David Ozanne died while taking photos - R.I.P.

[eric_r]

Without bringing the mood of the place down too far, I just wanted to bring peoples attention to the death of a young man who was an avid photographer, who died just before his 21st birthday, while taking photographs. I dont know how to approach writing this (i dont want it to sound like a eulogy) and im feeling a bit wierd, but yeh. Im not looking for sympathy, i just loved the guy and thought this a fitting place for a little tribute

David was one of my best mates who I had known for over half of our lives. He owned a Nikon D60 and a D200 and loved to take pictures more than anything. He was especially into 'Urbex', Urban Exploration of unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities such as caves and abandoned warehouses etc.

In November of last year Brisbane was experiencing very severe storms and the rain barely stopped. During one of the few dry afternoons, David and a friend went on an expidition to explore and photograph the giant underground maze of drains under Brisbanes largest shopping complex, Westfield Chermside. While they were down there, the storms started again and the torrential rain began. David and the friend were overcome by a flash flood type scenario as the water filled the drains. David drowned and died, while the friend was very very lucky to escape alive.

His greatest photography achievment was having had one of his images published in an international travel magazine when he was only about 19years old.

At the time I wasnt really into photography and i just wish he were around now that i am, to teach me!

Thanks for reading guys, check out these sites if your interested.


Dave's Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-oz/

The Courier Mail online article
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 02,00.html

[chrisk]

what a tragedy. i'm deeply sorry for your loss and most of all to his family who must be devastated. so young.
RIP Dave.

[surenj]

Sad story indeed. RIP.

Reminds us to take each day as our last.

[sirhc55]

To young to leave this world and what he could have offered it.

Condolences.

[aim54x]

It is a shame to see another life lost, and lost so young. I can only point out that he died doing something he loved. It is a great tragedy and we will never see all the things that he could have offered this world.

My condolences to yourself and the family.

Cameron

[tasadam]

That is very sad.
I grew up in semi-rural outskirts of Brisbane. They built a drive-in theatre just down the road, and there was a creek that passed underneath it. There was a great maze of very large pipes that we used to play in - the entry for the creek into the pipes was like our cubby-house. It was possible to pass completely underneath the drive-in from one end to the other, though I never had the guts - the pipes got a bit narrow at the top end.
Perhaps I was wise...
I can understand how easily this would have happened, the pipes are long and don't have a lot of exits. And it sure can rain hard.
My condolences.

[eric_r]

Thanks for the condolences guys.

Cam that's exactly right, the only 'good' thing to take from it was that he was doing something he loved. The camera was actually recovered and some images saved and developed, and some were pretty good lol.

Yeah its scary to think hey tasadam. Like I say that I wish I had been into photography back then when he was around. But then I think, if I hadv been into photography, I most probably would have been with him that day, and you never know...

Thanks for reading guys, I like that people know about him and know that he loved photography