Deadly Wedding Event

Whitewater Rafting, originally uploaded by knledford.

Saturday, the big day of the wedding. By far the worst experience of my professional photographing career. The actually wedding photos went fine, challenging, but in all, some great shots. However, the site of the wedding, the Ocoee Whitewater Olympic Center, in front of the center a whitewater rafting guide was killed. A tour group were getting there boats into the water when a boated over turned, the guide in the boat next to them jumped in the water and never surfaced. Rescue crews searched the area and the dam was shut off so the water would go down to aid the search. He went under at 11am and at 3:30 pm he was found. When he jumped into the water his leg was trapped in a rock only a foot or so from the surface. A rough day to continue working all the while a man has died in the river in front of you and his family has gathered at the center crying and screaming. Keeping an upbeat attitude because you've been hired to photograph one of the happiest and memorible events in a couples life, I must say, a testing day. One wedding I'll not soon forget and an experience I'll carry forever.

RIP