I’ve helped out photogs in need. If I was down in the photo pit and someone needed extra batteries or ear plugs, I’d give them some. I’ve let younger photogs test out my L series lenses. I’ve loaned equipment to photogs in emergencies. I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t help others. It’s just the right thing to do.
Well, Karma must be real, because I was paid back for some of my good deeds the other day. I had a shoot at DFW airport for one of my news wire clients. It was a total last-minute assignment, so I had to rush out there and rush back.
Normally, the airline PR people will help get you access and escort you all over the place, but they were in the middle of some important work. They gave me free reign in their ticketing area, but couldn’t escort me to get close-up airplane shots. It was suggested to use the public area, just outside of the airport. I think it’s called Founders Park?
Anyway, I wasn’t REALLY equipped to get great shots from a distant location – my biggest lens is a 70-200 2.8L and my extender sucks too much to really use (it is just too soft and blurry compared to simply cropping and upping the file size).
So, I go out there anyway, because I have to shoot SOMETHING… When I arrive, I see a guy with a massive lens. I’ve used a lot of the big boys before – the 300 2.8L, the 400L, the 600L – and they are nice lenses, but massively expensive. Well, this guy had the 800mm L series Canon lens, and it was nice!
We get to talking, and it turns out that he makes a living off of aviation photography. He’s been doing it a long time and I’d have to say he is one of THE guys to go to for aviation pics. His name is Jim Wilson, and you can see his website here:
Anyway, long story short, he let me borrow his 800mm lens for a minute. It really helped me get some better stuff. I could only use it for a minute or two at most, because I had to run back to the studio on tight deadline, but it would’ve been nice to play with it a bit longer.
Jim sent me a pic he took from the other day, and I must say it is nicer than what I got. I could comfort myself by saying it’s due to the fact that he had a while to sit and shoot and I had to snap and run. However, I think he would’ve left with the winning shot, even if I had all day to sit and snap away… Here’s the image he sent me:
Just for comparison, here is an out take from my images (due to my contract with this specific news company, I can’t share the best images I sent them, only my out takes… sorry):
As you can see, his shot is much nicer. But you’d expect that from a guy who is one of the top aviation shooters in Texas. I’d be more surprised if my stuff was better than his. I only shoot aviation stuff a couple times a year for news stories – not every day like Jim.
So, the point of this story is that Karma may just provide for you in your time of need, assuming you reciprocate. I look at it like a bank account in a way. Good luck and favors can only be withdrawn if you are making regular deposits. I always try to help my fellow photogs, and I’ve been lucky they return the favors.