VERY IMPORTANT WARNING

Today Bret Edge and I wrapped up our fall colors workshop at Dallas Divide. One of our attendees set her camera bag at her feet and slowly migrated down the fence line. When she went back to where it was, just 25 or so feet away, but in plain sight, it was gone. I had walked right past it, but didn't know it was hers. There was a guy lurking nearby, so I assumed it was his. Apparently the a-hole absconded with it. This is similar to what was happening to wedding photographers in SLC at the big Mormon cathedral (excuse my imprecise terminology) a year or so ago. Several photographers had their gear stolen while they did post-ceremony photos nearby.

It's unfathomable to me that there are such lowlifes skulking among us, but there are. Keep you gear near you and be cognizant of who else is close!

There has to be a very special place in hell for people like that. Who would think it would happen so blatantly? I hope she can her stuff back via insurance...poor thing
BTW, were you guys at the entrance to the Last Dollar Ranch...yellow Hummer? We saw a bunch of people there and it looked like a workshop scenario...didn't see you though.

Thanks for the warning, Todd. I know that I certainly am too trusting in such a situation. Although insurance can cover the loss, it certainly trashes a trip! I'm sure it was a downer for everyone in your workshop.

Too bad nobody saw enough to nail this guy. It is amazing that such a theft can be pulled off in a crowd. They obviously count on everyone being absorbed in their own photography.

Sorry to hear that Todd. Thieves are one thing I cannot tolerate. Someone works their behind off to save up and buy this expensive equipment and some jack wagon (from the Geico commercial) takes the easy route and just takes someone else's??? What a bunch of.....(wish I could use the words I really want to use)! I sure hope she had it insured and better yet, I hope they catch the idiot trying to pawn it or something.

Ugh! I guess I'll stick with my toploader so I can keep everything with me and accessible at all times. I feel terrible for that poor woman, coming to take a workshop and lose everything in the process. I imagine that this guy does this on a regular basis as he seemed to know what he was doing. Perhaps through the watchful eyes of this group we might be able to catch him in the act.

Wow! That sucks! I'm kind of an airhead when it comes to leaving my pack when I'm shooting so I'll be more careful. Thankfully I go shooting with my dogs and they are a great warning system

Terrible...that is why I keep my pack on me at all times, if not for someone taking it, then for me forgetting it.

Wow, what a bummer. With all the cameras around too bad there isnt a photo of the ******* who took off with it. I once left a lens in a crowd of photographers on the Zion bridge in a crowd of several dozen photogs and tourists--when i went back a couple hours later it was still there! You generally think of photographers as a real honest bunch, but when youve got guys like this lurking around---that changes the equation.

Thanks for the heads up, Todd. What a hard lesson for this poor woman.

Man, does that stink to high heaven! I hate thieves, because a thief is a liar, too.

Just a word of caution to Stan and others ... let's not assume the thief was a photographer. lots of thieves steal things they themselves have no use for.

I kinda doubt the thief was a photog as well. I bet he just knew that this time of year, the Dallas divide pullouts are jam packed with photographers that don't know each other. Just like Todd said, he thought the bag was the skulking individual's. I'm sure he works all the crowded sites counting on folks being absorbed in their work and not knowing who's gear is whose.

Hope insurance covers it. And thanks for the warning. Makes me think twice. Sometimes in the heat of the moment, we all get a little careless while we try to get that perfect shot.