Fav from me.
July 13th, 2013  
heart breaking story! i feel your pain, i am glad you made out not too bad in the end :D new camera for the win
July 13th, 2013  
blimey, just goes to show the risks we sometimes take...glad the insurance will cover it. As for the shot....has to be a FAV
July 13th, 2013  
A horror story I can relate to having only recently dropped mine. I had no insurance at the time and was out of warranty, thankfully my camera was repairable at a cost lest than your deductable costs [although my camera was not worth much more than your deductable costs anyway :)] ... glad there is a happy/ish outcome to your story.

Love the colours
July 13th, 2013  
Stunning pic and it is a good thing you had that insurance!
July 13th, 2013  
Absolutely stunning, love the colors.
July 13th, 2013  
Pea
OMG what a nightmare. Glad you are getting it sorted out. Fantastic photo though and a fav!
July 13th, 2013  
Hi Alexis, Tremendous shot, The time and effort you have gone to for this shot and the result is a FAV from me Excellent!
July 13th, 2013  
stunning!
July 13th, 2013  
Kev
Whoa - really unlucky, Alexis, but at least the insurance has come in. A salutory lesson to us all wrt insurance cover.
Wonderful shot, though. Fab sky, the Rock and some sharp foreground. Perfection. Fav of course.
July 13th, 2013  
This such a great shot and WOW what a story with it! Absolutely a FAV!
July 13th, 2013  
Great shot as always but what a story, you must have been so stressed out. So glad you got a camera replacement and that the insurance paid up, I can just imagine the sleepless nights. Hope the lens gets fixed too
July 13th, 2013  
What a stunning photo and a fav from me. The story was really stressful to read so I can only imagine how you felt. I guess it pays to insure, even if we sometimes resent paying the premiums. Fingers crossed for the lens.
July 13th, 2013  
Fab shot
July 13th, 2013  
oh wow, glad your insurance coverage came through. phew. boy, and accident like that can happen in the blink of an eye.
you got a really great picture here as your final with that camera:) happy snapping with your new 5D Mark III:)
July 13th, 2013  
Not a bad farewell shot from your camera, I wonder how many of this group have their cameras insured ??
July 13th, 2013  
That would be so disheartening. I am happy you had insurance and they came through. Thank you so much for helping me to TT this week.
July 13th, 2013  
Well, I think your shot is gorgeous and it's good you were able to download it from the chip. What an awful story about your camera but I'm glad it all ended well and you were able to replace it. Your shots are all so beautiful. This one is a Fav for me!
July 13th, 2013  
Wow! First great shot. Second happy you got a new Mark III such an awesome camera. Yeah my Mark II does great in rain but total immersion in sea water kiss of death. Speaking of horror stories, the other day my HP computer crashed and nothing works to restore it. Horror is I've not backed up past 6 months of photos on USB like I usually do. Gonna see if perhaps way to get to them.
July 13th, 2013  
OmiGoshhhh----shockingly sad but happy u have insurance....Life Rule:---don't buy very very expensive toys..hA!!.:) and am faving this superb shot.
July 13th, 2013  
Another lovely shot. Lol at your tags. Mine dropped out of the back of the car when I'd only had it a week. Husbands fault he'd moved it after I put it in there. No serious damage, just a couple of scuffs, hence he is still alive lol.
July 13th, 2013  
OMG! I can well imagine that sinking feeling as it fell over (having watched at least a couple of lenses & my X100 bounce off concrete!).
Glad you got a new one so quickly!
July 13th, 2013  
Stunning sunset! Not great news that your camera took a swim, thank goodness for your insurance though!
July 13th, 2013  
Incredibly beautiful shot! So sorry about your camera mishap! So glad you had insurance!
July 13th, 2013  
everything about this is gorgeous. Fav
July 13th, 2013  
Beautiful! So glad you were able to replace your camera. Good luck with the lens.
July 13th, 2013  
If I weren't going to fav this for a beautiful shot, I would be faving it for suffering and pain! So glad you have a camera back in hand and hopefully your lens soon
July 13th, 2013  
This is a beautiful shot!!! I'm sorry about your camera... Very happy for you that you could get it replaced so easily!!! Insurance companies can be very tiring to deal with on occasions!!!
July 13th, 2013  
Grand farewell shot to the seawater washed canon. So glad the insurance covered the damage, which isn't understood when it comes to insurence companies, as we all know.
July 13th, 2013  
Oh wow! What a story! TG your insurance company came through!
July 13th, 2013  
what a story, but end good all good, love to see your next photos, hope your lens will recouver soon.
July 13th, 2013  
Caz
Phew, I'm so glad that you were able to even retrieve your camera in the first place ! As I was reading, I was imagining it sinking into deep water ! Glad your insurance came through for you :) Fav for this wonderful shot !
July 14th, 2013  
Still gorgeous. I am glad things will work out. A story for us all to hear!
July 14th, 2013  
Oh my! Just reading that made me feel ill. I can't imagine how you felt. This is a fine shot though.
July 14th, 2013  
arrr i could just visualize the camera falling, i would be so devastated if it happened to me. good work on the business cover :) hope the lens comes home soon too. ooh awesome shot btw
July 14th, 2013  
Stunning shot, colours are amazing, but what a horror story, glad you could replace your camera.
July 14th, 2013  
This is gorgeous. What a camera saga, with a great outcome.
July 14th, 2013  
Several lessons for us all here. Fabulous shot as usual.
July 15th, 2013  
fabulous shot and I am so glad you were able to get the insurance to cover the camera body at least...fingers crossed the rest can be repaired
July 15th, 2013  
Spectacular!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FAV FAV FAV!!! (btw..thank you for the fav's)
July 15th, 2013  
So sorry about the camera. Glad it's going to work out though.

