Biggest risk you've entered..

BennyBoo

BennyBoo

Suspended / Banned
Messages
799
Name
Ben
Edit My Images
Yes
So, Couldn't find a thread about personal experiences..

I'll start.

I borrowed my step dad's Canon 100-400mm F4L lens for an airshow..

He's had it a good few years and about 2 years ago it started to get very stiff to use the zoom/manual focus.. Auto focus worked fine.
The barrel has been scratched quite badly, when using the zoom, all the scratchings have made their way inside, causing the lens to be badly dusted..

When I borrowed it, i decided to get it sent off to Canon for a refurb (as kind of payment for the loan) but they said it would be about 2 weeks away (not a bad time, but he needed it back in two weeks and couldn't risk the timescale)

I decided to see what i could do :|

I used the tiny screwdriver set I had laying around and set about tacking the end off, then the next layer, then the next..

Long story short, it now works perfect and is dust free :lol:

I was abit nervous when i realised how far i'd gone, but the results were perfect.
I don't think I would do anything like that again to such an expensive lens..

So, your turn!
 
I think giving up work and moving to Spain was my biggest risk. I'd never been here because I had the impression that Benidorm/Magaluf was what Spain was like. Whilst I had traveled widely all over Europe, I'd never been to Spain. The first time I saw this beautiful country was when I drove over the border from France in Jan 2009. The only words I knew were "hola", "gracias" and "adios". It was a risk because I might have hated the place! However since then I have integrated, learned Spanish, obtained a group B driving licence, studied (in Spanish) and passed the Spanish equivalent of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, and learned how to use a camera.
A risk, but worth it.
 
Giving up a reliable job to go self-employed with no more that 2 weeks work in the bag and 1st daughter's wedding two months away - never looked back :)
 
Putting my notice (one year!) into the Royal Navy in the middle of a recession with no job to go to and no contacts back home!

Originally intended to join the police and got accepted onto Day 1 recruitment process only to be emailed by the vetting officer the day after my notice went in to be told that because of a minor offence id drunkenly committed just after my 18th Birthday ( 15 years previously) that they wouldnt accept me.

If I'd left putting my notice in 6 Months later I would have walked out with a several thousand pound redundancy payout.....

Good times!!
 
I'm a little wiser now but when I think back - some of the 'calculated' risks I took in the past when climbing make me shudder. I'd have to include some of the stupid things I did in the past in cars or on motorbikes.

Apart from physical risk to my person - I suppose giving up my job, loading up my car and just driving to Scotland 17 years ago was a risk. I'm still here though.
 
Moving Jobs and house to work in barrow in furness... Totally back fired on me, ended up in a downward sprial and depression.

Thankfully moved back 15 months later and never had any issues since.
 
I quit my engineering degree to take pictures and shoot video for a career.

5 years on, it's going ok.
 
Being born - I just know that it will end badly :(
 
Signing the consent form for brain surgery. Then again, I could have gambled in 2 ways, sign and hope all goes well and I come out the other side fit and well (the option I took and won the bet!) or decline the surgery and probably be dead after 3-6 months. 14 months later (to the day :)), here I am, fit and well and tumour free (or at least I was at the last MRI scan) and looking forward to many years of life (after a few of merely existing).
 
Climbing Idwal slabs solo in the 60s. With nailed boots and clean hands
 
Last edited:
Buying my current car, 14k on an untried untested brand (in the UK) but loving it so far.
 
jacking in my job and moving in with my other half

luckily got a new job after only 2 weeks which is infinitely better than my old one, bought a house together and got engaged!
 
Two of us chucked everything to join a startup.
I worked for a year unpaid before the company was formed.
It wasn't too bad for me as I was single, but my business partner had a pregnant wife with their first child.
Her waters broke when we were on the way back from London after visiting the lawyers to formally set up the company.
That was tense....
 
I have taken loads of risks....some stupid...some worked out really well.....but most important "No Regrets". I live life for the moment and as Clint Eastwood says "Improvise, adapt, overcome" :cool:
 
I've taken a few risks down the years. Some worked out well, others didn't. Whatever. Taking lifestyle and career risks in countries that have social safety nets isn't really high risk anyway, you only stand to lose income and the benefits that come with it.
 
I met Brash once!!
 
I guess mine is just putting myself in others hands with regard to my safety and well-being every day for nearly 5 years now, only recently I've had another reminder of just how vulnerable we become when our body fails us.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top