Sunrise at Sweetwaters

I entered this photograph I shot in Africa in The Great Outdoors Photo Contest, sponsored by PDN Magazine. I’d really appreciate your voting for it in the People’s Choice category. To vote, just click on this link and it will take you to my photo where you can vote. Follow all the directions they give you. Thanks…

But, there is also a very interesting story on how I took this photo. I was setting up to take this sunrise shot in Kenya on the 5th or 6th day of our 21 day safari. In the darkness of the morning, while trying to attach my camera to my tripod, I dropped the camera. I looked down and there was my Canon 70 – 200mm f4L IS zoom lens broken into two sections. My heart sank as I knew that we still had over two weeks left of the safari.

I picked up the camera and lens and fitted the two sections of the lens together. I looked into the viewfinder of my Canon 40D DSLR and everything looked Ok. I was racing against time to catch the sunrise. So, holding the two sections of the lens together with one hand, I focused the lens and then pressed the shutter with the other and took this photo. It’s hard to believe how well it turned out. I was blown away. But, this incredible story doesn’t end there…

I taped the two sections of the lens together with adhesive tape and continued to shoot with it all day. That evening, at the lodge’s dining hall, I met another Pediatrician (not in our travel group) who was also carrying a Canon camera. I told him what happened to me that morning and how worried I was about how well the lens would perform on the rest of our trip. Incredibly, he offered to loan me an “extra” lens his son had been using, as they were nearly done with their trip. The lens was a Sigma 150 – 500 mm lens. I could not believe it. That lens made the rest of the trip an even greater photographic experience. I was overwhelmed with his generosity. I guess I was meant to meet him. There are good people out there in the world offering to help when things are looking bleak. Thanks Ramy.