09/08/2026
D R O W N I N G… somebody throw me a line.
The heat was overwhelming today, and the tropical sky was setting up for one last finale as Tropical Storm Marie began dissipating and moving into colder waters. So I rushed down to Oceanside Harbor to capture that last burn.
The sky started to glow. Camera on the tripod. Shoes off. I set up low at the water’s edge to catch that golden reflection off the ever-so-thin layer of water as the tide skimmed back into the ocean.
Then something distracted me.
I looked behind me and to the left. For just a few seconds, I turned my head.
BIG MISTAKE.
A two-foot wave rushed in with the tide and SWALLOWED my brand-new $8,000 Canon R5 Mark II + lens!
I grabbed the tripod and yanked the camera out of the ocean as fast as I could, but not fast enough. Rushed to my camera bag. Dried everything off. Blew off the salt water. Cleaned the lens. Meanwhile, the camera was firing away on its own as the salt water connected the circuit at the trigger connection.
I disconnected the trigger, rushed over toward the lifeguard, and took one last photo.
UGH!!!
Never turn your back on the ocean! I should know better. I’m a surfer! The ocean is my playground.
Thankfully, I purchased insurance from Canon, and tomorrow my gear goes in for emergency surgery.
But hey…
I GOT THE SHOTS!
(Before, during and after.)😎
