picture this
I am seriously jonesing for my camera. I want to take photos of my dog, my new house, my friend’s farm, the ranch where I’m staying… and I want to post photos on my blog.
I'm kind of into the photo thing. I used to have my camera with me all the time, and was shooting everything and everyone that crossed my path. I'm not super-good, but I'm not too bad, either. And I love it -- it's the one "artistic" thing that I consistently like to do.
But now I cannot. Because some jackass in South Africa stole my camera.
On my way to Namibia last summer, I stupidly checked my camera gear at J’Burg International Airport. Also known as The-Security-Staff-Goes-Shopping-In-Your-Luggage International Airport.
They cut the locks that I had naively snapped on. And they pillaged. They took my Bose noise-cancelling headphones – the ones that make long-haul flights bearable. And they took my binoculars. I’m OK with losing that stuff – don’t love it, but I can do without. And sometimes I can console myself by reminding myself that whoever stole my stuff must have needed it (or cash) more than I do.
But I can’t seem to get over the fact that they stole my fucking camera.
My beloved Nikon digital SLR, my elegant and sturdy wide-angle lens, and my brand spanking new (I had it two days, people) gorgeous, impossible-to-find, Nikkor 18-200mm lens with image stabilization (AKA, the Lens of All Lenses) – which I paid a gazillion dollars for, plus an extra hundred bucks to have express shipped from Hong Kong (the only place I could find one in stock) so I would get it in time for the trip.
When I got to the little B&B in Windhoek and opened my bag to discover this, I just broke down. The whole reason I went to Namibia was to take pictures. I was devastated. The poor guy who ran the place didn’t know what to do. He tried being nice to me, which made me cry harder. So he brought me tea, which was pretty much the best he - or anyone - could do.
(I did keep a small point-and-shoot backup thingy in my carry-on, which I used once I came to terms with the loss of all my good gear. And, which, after 3 days of service, broke.)
It’s been 5 months, and I can’t quite bring myself to buy a replacement. I can afford it (thanks to the cash I received when the new guy in the local sheriff's department rear-ended my car). I even know what I want: the Nikon D80, and the Lens of All Lenses. I don’t plan on replacing the wide-angle for now…
And, I am a girl who LOVES to shop. Seriously.
9 comments:
i absolutely trust nobody (well almost nobody). expensive stuff like that always stays on my body or very very close to my body.
i recently got a pair of QC3's. those things are bad ass. when I have that and some music on, I can totally not hear my wife :)
i am eying the in-ear headphones for being out and a bout
Man that sucks!
My advice... buy it! Photos are priceless. And you need to treat yourself to something cuz pretty soon you'll be spending most of your money on a baby.
That is awful. It was such a nice camera. You need to invest in a new camera now. You'll need it when you go to see Sprout.
Jackass is an understatement.
I'm with Krista on this one - treat yourself! You're gonna have a great subject to work with :0)
you know you want it!!!!!
ok GIRL I can't believe it...
I figured you where short on cash ... !!! I was so excited to show you my new slr when you came and take you camera shopping with me but later was sort of beating my self up about it... and at the same time a little confused as to why you weren't buying your self one.. as I know it's not "that" much to just at least start with the body and a simple lense and how important it is to you... and I KNOW how amazing you are a taking photos (ehem see her work's on my site : ) which dosen't show off her work at all ... CC's photos a frekin' amazing... you will see as she's going on line this instant to B and H and buying her self the nikon slr that just came ou !!!
so I'm thinking you are waiting because you are for some reason still beating your self up for the theft-loss what ever...
I have three word for you...
IT'S A TOOL
you need a new tool
if it had been faulty in some way you have returned imideatly... the theft was by NO reflection of your abilty to take care of stuff period. It could have happened to ANYONE!!! shit I put my camera on the top of the fridge on the door the 1st week I had it and as you know broke the lense...
besides you got 1000's of amaxing photos out of that camera and it served you well ...
my dog got hit by a car and died... I bought a new dog I still have pangs of regret and miss him he was amazing... but I LOVE my new dog and she brings me so much happiness ... she doesn't nulify my dog dying but allows me to be happy now... not trying to over dramatize the loss of a camrea but there are similarities... be happy !!! buy a new tool ... you need it! I love you
OK one more thing.. these are the photos cc took of MY WEDDING!!!! as you will see she's amazing!!! go look : )
http://www.clareandbrian.com/photos/index.htm
THANK YOU!!!
Clare, you inspired a whole new post, because MAN, you absolutely nailed it:
http://seekingsprout.blogspot.com/2007/01/analyze-this.html
and BTW, it was so fun to look at your wedding pix again!! lots of those are not mine, though, so I can't claim all the credit. :-)
(God, that was such an incredible, beautiful day.)
p.s. i know you will forever feel bad about Casper, but please keep in mind that he had SUCH a wonderful life. it may have been short, but he had more doggie happiness in a few years than most dogs ever get in their whole lives.
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