March 26, 2018
The Shot That Killed My Camera
On a recent trip to Maui, we stopped at Wai’anapanapa State Park for its legendary black sand beach. The blue of the ocean here was richer than I could imagine. I noticed that the waves rolled in quite violently, crashing upon the towering rocks and sending white bursts of sea water high into the air.
I found a high spot on the rocks where the water splashed high enough to photograph but low enough for me to stay dry. I thought it would make a spectacular picture so I readied my camera and waited for the spray to rise before me.
A massive wave came barrelling toward the rocks and smashed into them with such velocity that an incredible volume of water shot upward, towering over my head! My camera at the ready, I quickly snapped a picture, knowing I’d snagged a good one.
The plume immediately plummeted down upon my head, drenching me to the bone and my camera with it. And not just the camera I was using but also another one I had with me in a paper bag (the paper bag didn’t make it). My camera–neither camera in fact–ever worked again.
When I returned home, I was able to recover my pictures, including this stunning shot capturing the savagery of that blast. Sure, I’d like to have a working camera but those can be replaced; the memory of that moment cannot.
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