Caught on video: Artist's Ore. coast mishap making waves online | Arts & Culture

PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland artist, photographer and filmmaker who posted a short film showing the demise of his expensive digital camera while at the Oregon coast has been hit with a wave of publicity over the humorous and cringe-inducing video.

Award-winning multimedia artist Kurtis Hough (pronounced "Huff") of Southeast Portland said he was at scenic Cannon Beach with his ever-present Canon 5D Mark II DSLR and family members in September while a strong storm raked the coast.

He said the “tides were really interesting” at the time and after waiting a day, the family walked out onto the beach near the iconic Cannon Beach rock formations but stuck close to the ends of the beach away from the churning surf.

Hough said he set up his camera, which also records high-definition video, and hit the record button to capture the scene.

Moments later, a powerful wave swept all the way up the beach, with predictable results. Hough said no other waves they had seen so far that day had come that far up the beach.

Hough said he was right with the camera as the water swept in and tried to save the $2,400 device, but it got soaked with sea water and was ruined. He said the lens attached to the camera got wet but still functions. Hough and his companions were not injured.

With the camera’s demise recorded to digital memory, Hough recently made the best of the situation and entered the footage in the “Make It Short” movie competition being held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Northwest Film Center. Entries must be 40 seconds or less in length. The winner will be chosen by audience members in January.

The short movie, called "how to lose $2400 in 24 seconds", was posted to his account on the video-sharing site Vimeo. It has been making the rounds online and now has thousands of views. It also caught the attention of online photo gear retailer B&H Photo in New York City.

Hough said B&H contacted him Thursday morning and offered to replace the camera free of charge. Hough said he is a long-time customer of the company and they did not ask him to do anything in exchange for the new camera, except perhaps to mention where it came from if he could.

That’s good news for Hough, who uses the expensive camera for his high-end photography, videos, animation and other graphic arts pursuits.

Hough said he has also gotten calls from other media outlets about the story behind the video.

He said he plans on returning to the Oregon coast in the future to shoot a new film with his new camera and will take precautions to keep it away from another saltwater bath.

Hough moved to Portland two years ago from Chicago.

 

how to lose $2400 in 24 seconds from Kurtis Hough on Vimeo.