The Hanshin Tigers' first championship in 38 years recently stirred excitement across the Kansai region. The moment the players lifted the trophy was unforgettable and emotional for Hanshin Tigers fans. Sports and photography are closely linked, playing a vital role in capturing each moment forever. Meanwhile, in America, a chilling yet somewhat relieving 'sports × photography' incident occurred.
A Life Saved by a 400mm Lens
During a Major League Baseball (MLB) game, sports photographer Jim Russol's Sony 400mm G Master lens was shattered by a foul ball traveling at 104 MPH (approximately 168 km/h). It was a terrifying incident. You can watch the footage of the moment the incident occurred and the miraculous unharmed situation via the link below.
©︎ Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun
Unfortunately, Jim Russol did not have insurance on the damaged Sony lens. This lens is quite expensive, costing about $12,000, which is approximately 1.8 million yen. Russol suffered a significant loss. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, irony is evident in his expression.
Sony 400mm lens damaged by a 160 km/h fastball
Support for Jim
The unforeseen incident faced by Jim Russol was nobody's fault. In response, his friends set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his lens, gathering $7,363 in donations. However, this heartwarming story did not end there. Upon learning of Russol's situation, the Sony Pro Support team lent him the same 400mm lens and suggested using the GoFundMe funds to repair it. Additionally, they extended his Pro Support membership for free for a year.
Needless to say, Russol was impressed by the support from Sony and the community, stating, 'I am deeply grateful to everyone who donated to repair my lens. Sony is proceeding with the repair using the GoFundMe funds. I was amazed by Sony's response. Usually, such support only appears when someone is lost.'
It's wonderful to see the encouragement from GoFundMe donors and Sony's response when an unfortunate event befalls a member of the creative community!
