Keep Calm and Carry (Hike) On

Normally you would see a hiking blog with lots and lots and lots of photos from my journey. I might wax poetically about what I had seen on the trails or write a line of prose. Two and a half weeks ago a one of my Sony alpha cameras stopped functioning… no extended warranty.  I have two cameras so I felt blessed as many have none and in this economy one is way better than none. Three nights ago the unthinkable occurred my only camera which was a replacement from a failed camera abruptly died stopping mid photo.  Light then sudden darkness. I switched batteries, memory cards, lenses and nothing. Spent 2 hours on the phone with Sony arguing this camera was a replacement as part of an extended warranty and they needed to accept it for free repair. Yesterday a label arrived and I shipped it back. However the comment from the dispatcher has left a small cloud over my head. “If the repair team sees signs you abused the camera they will charge for the repair… but we’ll call you with the price first.”

I had a nearly 10 year old cybershot that I gave to my husband and he has kindly loaned it back. I used it to photograph my camera and the packaging so Sony can’t say the camera was “abused”.  I am always meticulous in the care of my cameras, it still looks out of the box new!

So I wait… I have to my surprise (my Husbands too) been extremely calm. Yesterday I created my own version of the “Keep Calm” Poster… the original “Keep Calm” was a British WWII Poster.  Therapy for the swirling chaos of my soul… I may seem calm but the truth is my new cameras had become an extension of my spiritually self.  I had purchased them with money my Mother left me when she passed away so they had become a connection to her as well.  It is the sense of separation from my art that deeply pierces the tender places in my Heart.  Yes, I am trying to maintain my Mother’s very British stiff upper lip… so I “Keep Calm and Carry On”.

As I stared at my design I realized the trail photo (my favorite) was taken with my old cybershot.   Photos from a camera produced when Sony cared about their products.  A camera that has been through hell the past few years since it left my primary care LOL  Yet still it powers up and functions as if it were the little engine that could.  I wish Sony made their Alpha @55 with the same care as they made their old cybershots…. back when they were made in Japan…

This may be my last post for awhile and I want to thank all the lovely people who have visited and encouraged me… Keep a good thought for me that Sony will do the right thing.
Love to ALL!
Lee

PS YouTube is uploading my videos but they look stretched like a distorted Cinemascope film. I used my facebook Hike Our Planet to upload the video  and it worked.  Please click on this link to see some lovely trails, wildlife and hear glorious song birds. This is the last video footage from my Sony Alphas before they died.  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151431436395669&set=vb.262344805668&type=2&theater

Filed under: Hot Springs National Park Tagged: Arkansas Birds, Dead Camera, Hot Springs National Park, hot springs national park hiking trails, keep calm and carry on, Nature Blog, Nature Photography, Photo Blog, Photography, Wildflowers

Lee Hiller owner of Hike Our Planet is the most followed Nature Photographer on Twitter (@LeeHillerLondon) with over 25,000 followers. To find out why CLICK HERE.