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Finders Keepers?
Usually I’m quite methodical when I’m out in the field. I often have a lot of expensive gear along and tend to create routines so that I can quickly and efficiently pack up everything and move along. It helps because often when I’m out shooting I’m short of sleep since the best light for much nature photography occurs before dawn and just around sunset. When I’m tired, it’s easy to get careless and that can be costly.
Last week I was shooting in Bosque Del Apache, NM. It’s one of my favorite places to shoot with the tens of thousands of snowgeese and sandhill cranes as well as spectacular sunrises. And this time of year there are lots of photographers, most of whom are equipped with expensive cameras, 500mm or longer lenses, carbon fiber tripods, Wimberly gimbal heads, etc. Much of the gear looks alike. And usually everyone is very respective of everyone else’s equipment - at least when everyone is lined up in a mass.
Sometimes I choose to head away from the masses and photograph something a little different, which was the case last Thursday. My friend and I drove a bit farther down the road to photograph a scenic shot. I started out using my tripod but realized the shot would be better if I could be up a bit higher. (It must be very handy to be tall!) I removed the camera from the tripod and walked around to the other side of the car, opened the door, and stood in it with the camera perched on the roof. This was clearly not my routine. When I was done I walked around the car and got in. We drove a bit farther down the road - which curved nearly 90 degrees. At that stop I used my other tripod setup for the long lens, but as I followed my routine I immediately realized my other tripod was missing. And I knew exactly where I had left it - maybe 10 minutes earlier. Unfortunately the road is one way, so we opted to go forward around the loop rather than drive in reverse. I might have walked back but distances can be misleading and I thought driving would get me there faster. By the time we got back to where I left it, it was gone. We stopped at the gatehouse, and sure enough someone commented that they had seen it - they claimed to have driven by it twice, which I think would have been impossible. Whether they took it, or someone else did, is not clear. What is clear is that someone clearly thought that the old kindergarten rule of “Finders Keepers” applied. Surely they knew it was not deliberately discarded and that someone would miss it very shortly. Without my being careless, the problem wouldn’t exist, so it is indeed my fault. But I am disturbed that someone so quickly felt that Santa had come early for them.
Normally I try to take good care of my equipment and do what I can to protect ownership of my photos as I’ve discussed in other blogs here. The lesson I’ve learned from all this - in addition to being more careful - is that I need to label every piece of equipment possible. For whatever reason it never struck me to label my cameras, lenses, tripod, etc. My question to you all is whether you label your equipment, and if so, how do you do it? I want something that will stick through arctic cold as well as humid locations, be visible but not obnoxious.
laser etching is the solution. or engraving.
but that will be a problem when you gonna sell your equipment.
I try to mark my gear with a waterproof pen inside the battery hatch etc., where it won't be a cosmetic mark but enough for me to claim it back if someone "accidentally picked it up" on a show/shoot. Apart from that, phew - on Tripod legs I've got my contact details on one of those clear tapes (EZtape) of a labeling machine. Obviously registering all your gear at Nikon or whoever makes your camera and lenses, and hope that it helps. But in all likelyhood, a stolen lens is not going to show up again, is it? :-/
perhaps time to think about a camera equipment insurance anyway?
I use a label maker similar to this one: http://www.amazon.com/Brother-PT-1280-P-touch-Electronic-Labeling/dp/B000ALGKEO/ref=dp_cp_ob_op_title_3.
It makes adheisvie labels that work fine for me, but I don't shoot in the arctic cold, so I don't know how they would hold-up in those conditions.
My labels just have my name and my cell phone number. Luckily, I have not lost anything yet.
I'm very sorry to hear that story,
recently I was on the opposite end to that… and found a 70-200 f4 in a park. I couldn't believe someone could be so careless and I turned it into the park office. After a month I received a call saying no one had claimed it and if I wanted it I could have it or they would going to send it to good will or something.
I couldn't believe no one went looking for it! Within 10 minutes you realized you had misplaced it and someone jacked it, that is a joke! I think we should all be more careful with our material. I use a cheapo method of printing our a thin label on regular printer paper and then use a special durable scotch tape to cover all parts of my label.
I'm very sorry for your misfortune
Thanks for all the replies and ideas. Laser etching might work on the tripod because I tend to keep those until they die but I'd be reluctant to do that on a lens or camera body for several reasons. Marking the inside of the CF door is a great idea as are the other label suggestions. Realistically if a label doesn't survive a particular trip I could replace it ... just not something that's in my head. Keeping tags on my luggage is enough of a challenge.
As to whether stolen property would show up ... I have a feeling my tripod could be on ebay - either that or the person figured it was better than what they owned and decided to sell their old stuff. Either way, I seriously doubt I'll ever see it again - unless the story travels round the internet enough to reach the person who took it. Most unlikely - and thankfully it wasn't a camera and lens. Mentally I have to let it go and move on - but take the lesson with me so I don't repeat the same mistake.
Lastly I do have camera insurance but after the deductible it would not be worth making a claim.
You could always go for the Amsterdam method and mark you gear with ugly, bright, disfiguring tapes or paint. No one is going to want to take it and if they actually do, you can spot them a mile away ;-).
That is, unless you want to resell your gear at some point...
The Amsterdam method? I've never heard it referred to that way, but it might have merit as long as it can be removed with effort.
We have always used Mabels Labels for our kids clothes...
http://www.mabel.ca/mabel.php
Don't know how well they would stand up to the elements, but they sure hold up through the daily wear and tear and washings. We even put them inside their shoes on the bottom and they hold up for many months.
You can order packs of printed tags with your name or business on them.
That is a bummer. I once left my camera bag in a parking lot! Came back the next day and the parking lot attendant was holding it for me. But i have left numerous small pieces of equipment for lucky finders. In other words, don't lend me your stuff.
I'm sorry to hear of your luck. I am also amazed. I had almost the exact same experience along the side of the highway in the Sequoia National Forest at sun down.
My tripod was standing along side the car. I broke my normal routine and left it there that evening.
However, I did not realize my mistake until the next morning. Went back and it was gone. As a result, I started to better stick to my routing and also further refined it.
So sorry to hear of your loss, Ellen. I know some other folks that were at Bosque then too, I'll ask around.
I use adhesive labels by StuffBak on my gear.
http://www.stuffbak.com/
I also use plain ol' Avery labels on some items, labeled with a Sharpie pen with my name, e-mail address, & cell phone number. They aren't permanent but are easily/cheaply replaced.
I just heard back from both people that were there at the same time. Neither of them knew of a missing/found tripod. Bummer.
Bob, thanks for the suggestions and for networking to try to help find the tripod. I appreciate both.
And thanks to all of you who have offered empathic support, suggestions, and/or shared similar experiences. Expensive lessons, for sure!
Ellen - Sorry to hear of your loss. Sorrier, still , to hear there are folks out there who don't respect other people's property. Sad, but true. We may feel badly, but that guys has to live with his acts.
Sam