Take Two of Everything

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was going to do some photos at a friend's son's Bar Mitzvah. Not having seen the venue, and knowing precisely nothing about Jewish traditions and ceremonies I was a bit nervous. So I took about every piece of photographic equipment I possess, just in case.......

Things started well enough with my "walk around" lens that guarantees that at least some shots will be ok.

Then I went to change lenses.

Have you ever had the lens lock button and its spring shoot out of your camera onto the floor of a synagogue in the middle of prayers? I hadn't. I have now.

I only have one camera, so I spent the next couple of minutes on hands and knees looking for the bits that had come off. I'm not sure if this is common practice, but nobody seemed to mind.

Luckily, I found the button, and enough of it is left to enable me to change lenses even though I have to keep it safe in my camera bag so as not to lose it.

The happy ever after bit: my friends like the photos.

Here's one. Not technically the best one , but I like it.

"Nice Camera - It Must Take Good Pictures"

We stayed with some friends at the weekend. I took some photos as usual, and then it came. The remark. "You've got a nice camera. It must take some nice pictures. Can you.....?"

The "Can you" in question was a Bar Mitvah portrait. OK, so I've never been in a synagogue in my life and I've never been commissioned to do a photo before. On the other hand, I was at their place, eating their food and sleeping under their roof, and they're friends. So I said "Yes, I'll give it a go."

This is Joe, one of the perpetrators;