In the last few weeks there has been a lot of traveling coupled with back-to-back shooting. It takes a lot of organising to make sure everything goes according to plan. I try my best, but sometimes, it’s really hard to keep track of everything and all I can do is hold on to the hope that the little silly mistakes that I am bound to make? God has my back on them. It may not always get fixed the way I want it to, but it won’t be the end of the world.That’s what I had to remind myself about a week ago when after a shoot at Tamarind Tree, I headed home and found that a lens hood had gone astray! I couldn’t for the life of me remember what had happened. Had I removed it and left it somewhere? When did I last see it? Did I see it at all?! I was completely drawing a blank. I consulted with the rental guys and my dad who had taken the delivery for me and all confirmed that it was definitely there when the equipment was handed over to me. So I had to accept that a mistake had been made and if the hood was not found, I would replace it… not a very desirable outcome, but that’s how it was.I tried calling the client and the venue and asked around if anyone had seen it and a couple of days passed by. Eventually I gave up hope and started making plans to have it replaced.(I have to say that all this while, I was in constant contact with the rental company and I am so grateful for how gracious and patient they were with me. I needed that and it spoke so much of their character and if nothing else, I was glad that I got to connect with them on that level.)A few days later, I went over to a friend’s place to get some work done and I get a call from Tamarind Tree guess what? THEY FOUND THE HOOD!!!
I couldn’t believe my ears. After thanking him profusely and almost doing a little dance, I passed on the good news to my ‘persons’ who had been following with me on this ‘saga’ and let the rental company know too.
It was basically a miracle and today, the hood was finally sent back ‘home’ and I am rejoicing!
I know it all sounds kind of melodramatic, but when you’re starting out a photography business, and practically every spare penny you make is directed towards a fund for much-needed equipment, it’s kind a nice to not have to pay for silly mistakes like these!
I wondered to myself why it even had to happen in the first place and then a friend pointed out how experiencing the sentiment of finding something that was lost is actually such a great life reminder.
Really. This was just a lens-hood; important but at the end of the day something material and not really of eternal value. But imagine a life being found? A child having gone astray and after a bit of a tumultuous journey, finally coming back home. It calls for celebration! And there is celebration. Great unimaginable celebration when the lost get found. That’s our value.
