My Heart in My Mouth....

Went out on to the beach today to get some sunset shots. Set up the tripod camera, filters etc... I was just looking through the viewfinder when I realised that my feet were feeling wet. Looked down and this low freak wave had snuck up on me! The worse part was when I looked behind me and to my right to see my camera bag (containing a 24-70 f2.8, a 70-200 f2.8IS a set of Hi tech filets, a 580EXII flash and a 10 stop B&W ND) surrounded by the same wave!

Thanks to the fantastic bag (TAmrac) and the fact that I had shut the lid none of the kit was even remotely damp. No moisture at all got into the bag....

Next time, I'll put the bag even futher back on the rocks! I've had my warning!!

You lucky dog!

Tape a reminder to the inside of your bag!!

I don't think the image will ever leave me!!

I've used Tamrac bags since forever - they're awesome.

They're pricey - but it looks like yours just paid for itself...

whilst i've not taken my tamrac 'swimming', i've rolled them, dropped them, banged them off turnstiles and a variety of other mishaps (sp. A.B.U.S.E.D.). never damaged a piece of kit or lost anything ( well except for that 8gb cf when i flipped the lid oped after forgetting to zip it)

love them bags, oh and i bought all 3 in the EARLY 80's...

I was at the beach a couple days ago and wore my backpack the whole time unless I was on dry sand. I didn't want to risk my bag getting wet especially when I had other important stuff besides camera equipment in there. It was a little uncomfortable to take pictures with a backpack and camera bag hanging off me, but to me it was worth it to not have anything wet.

I saw another photographer there whose bag got a little wet. Was that you? haha. Oregon coast?

Put your bag down here to set up a tripod on the beach and it won't be wet it will be missing, my cameras and lenses stay on my body at all times either in a bag or round my waist

I wish I was at the Oregon coast, nope I'm in the UK

Strewth - the good thing about Eng-er-land is that there are still plenty of quiet spots...I guess it did cross my mind not to put it on the rocks though as that would have been a long way away...

About 10 x over!!

The problem was that I had arrived a little late and had to work quickly - That meant having the bag on the beach so I could try different lenses and filters etc. Another lesson learned!!

You are lucky - very lucky.

I had a Tamrac Adventure 7 when in Canada a couple of years back. Was caught in a rainshower and within 2 minutes the inside of the bag was under about 1 inch of water which included my lenses! The zip was acting like a sieve i.e. letting the vast majority of the water through! Finding the kit lens literally floating was not a pleasant sight!

Since went to Lowepro and had no such problems even during a very very wet day at Knockhill (a motor racing circuit that is wetter more than it is dry!)

I have heavy duty plastic bags that fit my entire kit including the backpack inside the backpack. My new bag came with a rain shield, but the bag itself kinda sucks. I also (depending on the location) take along bags to put bodies and lenses in along with rubber bands too. My main issue has always been salt water splashs, no real protection for that I fear except those rain jackets to put on the bodies and lenses, I don't really like those tho. I did pick up a few rain jackets to tear apart and use on more than one occasion.

But for the beach issue, stay aware. Not just because of your gear but YOU too. More than one person gets swept away here in NorCAL every year.

That is why I use a shoulder bag (Lowepro Nova 5 AW). I can (and often do) work from it whilst standing in the sea.

Backpacks are a complete nuisance for this kind of usage.

Mike