Rain claims its first photographic life, barring miracle

After I ran with it in the rain, my point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot was stuck in the "on" position, its lens fully extended. I'll know its fate in a few days when the drying period is complete.

In one of my dumbest moments, I may have ruined a 5-megapixel Canon PowerShot that I carry with me almost everywhere. It's one of the best models of the point-and-shot cameras out there. It comes in handy for snapshots or for situations in which a digital SLR would be impractical. It serves as a backup to my backup, a Nikon D40. I've even used it to catch co-workers snoozing; it's my blackmail facilitator.

I took a quick photo Thursday of an approaching storm front, just before it started to rain. I wanted to take more photos, but I wanted to run in the rain, too. So, I compromised: I decided to take my Canon along for the ride.

I tucked the camera into one of the pockets of a golf jacket that has "naturally waterproof fibers." The thing was a prize I won in a tournament a few years back. I had never used it while playing golf, but it came in handy for runs in the rain. It kept me warm and mostly dry.

It poured so hard during my run that I didn't think it would be wise to take out the camera and take photos.

But when I got back to my apartment, I realized that it probably wouldn't have mattered. The water soaked through my jacket.

The camera was on, and I couldn't shut it off. The lens was stuck fully extended. I shook it, and water sloshed around inside. I pulled the battery and the memory card out. Both were soaked.

So as it is now, the camera is still in the process of drying - and probably dying. My father dropped his Canon DSLR into the lake, dried it out for a week and is using it today. My hope is that with the same period of drying, my backup-backup camera also will be resurrected.

(Left: A family at my apartment complex takes cover from the imminent downpour, in a photo I took before the fateful run.)