Our
Wake Tech digital photo class is going to be a sideshow at the NC
State fair. It always happens.
Take
a dozen beautiful and smart people, cameras in hand and tripods in
tow and it is a scene. That is the case even before the tuna and
pineapple cans come out.
People
will wonder if this is the papparazzi that knows something they
don't. Some will stop and look at what is the main subject.
Others
will just remain bewildered as they are over fried Coke, roasted corn
and the sow that had given birth to a dozen or more pink little
piggies. They'll look and think that we are just a club or cult, but
certainly not “normal”.
We
are used to it. It's hard not to go public when you're trying to get
a photo image of the “feel” of the fair.
Monday's
class was busy and covered multiple and timed exposures and even
writing with light onto media.
Then,
too soon, class was over and I packed my little rolling cart.
I
approached the exit, managed to get the door open despite my burden
and stepped outside.
Just
then another sense kicked into gear. I wondered just who would burn a
tire and why. I didn't see a fire and the smell turned from rubber to
electronics.
THEN,
I felt sharp pain in my right thigh and saw a jet of flame push
through my twice-worn slacks, a rare pair – not black. I liked
those pants.
I
was the source of the fire.
During
the class I had taken my WT ID badge off and it made its way to the
coin and key slot in the pockets – very handy and cool, normally.
Now
though, there were 2 bright pennies making contact with a very
healthy power cord attached to a 12 volt battery pack I forgot I was
wearing.
Volts
don't hurt, amps do and I was just ground enough to juice the amps,
burn the cable and ruin the new pants after doing a number of my
thumb and index finger – the chain, pennies and battery were HOT.
I
got a personal charge from the discharge and won't repeat that
trip-saving action.
Rarely
do I make an ALWAYS or NEVER rule. In this case I can quickly say
that if you are putting conductive material in your pocket, don't
place a hot power supply on top of it.
I
am not smarter now, though it does smart and I have 3 blisters from
the chain on my thumb, but I am a tiny bit wiser. And I will miss
those pants.
©
tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
