I let someone borrow my lenses and monopod (Page 2): Having a willing student that is excited about learning what you are willing to teach is so good for the soul ! You get 2 Gold...

NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin

Having a willing student that is excited about learning what you are willing to teach is so good for the soul !
You get 2 Gold Stars !!

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

jim quist wrote:

Our church has VBS this week and a girl arrived with her mother's camera and told to get the group pictures. Every year she prints these and gives one to each kid who attends. I am the unofficial/official photographer for all the church activities and normally do the group pictures and so it surprised me she would send her daughter to do them. The girl asked me for advice on doing the group pictures so I did what was for me a humbling thing.

I asked her if I could do them with her and show her how to pose groups. She said yes. Then I asked if she would like to borrow my lens and flash that I used for group pictures and she said yes. There is limited space for one of the pictures so had my a 17-40 f4. Basically I posed the groups around different theme displays and she used her mother's camera and my 17-40 and flash to take the pictures. She had a lot of fun.

Then I asked her if she would like to try out my 70-200 and the monopod and she said yes. So I showed her how to use them and she walked around taking the pictures she wanted, and we met up later.

What was so cool about this is how excited she was to use the equipment. And that made it fun for me to spend some time mentoring her and sharing my equipment. I asked her if she noticed a difference in the quality of the pictures, she smiled and said the pictures are a lot better using professional stuff.

We produce a new slide show of each day, and this is shown to the the kids before the beginning activities the next day. What was humbling for me is that normally my pictures are shown, and I had to share that 'moment' as about half the pictures shown were hers and half were mine. A lot of her pictures were very good.

The take away for me is that there are young people who are going to carry on with big cameras and lenses because they enjoy using professional equipment. And I gained a new sense of enjoyment as we did these slide shows together, and a young person had an experience that she wouldn't have had otherwise.

And her mother. Her mother thanked me for helping her. I told her to hold off on that until she sees what is probably going to be on her daughter's Christmas list.

Our church has VBS this week and a girl arrived wi... (show quote)

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Great Story. You helped that young lady greatly. And I'm certain she appreciated the advice and help you offered her. Being so young, she probably wouldn't be able to afford professional gear. She appeared enthusiastic too. I have borrowed lenses I can't afford for now, for just a one day event. And, I have loaned my tripod a couple of times. I don't own pro gear, my camera is a Nikon 24 megapixels DX. I also attend an annual Veterans event. I give away portrait prints to the WW2 and Korean Vets. Some individual portraits, and some including their families. The WW2 Vets are well into their age 90s now. I did one indoor Awards Ceremony Church Event last Fall. My very first one. Perhaps my last one too. I was mentally exhausted afterwards. And, it is definitely different, and more difficult to do, than shooting portraits of Veterans at an outdoor picnic. But, everyone appreciated me volunteering my time, and giving away prints to guests, and those awarded that day. As an amateur, I do understand that pro experiences are sometimes necessary to do certain photographic events. As, for the outdoor Veterans event, I take two of my four lenses, the 18-55mm kit lens, and the 50mm f1.8G. That's all I need.

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

Excellent mentoring. A new photographer is born. Looks like you will have an assistant in the future. Great job.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nice! And very trusting. I'm sure kids appreciate using good equipment as much as we do.

khorinek

In all my years of photography I am still amazed at how "close to the vest" a lot of photographers are. It's like pulling teeth to get some photographers to share their "secrets". I've taught classes, mentored, and had an intern follow me for an entire summer so she could learn a few tips. She later became a photojournalist. If we are willing to share our craft, we all become better photographers.

awis01

Sounds like a great experience for you and the girl. Very nice of you to mentor the girl. Keep up the good work.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

jim quist wrote:

Our church has VBS this week and a girl arrived with her mother's camera and told to get the group pictures. Every year she prints these and gives one to each kid who attends. I am the unofficial/official photographer for all the church activities and normally do the group pictures and so it surprised me she would send her daughter to do them. The girl asked me for advice on doing the group pictures so I did what was for me a humbling thing.

I asked her if I could do them with her and show her how to pose groups. She said yes. Then I asked if she would like to borrow my lens and flash that I used for group pictures and she said yes. There is limited space for one of the pictures so had my a 17-40 f4. Basically I posed the groups around different theme displays and she used her mother's camera and my 17-40 and flash to take the pictures. She had a lot of fun.

