Where Did I Leave My Camera?

[Overkill-F1]

I am paranoid of leaving my bag behind, under a chair or table at a restaurant or on a ferry. I usually keep my bag on my lap or over my shoulder. If the bag is put on the floor, I run the strap up and over one knee so I can't leave without tripping over the bag.
You should see me in my shop. Often I will put something down, turn around for a second and the item is GONE! After looking all over the shop for a while, the item will magically reappear. It's really bad when I put my glasses down.
...Terry

 

[Archiver]

+1 on the paranoid precautions. My bag is always between my feet, strap over one knee, or on the chair behind my back.

The week I bought my M9, I packed it into my camera backpack along with my usual 5D Mark II kit, and went to a job. It was in a shopping centre, in one of those temporary stalls in the middle of the main walkways. I set the bag behind the counter and got to my work, then picked up my tripod and left. Some minutes later I realized I had just left the bag behind! With my brand new M9 and work gear, too! Good thing it was still there when I returned, although it was behind the counter, which made it more safe.

Another time, I left my tripod sitting in the middle of a carpet store after a shoot. This time I had to drive back and get it!

I was with someone who bought a few books in a very busy book shop. After leaving, she asked where the books were; I didn't have them, as she was carrying them. We raced back to the shop to find them where she left them, sitting on a seat, still in the plain paper bag.

This same friend left her sunglasses in the bathroom of another shopping centre. Amazingly, someone had turned them in to the information desk, rather than pocket what were quite expensive frames. There are still honest people in the world, thank goodness.

 

[meanstreetshooter]

Never a camera or camera bag. But I did leave my 35mm Summicron hood square CAP (expen$ive) on a table at a county fair exhibit. Minutes later I checked my shirt pocket and found it not there. I was still lying on the table next to some teen-age girls who paid it no mind.

 

[NormanV]

30 years ago on holiday in Tanzania I left my bag containing my then brand new Pentax K1000 with all my films, exposed and unexposed. Plus my family passports and travel documents and medicines, under the seat in a hotel bar. We went into the restaurant and an hour later after a leisurely meal we went to leave and I realised my bag was missing. I rushed back to the bar, it was not under the seat. In desperation I went to a bartender told him of my plight and he reached under the counter and handed me my bag with everything intact. I didn't let the bag out of my sight again!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Of course there's always "Sh1t! Where's my camera? Oh... Around my neck..." (normally only when wearing a very heavy coat).

Cheers,

R.