Steve Irwin killed by a stingray in Australia

[Clay Coleman]

I was shocked and saddened this morning (Sept. 4) upon hearing of the death of Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin. Mr. Irwin was snorkeling in shallow water when he was barbed in the heart by a stingray, which probably caused instant death. Mr. Irwin's larger-than-life persona inevitably raised questions regarding some of his antics, but I personally admired him greatly and I appreciate the difference his passion made in the public's perception of wildlife. Crikey, I'll miss him. -Clay

[docrobina]

Very sad. Here is a link to Australian newspaper report of the incident.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20355112-2702,00.html

[Jonathan Bird]

What a bummer, and such a weird freak accident. This will not be good for business at Stingray City, I imagine.

After reading the article, I think the writer needs to do a little research on the difference between "poisonous" and "venomous."

Has anyone released autopsy results for the exact cause of death?

Jonathan

[Neptune7]

It will certainly change the way we see and approach those creatures that we have come to consider inoffensive. How many of us have gotten very very close, from all angles, for a good picture or a CU sequence? Will it change your approach?

[Clay Coleman]

It will certainly change the way we see and approach those creatures that we have come to consider inoffensive. How many of us have gotten very very close, from all angles, for a good picture or a CU sequence? Will it change your approach?

I don't think it will change my approach any more than the fear of a lightning strike will keep me inside. As photographers, we are in far greater peril from becoming too absorbed with photography to keep track of our dives than from being attacked (within reason) by our subjects. -Clay

[tarczy]

I don't think it will change my approach any more than the fear of a lightning strike will keep me inside. As photographers, we are in far greater peril from becoming too absorbed with photography to keep track of our dives than from being attacked (within reason) by our subjects. -Clay


Oh man . . . you don't know how close to the truth you are when you say this. Jonathan Bird and his merry band of intrepid Galapagos divers have just returned from what literally can be described as the trip from Hell!

A lot of what made it the trip from Hell is the fact that one of the divers was far more interested in filming a Turtle down to a 111 foot depth, than he was in keeping track of his air supply. Hence, the turtle chasing photographer had to execute an emergency ascent from 75 feet and ended up getting bent.

First time in my 35+ years of diving that I've ever experienced a bent diver first hand. And to think . . . it was all for the want of some video footage of a turtle! :confused:

[tarczy]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/mongo255/Joke%20Art/irwinfeeds.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

what literally can be described as the trip from Hell!

Trip from hell? Oh c'mon. That trip was fun as hell, it's just that we never got to Darwin Island.....

And the boat was a disaster.

And the divemaster was incompetent.

But man we had some fun and I got some great penguin pics! :D

Jonathan

[Jonathan Bird]

How many of us have gotten very very close, from all angles, for a good picture or a CU sequence? Will it change your approach?

I'm going to be sure that the big camera is between me and the stinger at all times!!

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

This shot seemed like a good idea at the time. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Last week that was a very marketable picture! (This week, nobody cares. People have a short attention span these days).

Jonathan

[tarczy]

True . . . The trip was "fun as hell!"

Cuttin' up with you and Pierre was a great vacation. All the rest of the crap that went on was nothing more than fate. Fortunately, stuff like that only happens once.

Oh yeah . . . you forgot to add Delta Airlines being totally incompetent by losing all my underwater housing gear. :eek:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/mongo255/Galapagos%202006/BoobyInFlight.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

Nice Blubie shot!

Jonathan