Then I asked her if she would like to try out my 70-200 and the monopod and she said yes. So I showed her how to use them and she walked around taking the pictures she wanted, and we met up later.

What was so cool about this is how excited she was to use the equipment. And that made it fun for me to spend some time mentoring her and sharing my equipment. I asked her if she noticed a difference in the quality of the pictures, she smiled and said the pictures are a lot better using professional stuff.

We produce a new slide show of each day, and this is shown to the the kids before the beginning activities the next day. What was humbling for me is that normally my pictures are shown, and I had to share that 'moment' as about half the pictures shown were hers and half were mine. A lot of her pictures were very good.

The take away for me is that there are young people who are going to carry on with big cameras and lenses because they enjoy using professional equipment. And I gained a new sense of enjoyment as we did these slide shows together, and a young person had an experience that she wouldn't have had otherwise.

And her mother. Her mother thanked me for helping her. I told her to hold off on that until she sees what is probably going to be on her daughter's Christmas list.

Our church has VBS this week and a girl arrived wi... (show quote)

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Thanks for creating an opportunity for young people to enjoy photography. I have allowed my grandkids, at very young ages, to use my two
DSLR'S with L lenses mounted. They loved the experience.
Way to go, Jim!!
Mark

Dannj

Win-Win! She gets to enhance her skills an you get to share your experience and knowledge.

Only problem I see: that’s some fancy equipment she’s using. Hope “Mom” has a well paying job😊

Harl-Man

Thanks for sharing Jim, a good example of “The Golden Rule” put into practice.
Harley

Matthew 7:12

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Very well done!

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

You are guilty of starting a life long addiction in youth. It has been said rightfully "ya can't go back"
Once one sees the difference in quality vs non-quality ... then she will be isolated from the good enough group. What you did ... mentoring... was great and made you feel good to see the spark.

I taught 06-09 ... in 06 photo taking was by school policy a NO NO... by 09 the school had long given up to that policy and group/selfies were common. My rule do not take photos of me without warning so I can pull in my gut ... shoulders back and smile.

Mister H Loc: Michigan

jim quist wrote:

Our church has VBS this week and a girl arrived with her mother's camera and told to get the group pictures. Every year she prints these and gives one to each kid who attends. I am the unofficial/official photographer for all the church activities and normally do the group pictures and so it surprised me she would send her daughter to do them. The girl asked me for advice on doing the group pictures so I did what was for me a humbling thing.

I asked her if I could do them with her and show her how to pose groups. She said yes. Then I asked if she would like to borrow my lens and flash that I used for group pictures and she said yes. There is limited space for one of the pictures so had my a 17-40 f4. Basically I posed the groups around different theme displays and she used her mother's camera and my 17-40 and flash to take the pictures. She had a lot of fun.

Then I asked her if she would like to try out my 70-200 and the monopod and she said yes. So I showed her how to use them and she walked around taking the pictures she wanted, and we met up later.

What was so cool about this is how excited she was to use the equipment. And that made it fun for me to spend some time mentoring her and sharing my equipment. I asked her if she noticed a difference in the quality of the pictures, she smiled and said the pictures are a lot better using professional stuff.

We produce a new slide show of each day, and this is shown to the the kids before the beginning activities the next day. What was humbling for me is that normally my pictures are shown, and I had to share that 'moment' as about half the pictures shown were hers and half were mine. A lot of her pictures were very good.

The take away for me is that there are young people who are going to carry on with big cameras and lenses because they enjoy using professional equipment. And I gained a new sense of enjoyment as we did these slide shows together, and a young person had an experience that she wouldn't have had otherwise.

And her mother. Her mother thanked me for helping her. I told her to hold off on that until she sees what is probably going to be on her daughter's Christmas list.

Our church has VBS this week and a girl arrived wi... (show quote)

I was cringing at the title and beginning of the story. Fearing the worst, but read on to find a wonderful scenario. Great story to share and be a part of for all involved. Your kindness and generosity helped a young photographer grow.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

jim quist wrote:

The take away for me is that there are young people who are going to carry on with big cameras and lenses because they enjoy using professional equipment.

Not many would have done what you did under the circumstances and I commend you for it.

Professional gear does not need to be big to do professional work and there are reasons why smaller gear may be better for many types of pro quality photography.

Many of the great photographers used or still use small cameras, i.e., Leica as well as other small cameras.