Lesson Learned: Flash Stand On The Sand

Yesterday we went down to Point Lobos, an amazing reserve just south of Carmel, and one of my favorite places to be (Ansel Adams and Edward Weston would also say the same) and I decided to shoot some portraits of our nephews that are visiting from Utah. I had my flash on a stand just right of the camera, and I thought it was fine standing there on a sand while I was just minding my own photo business. Well, few minutes later as I was composing a shot the stand with a flash went flying down with flash head hitting the ocean wave. As I stood there thinking, "alright, so what will happen next," my thoughts were almost instantly interrupted with a good dose of electricity that started to spread itself from the camera into my hands and all over. I had no idea how to react and I had no time to think about it, so I just threw the camera away from me. Few seconds later I was able to gather it all up and get it disconnected without getting hurt even more. Fortunately for me, camera and the lens were not harmed, but the flash no longer works. Thanks goodness it's just a cheap $75 Sunpak 383 and not a $320 SB-800 I was thinking of acquiring the other day. One more benefit of keeping keeping your gear cheap.

The Lesson: do not leave a flash stand and a flash unit unattended when it's standing on a sand with possibility of falling into the ocean or it may cost you some health.