I’ve been experimenting with slow shutter speeds this week. The results haven’t always worked, but I think I’m improving.
Yesterday was wet and dull, but as the sun went down, the clouds parted enough for me to take this photo:
However, I thought I could get a better shot, and returned to the same spot at dawn this morning.
For the record: I wish I’d stayed in bed.
I won’t go into details, except to say that I don’t hold a grudge against the rogue wave that caught me and my camera by surprise.
I’ll also say that it would have been an amazing photo.
I was rather wet and sandy when I returned home, not to mention upset. My husband tried to make me feel better by telling me that at least the camera would be covered by insurance, not like the last time I cost us a lot of money.
He was referring to the time all six of us were booked on a flight from London to Rome and I insisted we take the train to Gatwick Airport instead of wasting money on a cab. Due to a series of mishaps (which weren’t all my fault), we missed our flight.
Looking on the bright side, I believe bad experiences are a learning opportunity. That day at Gatwick Airport, I learnt that six new plane tickets are more expensive than a taxi fare. And this morning I learnt:
1. Cameras don’t like being dunked in salt water, even briefly.
2. Trying to get closer isn’t always worth it.
In honour of my camera, here’s the last photo it ever took:
RIP Camera
This week seems to have been a week for mishaps: Monique discovered she’s not allergic to bee stings when she was stung by a bee looking for pollen in a strange place … a sock in her clean washing. After the initial sting, she was fine and, like me and the wave, she bears no hard feelings towards her little friends who pollinate her veggie patch.
In this week’s photo, she was able to get gloriously close to a passionfruit flower and a bee. She tried for an action shot, but in the end, this one of a fat little bee on an exotic flower won her over.
About Midweek Moment
Each week, Monique Mulligan and I share our favourite photos on our websites in a ‘Midweek Moment’. We hope you enjoy, and if you’d like to see more, click here.
Love the photo. Good luck with insurance claim, get help with wording & dont give up.
Thanks, Maureen. I won’t give up—I think I’ll keep away from water from here on, though! x
Louise, how sad. Your beautiful new camera. I’ve been loving your photos and your experimentation. I hope it does not take too long to get a replacement.
I know, Maureen, and I felt sick when I came back home this morning. I’ll get a replacement very soon, hopefully. x
I am so sorry about your camera. But, you must get a replacement and keep going with this side of your creative self.
I will, Monique. I’m addicted now! And I’d miss our MM’s! x
Great photo – sorry about the wave… loved the bee, not the sting but all in all a very successful post! 🙂
Thanks, Frances! It felt a bit strange writing this story to go with our MM, but this is the story attached to the photo. (And they emailed me to say it was irreparable while I was writing it!)
Beautiful photos, Louise. Cameras are, after all, another tool, and I’m sure your replacement will serve you well. I enjoyed this sad story.
Thank you, Christina. A camera is only a ‘thing’, and not a person or a limb. And it’s a tool, as you say. I recently read an article in which a photographer wrote that a camera is a tool, not an ornament. He encouraged people to use their cameras—get them scratched, put them close to water. He wrote something like, ‘A bit of salt spray won’t hurt it’. Unfortunately, I think I still had that article in my head this morning, and mine got a bit more than just the spray!
Beautiful images. Love the sunset, Louise. Grrr to the rogue wave.
Thank you, Margaret! I’ve been ‘got’ by rogue waves so many times you’d think I’d have learnt by now …
I don’t always comment, but en joy your remarks and photos. Sorry about the camera, though. Hugs
Thanks, Betty. I’m glad you’re enjoying these little snippets. They’re meant to be a quick snapshot from our week to give people pleasure. We don’t mind that you don’t comment. I hope you’re much better now. xx