My tripod almost took a dive off a cliff at Cherry Springs last month

I was out at Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania trying to get a clean shot of the Milky Way around 2 AM. Set my tripod up on this rocky spot near the edge and thought it was solid. A gust of wind came out of nowhere and the whole thing started wobbling toward the drop. I dove and caught it right before it went over, but my camera bag slid down about 15 feet. Now I always put a weight on the center hook even on flat ground. Has anyone else had a close call like that with their gear?

2 comments

2 Comments

tara3451d ago

Three years ago I had a tripod leg slip on loose gravel at the Grand Canyon right at sunset. Saved the camera but my phone went skittering down about 50 feet before getting wedged between two rocks. Funny how you learn to trust those little center hooks real quick after that, even if it means looking like a dork with a water bottle hanging off your rig.

james_butler1d ago

Isn't it wild how one near-disaster can make you rethink everything you thought you knew about something simple? I swear that's how half my life lessons come to me, right before something expensive hits the ground. Keeps things interesting I guess, just wish it didn't cost so much in camera gear.