It’s every photographer’s worst nightmare (well apart from that one where you miss the shot of a lifetime): Dropping your gear. Ice and cameras don’t mix very well but in pursuit of that ever elusive perfect shot we push ourselves to extraordinary lengths, into harms way if needs be to satisfy our craft.
In my case, I pushed myself to get up at the crack of well, midday, out into the frosty January afternoon to get some pictures of the snow.
Despite the supposed grip a good pair of hiking boots was supposed to offer, I could get little purchase on the ice. The pavement was covered in a thick layer and it glistened treacherously. It was no wonder the street was deserted.
I moved as carefully as possible, my cat like reflexes saving me from certain embarrassment. I took as many photos as I could before my fingers began to tingle from the cold seeping its way through my gloves and managed to make it back to my door step in one piece. ‘At last I thought – home free’. Such hubris.
I of course fell.
My camera landed lens first with a dull crack, shards of my lovely B+W MRC filter flying everywhere. I cared not a jot about a potential wrist injury as I struggled to get back on my feet and survey the damage. My beloved 24-70mm f/2.8 lens had suffered, I knew not what kind of damage, but dragging my crestfallen self back inside I surveyed the devastation. The filter had shattered into a myriad of multi-coated shards. Its deformed body fusing itself to the lens thread making removal impossible.
The lens itself appeared to be relatively undamaged. The front element had a few tiny nicks – the filter thread on the lens however was completely gone on one corner.
Thankfully my camera was without a scratch – the lens took the brunt and surprisingly functioned still. I took a few pictures and despite the broken shards of glass only a small amount of ghosting was visible.
Despite the relatively good prognosis I still felt pretty beat up but then recalled that I had camera insurance with Photoguard. A quick call to the insurer and after filling a form and sending photographic evidence (naturally) I was recommended to send my lens and camera in for repair to Fixation in London.
To say I was impressed with my insurer would be putting it mildly. Not only did Fixation turn around my lens within a few days – Photoguard sorted out all payment and even paid for having my camera body checked and cleaned just in case it too was damaged!
Now that’s service.
I’m not a big one for adverts but if you need insurance by all means click on the affiliate link or pick up the phone and give Photoguard a call.
Suffice to say I renewed my insurance!