What's the Worst that's Happened to you whilst taking a shot

[Reinardina]

Hmmm ... Not quite sure I can add my relatively simple stories to this thread; you all have been through such major traumas whilst out shooting!

I use just a simple camera, so no extra lenses etc and only take a tripod along when I know beforehand I'll need one. I'm not burdened down like some of you, which seems to be part of the problem in some cases.

My major problem seems to be getting up from a crouching position; don't know if this is age related, carelessness or sheer stupidity. Could be all of that, I suppose.

Anyway, a couple of years ago I crouched to take a shot of some flowers and when I tried to get up, I realised the ground was sloping away from me. Or rather, I didn't ealise it, lost my balance and put my hand down to steady myself, as you do. No one was watching thank goodness, and I continued shooting. Till I couldn't press the shutter anymore and realised I couldn't do anything at all with my right hand. I ended up in casualty, and subsequently plaster, with a cracked scaphoid bone. Didn't know I had such a thing!

The second time crouching caught me out, was only a couple of days ago, when I was visiting the Boat Show in Southampton. The weather was foul; grey and very windy. I crouched at the end of one of the smaller pontoons in order to catch my shot. When I tried to get up, the weather tripped me up. The pontoon was wet and slippery because of the water that constantly splashed over it and just as I was halfway up, the pontoon took a dive and I crashed down. No major physical damage this time, just a little cut on my hand, but I totally lost face as there were plenty of (very helpful) people about!
I fled the scene as fast as my, still slightly wobbly, legs could carry me!

[F11]

Yes Reinardina, I too have the same problems with the crouching thing although I haven't done any damage yet. My problem is the effort of getting up once I'm down the old legs do ache now. You are totally right in that the equipment we all lug about does hinder - but its one of those things if you don't take it with you your bound to need it. Can't believe you ended up in casaulty with the cracked bone - this photograpy business should have a health warning that goes with it -" shoot at your own peril". I have another incident which happened to me in Cyprus a year or two ago which really left me frightened but I'll post that later.

[silversnapper1]

Pretty much the same as you F11. Out on a country walk near our home, I found a new waterfall in the middle of nowhere. It was partly dried up so I went to get a lower angle. Stepped of the rock into the waterfall and, like you, it was the damp moss that got me. Wasn't laid up in bed but I limped home quite bruised and a little bloodied and have only been there once again. I didn't try the same trick that time.

Steve.

[amk1977]

I've only been into photography proper since March this year when my Dad bought me a new Nikon D90 with 18-105mm kit lens. So far the worst thing that has happened to me, occurred a couple of weeks ago when I was taking photographs of our English bull terrier puppy on the local green.

As I moved from being in a crouched position to stand up, my foot caught on a root that was sticking out of the ground. I began to stumble camera first down the steps behind me. I somehow managed to rotate my body and crashed backwards through the undergrowth at the side of the steps, before hitting a tree with my shoulder and regained my footing.

I have 3 young nephews aged 3,4 and 5 respectively and I have hundreds and hundreds of pictures of them. When I was growing up (physically - I don't think I'll ever grow up mentally lol) there wasn't a huge amount of photographs of myself and my 6 siblings, so I make a point of snapping photos of the little ones, so that they have something (hopefully half decent) to show to their children.

I too feel uncomfortable about taking photographs of them in the local park/playground if there are other children around. The look I got off of one mother when she saw me pull my camera out, was so filthy, you'd have thought I'd just crapped in her handbag. She proceeded to pick her kid up and walk off. I was kind of surprised by her actions and it really annoyed me because I almost felt like I was doing something wrong in photographing my nephews.

I just told myself that she probably had to go and cash her giro before the post office closed, get her cigarettes and booze, before settling infront of the tv to watch her relatives on the Jeremy Kyle Show.

[Markulous]

Aside from falling/slipping over a few times, my worst near disaster was at a point-to-point when I crouched down behind a wall next to a jump. Horses came and as they passed I raised myself slightly. Unknown to me was the riderless horse that decided to jump my wall and not the fence! And yes, I got the shot of it's tail as it near decapitated me!

[karenoliver]

I understand what your'e saying amk. If you have a camera these days you are either a Paedophile or terrorist! I decided a long time ago to try and develop a thick skin and just ignore anyone else when out photographing. It took ages but I am more confident now. You just need to ignore people who give you funny looks, in fact just don't make eye-contact with them at all! As long as you know what you are doing and why it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Karen