14 DAY TRIAL // You might know this already or maybe not, but professional DSLRs and lenses are wickedly expensive (especially the lenses). Photographers who are not working for news agencies work long and hard in order to afford stuff like the Nikkor 400mm f/2.8 ED-IF II or the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS.
Photojournalists are luckier since the news agency provides them with equipment and they have the chance to use some of the most coveted lenses and cameras.
But this article is not about purchasing equipment or how to choose these lenses; it's about destroying them. You might think that it's a tip toe through the tulips, but in fact it's a pretty intense experience.
Before you read on, I warn you that in order to achieve the same performance as that of the Reuters team assigned to handle the Tour de France you need a Renault Espace, which I think has become the most efficient photographic equipment destroyer.
Here's an excerpt from the excellent blog entry by Reuters' Mal Langdson. I recommend reading the entire thing; soon, you'll find out that journalism is a pretty difficult - not to mention risky - job.
"Things kind of improved for a few days when the race moved back to France and the crew picked up its coverage rhythm. Brussels photographer Thierry Roge had replaced Christian for the remainder of the tour and took up his duties driving the Renault Espace and covering arrivals. We were doing very well with our pictures coverage and things were looking good . But on July 19, as the race wound its way between Marseille and Montpellier I had been sitting at my desk in Paris communicating live with Ian on Instant Messaging when suddenly he typed "S-t, S-t, we're on fire!". Receiving this kind of communication from anyone you know is bad enough but from one's own 21-year old son is indescribable. I called his cellphone and he picked up. "O god, we're on fire, the whole Renault is going up in flames". I told him to keep calm, forget the gear and move away from the vehicle. Then we lost communications.
What happened, it appears, is that while the vehicle was cruising along at about 60 kph ahead of the pack, awaiting an arrival of disks from the motorcycles, the Renault's turbo caught fire, sending a ball of fire from the front right-hand side along the underside of the vehicle. Within seconds the car was completely engulfed in flames. Thierry Roge, driving, managed to grab his camera bag on the seat beside him and jump out. Ian, seated at our custom made desk in the back, baled out as the car slowed and immediately tried to remove as many personal bags as possible from the back door of the vehicle."
Just look at all those fine lenses (including one Canon f/2.8 IS USM, priced at around $4000) burned beyond recognition. Now that's what I call professional destruction. Thank God nobody got hurt during this unlucky event!
For the record, I have nothing against Renault, but this event surely doesn't look too good for them!