Paint, water, kids with yoyos, and high school running backs are all hazards to equipment and photographers when on assignment.There’s certain angst photographers feel when they are shooting with their own equipment, insured or not. It’s the feeling of knowing that if a camera body dies they’ll have to replace it to continue to work in this field.
One of my most memorable, be it partial, incidents involved a football player in Indiana. I was shooting with a 200mm lens and he got a lot closer a lot faster than I realized. I remember getting up, so apparently I was knocked down. The coach told me later he got it on their highlight reel.
To make matters worse it busted my flash. Let me be more specific, the player hit the monopod and thrusted the flash into my jaw. On top of that, my insurance agent suggested I try to go after the “home town hero” to get money for my equipment. Instead, I just ate the $400.
Other experiences include getting too close to children painting with a wide angle lens (it’s all right, just don’t let it dry.)
Also, my newest piece of equipment is a waterproof camera. Maybe I have trust issues, but I was really nervous submerging something worth more than $100 in water, and later in a pool and then the lagoon.
But it’s all to get the shot. Photojournalists can’t worry about equipment. It will break down eventually because we don’t break out our gear only for vacations and birthdays.
So the next time you see photographer in a koi pond or in torrential rain covering a football game just hope they have insurance or have accepted the fact that they have just ruined their gear to make a great photo/video for you – because they love it.
