Learning happens through planned activities but also more serendipitously and not always so pleasantly. I was of two minds whether or not to write about happened over the past 24 hours but as this is a blog about the chronicles of learning, I couldn’t not write about it. At the very least you might have a good laugh at my expense.
Rewind a few weeks. A couple of Twitter friends, Jeffrey and Stuart, and I were making light of how we prepare for a trip and how we invariably leave something behind. This visit to Africa is my first international trip for the purposes of attending a photography workshop (safari in this case) so I was determined to make sure everything was in place. I researched what one brings on a photographic safari to Africa. I made a list. I checked it twice–well more than that actually. The order went into B&H Photo for the things I didn’t have that I felt were absolutely necessary and I finally got my grubby little paws on my very own Kiboko bag from Andy Biggs.
Then chaos hits on Christmas day with a certain flight from Amsterdam to Detroit and all my attention swings to how am I going to get my gear on the flight to Africa. Yes it sounds like an excuse in the making but I really was pre-occupied with weight of my hand luggage (camera gear) and the number of items I could carry on board. But all went well and I arrived safely in South Africa with all luggage intact except for a broken zipper on my duffle bag.
Fast forward to yesterday. My second day of shooting after taking a week off and we’re headed to Addo Elephant Park just about an hour’s drive from the coastal town of Port Elizabeth. My cousin and I are sorting out our gear and I realize that I’ve forgotten my newly acquired Nikon 1.4x teleconverter. My longest lens is a 300mm f/4 and looking at the image above, you might say that was sufficient but I felt it wasn’t nearly enough.
Well I believe in angels and miracles. After a rather sleepless night, miracle of miracles my sister and brother-in-law were able to find my extension tubes teleconverter and David duChemin, who is delayed two days leaving Vancouver because of snowstorms in the UK, has kindly agreed to bring it with him even though he is loaded down with his own gear. Did I say I believe in angels? Maybe I should have said saints!
So the moral of the story here folks is that a shopping list is NOT a packing list. Please don’t let me forget this; it’s just too painful to have to go through it again!
It’s always something, eh? So glad David is able to get it to you!! I’m at the point I pretty much have to make list of the lists I need to make! haha.
Enjoy your trip!!
A list of lists?! Now why didn’t I think of that…genius, Sue
I love your elephant photo. Isnt it funny how often these things just work out in the end? Enjoy the rest of your adventure!
Cheers Dave…I believe in Divine Intervention and if I didn’t before, I sure do now!
Every trip I take ends up duplicating something I already own. You are normal in my sense of it. Good thing David got delayed. Have a great time I would love to be there.
Well Ray, now I know who I can contact for extra gear. Thanks for making me feel much better. If I had had to buy another TC, I might have kept that just to myself to spare further embarrassment but not anymore
Wish you were here too but it feels like you are when you check in!