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Outing my own stupidity ... and dumb luck
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Feb 24, 2021 16:05:25   #
Grumpy2k Loc: California
 
I swung by the local university to take pictures of the campus waterfowl. At one point I sat down on a low bridge wall to replace my tripod in its straps on my sling. While doing so I heard a clatter and looked down to see a SD card holder laying at my feet. Apparently I didn’t have the sling zipped closed all the way. Picked up the holder, returned it to the sling pocket, zipped sling closed, and finished strapping in the tripod. I reclaimed my camera which I had carefully placed at my feet (don’t judge), put the strap over my neck, positioned the sling, and headed for the car. Drove a bit into the country to catch some shots of almond blossoms and a mid-afternoon moon rise. Stopped for a quick bite to eat. Drove home. As I began to repack the sling before going in the house, I saw something disturbing. The 18-55 kit lens was missing. I looked all around the car seat, but to no avail. Then it dawned on me. It had to have fallen out at the university. So, here I am an hour+ later, scrambling back to the bridge figuring no way it would still be there. I parked and trekked my way across campus to the bridge location, and as I got close I noticed a man and his two dogs walking the path ahead of me. Just as he finished crossing the bridge I saw him look back and down as if he spotted something, but he kept going. When I got to the bridge, there was the lens laying up against the bridge wall. How and why it was still there escapes me. So far it checks out ok. Disaster narrowly averted. But a huge lesson learned about paying attention to what I am doing start to finish. But man, did I feel like a dumb a$$.

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Feb 24, 2021 16:18:46   #
Zooman 1
 
I think we all have done something like it. I have drove off with camera bag on the roof of the car. Also, got so excited the first time I had a chance to photograph mule deer I followed the deer at a slow pace, only to realize my camera bag was on the ground back where I first saw the deer! Retrieved it.

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Feb 24, 2021 19:07:55   #
fjdarling Loc: Mesa, Arizona, USA
 
'Glad you were able to retrieve it. Must be your lucky day...maybe buy a lotto ticket next?

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Feb 24, 2021 23:15:26   #
Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa
 
Thank you for sharing this story. It is awesome of you to open up and helping us all do the best we can and double check.

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Feb 25, 2021 08:26:26   #
olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
 
I think we've all been there once or twice in our lifetimes....and always nice to hear the stories with a happy ending!

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Feb 25, 2021 08:35:12   #
RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)
 
Back in the day, I was young and stupid... I was travelling, shooting scenery, and stopped at a restaurant. Not wanting to leave my gear in the car, I brought my Halliburton case with two nikons and several lenses in to the restaurant, and set it under the table. Miles later, I got out of the car to shoot a pic, and it dawned on me... no gear! I frantically found a pay phone, looked up the restaurant in the yellow pages, and made a call. "Yep, we have it." Drove back and thanked them profusely, leaving a $20 tip, which was a lot for me at the time. I could tell the gear had been gone through, but nothing missing.

Now, I'm old and stupid...

~ Russ

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Feb 25, 2021 08:43:03   #
AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!
 
I long ago learned that God takes care of the stupid - at least once! I've lost items that I simply failed to pick up. My mom used to say that "if my head weren't fastened on, I'd lay it down somewhere and forget to pick it up."

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Feb 25, 2021 08:56:17   #
StanMac Loc: Tennessee
 
I’m losing my wallet or checkbook too frequently lately. They are always in the house or my car each time I find them again. I’m thinking of getting a small chain with a belt loop clip for them so they cannot be laid down and forgotten.

Stan

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Feb 25, 2021 09:35:07   #
cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada
 
Checkbook really? I tap and go now and have been for several years. Internet transfer also on occasion.

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Feb 25, 2021 09:39:17   #
Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV
 
Glad you got it back in working order. I like stories like this because it reminds me that I'm not the only one!

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Feb 25, 2021 09:44:06   #
StanMac Loc: Tennessee
 
cyclespeed wrote:
Checkbook really? I tap and go now and have been for several years. Internet transfer also on occasion.


Yeah, I’m old school. I like to give our postal service all the support I can, so I still mail checks for my recurring bills. I do use my cards for on-line purchases, and face to face purchases for the convenience of it.

Stan

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Feb 25, 2021 09:55:15   #
Nantahalan Loc: Savannah originally; western NC now
 
After fruitlessly searching my van and gear bags and returning twice to every place I walked when shooting an outdoor wedding, I ordered another $500 flash from B&H.

Two weeks after getting the replacement, the van was angled down in a steep parking lot. My old flash was nestled behind a roof bracket which was near eye level.

Moral of the story for me: never ever put down anything on the exterior of my vehicle.

Other lessons: buy from a company that makes returns easy. Try to buy rugged gear if you’re like me!

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Feb 25, 2021 10:12:10   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Wow! Quite a day!

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Feb 25, 2021 10:24:08   #
Traveller_Jeff
 
In the subway station, I searched my pockets for my transit card - the one I had used just ten minutes before when I got on the crosstown bus to come to this station. I couldn't find it anywhere. I approached the agent in his booth and told him that I had just lost my card. He asked me to lift my mask. I did. He looked at me, looked down at something, looked back up at me and handed me my lost transit card which had a photo of me embossed on it. Perplexed, I asked him how he got it. "That guy who just went in before you found it in the street and handed it to me just a moment ago." The guy was already through the turnstile and down the steps. I never got to see him or to thank him. "Today's your lucky day," the agent said to me as I, in total disbelief, finished thanking him and was turning to leave. I answered: "That's just what I have done for others when finding lost objects." The agent answered, "Sometimes what goes around comes around." So true!

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Feb 25, 2021 11:35:51   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Grumpy2k wrote:
I swung by the local university to take pictures of the campus waterfowl. At one point I sat down on a low bridge wall to replace my tripod in its straps on my sling. While doing so I heard a clatter and looked down to see a SD card holder laying at my feet. Apparently I didn’t have the sling zipped closed all the way. Picked up the holder, returned it to the sling pocket, zipped sling closed, and finished strapping in the tripod. I reclaimed my camera which I had carefully placed at my feet (don’t judge), put the strap over my neck, positioned the sling, and headed for the car. Drove a bit into the country to catch some shots of almond blossoms and a mid-afternoon moon rise. Stopped for a quick bite to eat. Drove home. As I began to repack the sling before going in the house, I saw something disturbing. The 18-55 kit lens was missing. I looked all around the car seat, but to no avail. Then it dawned on me. It had to have fallen out at the university. So, here I am an hour+ later, scrambling back to the bridge figuring no way it would still be there. I parked and trekked my way across campus to the bridge location, and as I got close I noticed a man and his two dogs walking the path ahead of me. Just as he finished crossing the bridge I saw him look back and down as if he spotted something, but he kept going. When I got to the bridge, there was the lens laying up against the bridge wall. How and why it was still there escapes me. So far it checks out ok. Disaster narrowly averted. But a huge lesson learned about paying attention to what I am doing start to finish. But man, did I feel like a dumb a$$.
I swung by the local university to take pictures o... (show quote)


When I got older doing wedding photography, I used to hire Life rank boy scout's from our troop to carry and watch my equipment, I paid them $100.00 for the day and they got to eat at the reception. I tended to use three camera's, at least 10 different lenses, filters, tripods, and 4 flash units, it was hard to keep track of everything, hence the boy scout. I never had a lack of scouts that wanted to help out.
And, over the 10 years I used the scouts, never lost a piece of equipment.

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