Such a beautiful shot.
July 16th, 2013  
Wow, what a story. I'm glad your getting your gear replaced. Beautiful image!
July 16th, 2013  
Fav - for the loveliness and the heartache/empathy
July 16th, 2013  
Just stunning and wow.....what a story, my heart sank just reading it. fave
July 17th, 2013  
That is a pretty excellent outcome, all things considered!!!

This is a gorgeous photo - I love the iridescent glow of the water as it reflects the sunset.
July 17th, 2013  
I think it's awesome! So glad you were able to get another camera so quickly.
July 18th, 2013  
This is such a sad story even though you've been able to replace the camera. What of the photos on the memory card? I hope you were able to recover them all. And thank you so much for your faves on my album. I so appreciate your encouragement!
July 19th, 2013  
This is on TT - well done - double success although sorry about your camera :-(
July 19th, 2013  
I'm not surprised to see this on this week's TT (congrats!!!) It's a wonderful photo, and I'm so glad things will work out.
July 19th, 2013  
I am so sorry to read about that tragic event. I would freak out and my camera is not even as nice as yours was. You were smart and lucky to get the insurance that would cover it. I wonder if I need to do that? Maybe not worth it for my stuff, but I do have some nice lens....This photo was a great way for the camera to say goodbye. gorgeous. congrats on the TT (that is how I found it). Fav!
July 19th, 2013  
Congrats !!:)
July 19th, 2013  
Excellent shot and great back story, very glad your insurance honored replacement!
July 19th, 2013  
Congrats on TT! Love the shot! And that is some story, glad it all worked out in the end. Your title baffled me, but now I see.
July 19th, 2013  
Two in TT ... some consolation for the true cost of this shot :)
July 19th, 2013  
Congrats on the TT :)
July 20th, 2013  
Came to say congrats on TT and then read your narrative! How soul destroying, goodness what an awful few days. Good to know you have another camera and this shot is just awesome.
July 20th, 2013  
What a terrifying and heartbreaking story. I have the same camera and I love it. I am glad you have a happy ending. And, the photo it took is lovely.
July 21st, 2013  
What a harrowing experience. Happy to see insurance came through for you. Hope the lens similarly.
July 21st, 2013  
Gorgeous shot from such an unfortunate experience. When I return home, I am going to add my camera equipment to my insurance policy.
July 21st, 2013  
Gorgeous photo, and what a saga! Glad all went will with the insurance.
July 21st, 2013  
What a great story Alexis and a great, great photo. Congratulations.
July 21st, 2013  
@michaelelliott Oh no!!! Data recovery can be so expensive, but six months of your photos is worth a lot

Alex, this is a stunning photo as always and I'm so happy you had the foresight to get that insurance (and that the insurer honored its contract). I do insurance coverage litigation for a living and so I know how difficult things can be!
July 21st, 2013  
amazing "final" shot....and story. I gasped in horror to myself as i was just reading about it! lol - - how smart of you to get homeowners insurance! congrats! - - beautiful shot.....love that you can see some detail on the rocks in the foreground
July 26th, 2013  
Amazing shot and very relieved your camera is ok. A Fav for me.
July 27th, 2013  
my goodness, can i tell you, i was actually holding my breath reading your narrative? yes, like i was reading some thriller novel! and can i tell you that this shot is stunningly beautiful? glad everything turned out well for you. there is a lesson to be learned from this: must get insurance for big items like cameras. and one day, i would have to try that black card technique to get something beautiful like this one. i seldom comment on your photos, but i do view them all the time as they are quite inspiring (although difficult for me to do, some of them). thank you, alexis.
July 28th, 2013  
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