The Ocean Ate Jake’s Camera
Donation protected
The short story is that a rogue wave took out my Nikon D500 during a recent trip to Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, OR. It was a $3,000 accident including camera body, battery grip, remote trigger, and lens.
My three youngest watched me plunge headlong into the ocean in the dark in a fruitless rescue attempt… only to later witness their old man drag a drowned camera out of the surf in despair. If one of them ever writes a book about their childhood I’m betting this event gets an entire chapter. For the longer story you can read all the dramatic / ridiculous / unfortunate details surrounding the loss in my blog post that I’ve linked here .
About Me
I am a working professional during normal business hours. My career helps me to support my family, including five incredible children (two of whom are already in college). When I’m not working, photography is my outlet and my passion. I have been lucky enough over the past several years to fund most of my adventures and equipment upgrades through my photography. Portraits, weddings, workshops, and print sales have taken me to many beautiful locations around the world.
I chase sunsets and sunrises around Portland all the time. I photograph my kids’ volleyball and soccer games. I photograph local community and church events. I photograph weddings, funerals, and countless other events. Realizing that my camera was irreparably damaged, good now only as a paper weight or door stop, has been quite painful. I’m back to using my original DSLR camera, a Nikon D90 that I purchased in 2008... and it just isn’t a viable option.
Unfortunately, I do not have the means right now to replace my camera kit out of pocket and I am heading into my prime photography workshop season.
I’ve never considered a GoFundMe campaign before, but several friends have suggested I try it now. So here I am. I’m asking for your help, if you’re able.
In a perfect world I could sell enough prints in a couple of weeks to easily fund a new camera… but that’s a long shot.
If you are willing to help me replace my camera kit I would really appreciate anything you are able to donate.
For Donors
If you donate:
$25 I’ll send you
a hi-res image file you may print once and/or use for a wallpaper
$50 I’ll send you
an 11X14 print (US shipments only)
$100 I’ll send you
one of my remaining 2019 calendars (US shipments only)
$400 I’ll send you
a 36X24 premium wrap canvas of your choice (US shipments only)
$500 I’ll send you
a 48X32 premium wrap canvas of your choice (US shipments only)
Or... if you prefer just to buy a big canvas print of nearly any of the photos on my Instagram account directly or sign up for one of my upcoming workshops that would also help tremendously. Most of my Instagram images are cropped for that platform, and can be printed in a traditional landscape format. Just direct message or email me with the image you’re interested in and I’ll send you a premium canvas wrap ready to hang on your wall (48X32 / $400 or 36X24 /
$300).
FAQ
Q: What will the money really be used for?
A: A new D500 or a Nikon Z6 of similar retail value, an adequate wide angle lens, a battery grip, an L-bracket if necessary, material and shipping costs for prints, canvases, and calendars provided to donors.
Q: Shouldn't you have had insurance for this, for crying out loud?!
A: Yes ♂️ Apparently I'm covered for theft... Will be getting real business coverage going forward.
Q: Did you really ruin your camera or are you lying?
A: Yes I did. And I'm so embarrassed to admit it. Ruined by a sneaker wave on a big flat beach while I ran around like a moron. ♂️
Last Shots
Here’s the last photo I was able to pull from my beloved D500. Note that the waves are still pretty far from the camera here... Within 30 seconds of this shot that changed dramatically...
A couple I met and photographed upon arriving too late for sunset. I probably do this too frequently... meet new people, photograph them, send them photos for their Instagram, Facebook, or whatever.
A happy little wave receding safely from my tripod earlier in the evening.
Campfires on the beach. Nobody sitting by a fire saw my camera drown in the night. But my kids sure did! Yay for life experiences!
My three youngest watched me plunge headlong into the ocean in the dark in a fruitless rescue attempt… only to later witness their old man drag a drowned camera out of the surf in despair. If one of them ever writes a book about their childhood I’m betting this event gets an entire chapter. For the longer story you can read all the dramatic / ridiculous / unfortunate details surrounding the loss in my blog post that I’ve linked here .
About Me
I am a working professional during normal business hours. My career helps me to support my family, including five incredible children (two of whom are already in college). When I’m not working, photography is my outlet and my passion. I have been lucky enough over the past several years to fund most of my adventures and equipment upgrades through my photography. Portraits, weddings, workshops, and print sales have taken me to many beautiful locations around the world.
I chase sunsets and sunrises around Portland all the time. I photograph my kids’ volleyball and soccer games. I photograph local community and church events. I photograph weddings, funerals, and countless other events. Realizing that my camera was irreparably damaged, good now only as a paper weight or door stop, has been quite painful. I’m back to using my original DSLR camera, a Nikon D90 that I purchased in 2008... and it just isn’t a viable option.
Unfortunately, I do not have the means right now to replace my camera kit out of pocket and I am heading into my prime photography workshop season.
I’ve never considered a GoFundMe campaign before, but several friends have suggested I try it now. So here I am. I’m asking for your help, if you’re able.
In a perfect world I could sell enough prints in a couple of weeks to easily fund a new camera… but that’s a long shot.
If you are willing to help me replace my camera kit I would really appreciate anything you are able to donate.
For Donors
If you donate:
$25 I’ll send you
a hi-res image file you may print once and/or use for a wallpaper
$50 I’ll send you
an 11X14 print (US shipments only)
$100 I’ll send you
one of my remaining 2019 calendars (US shipments only)
$400 I’ll send you
a 36X24 premium wrap canvas of your choice (US shipments only)
$500 I’ll send you
a 48X32 premium wrap canvas of your choice (US shipments only)
Or... if you prefer just to buy a big canvas print of nearly any of the photos on my Instagram account directly or sign up for one of my upcoming workshops that would also help tremendously. Most of my Instagram images are cropped for that platform, and can be printed in a traditional landscape format. Just direct message or email me with the image you’re interested in and I’ll send you a premium canvas wrap ready to hang on your wall (48X32 / $400 or 36X24 /
$300).
FAQ
Q: What will the money really be used for?
A: A new D500 or a Nikon Z6 of similar retail value, an adequate wide angle lens, a battery grip, an L-bracket if necessary, material and shipping costs for prints, canvases, and calendars provided to donors.
Q: Shouldn't you have had insurance for this, for crying out loud?!
A: Yes ♂️ Apparently I'm covered for theft... Will be getting real business coverage going forward.
Q: Did you really ruin your camera or are you lying?
A: Yes I did. And I'm so embarrassed to admit it. Ruined by a sneaker wave on a big flat beach while I ran around like a moron. ♂️
Last Shots
Here’s the last photo I was able to pull from my beloved D500. Note that the waves are still pretty far from the camera here... Within 30 seconds of this shot that changed dramatically... A couple I met and photographed upon arriving too late for sunset. I probably do this too frequently... meet new people, photograph them, send them photos for their Instagram, Facebook, or whatever.A happy little wave receding safely from my tripod earlier in the evening.Campfires on the beach. Nobody sitting by a fire saw my camera drown in the night. But my kids sure did! Yay for life experiences!Organizer
Jake Egbert
Organizer
Happy Valley, OR