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Travelers helping each other find lost cameras
Posted by: John Rambow, Friday, Jun 20, 2008, 10:44 AM

In a happy story, the AP recently reported on I Found Your Camera, a website that since February has been posting "orphan pictures" culled from lost digital cameras and memory cards in hopes of getting them back to their owners. The founder of the site, Matt Preprost, was inspired by an entry on PostSecret about a camera found at Lollapalooza. So far, I Found Your Camera has had a high success rate—out of the 60 or so lost devices whose photos have been posted, 8 have been reunited with their owners.

I Found Your Camera isn't the only site that's worth visiting if you've lost (or found) a camera. The forum site Camera Found is straightforward, with more in the way of camera descriptions and less in the way of random strangers posing in front of soon-to-be-misplaced lenses (this also makes it much less entertaining). Places like Craigslist probably remain the most popular place for attempting a reunion between people and their property. (Making sure that all electronics have a cell phone number or email address on them couldn't hurt either.)

Of course, when it comes to the Internet and strangers, all bets are off. Back in 2006, "Judith," a woman who had lost her camera while on vacation in Hawaii, created a (now offline) blog that tried to re-create her shots using the many Hawaii photos uploaded onto Flickr. She got lots of press, and was even contacted by the Canadian family who had found the camera. Unfortunately, when push came to shove the finders showed themselves reluctant to actually return the lost property—they said that their 9-year-old son just loved it too much to part with it.

The family, dubbed "the Bad Samaritans" by the website Boing-Boing, did return the expensive camera in the end, but only after the National Park Service and border control got involved. Goes to show that blogs can't solve every problem in the world, I suppose.

Reader Comments

I don't have a digital camera, but couldn't one take a photo of their e-mail address (or other ID) and leave it in the photo gallery, or simply tape it on the camera?

Posted By Ken on June 24, 2008, 10:35 AM

I was in Hawaii in Feb. I had a Cannon S2IS. We were on Oahua went to Pearl Harbor,Punch Bowl National Cemetery, Byodo-In Temple we went to a Luau at the Royal Hawain,I took surfing lessons, there are pictures of that. There is a tall Grey haired man 50 and a tall women Blondish brown hair 49 in the pictures. I remember for sure there are pictures of us at the Luau with Diamond Head in the background. The camera card is more important to me than the camera

Posted By Susan Kelchen on June 24, 2008, 11:20 PM

My father lost his camera in may 09 while in Hawaii.Possibly left it at the airport somewhere.Pictures of his grandkids,beach,and one with his grandkid posing with Mr.T are on his camera.

Posted By Carla on May 29, 2009, 11:58 AM

On Thursday the 4th June, we caught a flight from Buffalo to Las Vegas, stopping at Chicago for 2 hours, I remember taking pictures at Buffalo- but by the time we arrived in Las Vegas, I had lost it!!! This is our first trip to the states it has some pictures which mean alot to us but nobody else- family members whom we wont see again for many many years.. ;-(
It is a brand new camera- I am offering a reward for the return of the camera.. it is a SILVER PANASONIC LUMIX , it was in a black case with orange trimming. The latest pictures should be of us at Niagra falls- I will only respond to serious emails as Im offering a reward..I am the only female in the pictures at Niagra falls- what colour hat and shirt am i wearing???

Thank you sooo much for your help.. xo

Posted By judy on June 12, 2009, 12:22 AM

LOST camera on way home from my wedding in on Kauai Hawaii. Sept 26th, 2009 Left on air plane front seats. Don't even care about camera. reward for card inside camera. Means more to me than anyone will ever know. If anyone has any information please let me know. thank you so much. lindsaylars @ hotmail dot com

Posted By Lindsay on September 29, 2009, 11:29 AM

LOST Camera....on plane from Amsterdam to London Stansted. Silver LUMIX Camera in a back/red case....please contact if found. Pictures are from my family and New York and mean the world to me! Thank you.

Posted By Julia on January 7, 2010, 6:09 AM

I lost my song digital camera in Dallas, Texas (Cedar Springs area) this past weekend (Jan 16th 2010). I would really love to get my camera back. Here is hoping! intlguy2007@gmail.com

Posted By Che on January 20, 2010, 10:15 PM

Hi all. I lost my camera on Jan 29th 2010 somewhere between antigua airport and home, travelling on virgin plane to London Gatwick airport and then1st capital connect train to London Bridge. Its a silver nikon coolpix s200 7.1 megapixal in a black carry case. Not too fussed about the camera – miss all the photos on it! There’s photos of a family wedding and all my holiday pics of antigua! If anyone has seen it I would really appreciate an e-mail! Many thanks. x

Posted By kirsty on February 4, 2010, 5:42 PM

Our daughter and son-law lost small digitalcamera while on Carnival Legend cruise ship (probably on Lido deck or Unicorn cafe on Sunday Feb.14, 2010 as the ship was nearing Tampa Florida port. Many of photos of 2 lovely little girls and the cruise with family members.

Posted By Bonita Fuglesten on February 20, 2010, 1:42 PM

hello everyone
Today 19.o3 I lost my digital camera in Bournmouth :(
It's silver . Samsung
There are pictures of 4 little girls with the host family who i live with.

Posted By khaled on March 20, 2010, 7:09 AM

I lost my camera on Carnival ship named triumph. Not interestead in the actuall camera being returned but would LOVE to have my memory card back. The date the boat left new orleans was 4/17/2010 and returned 4/22/2010. PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVE ANY CLUE!!

Posted By britt123 on April 29, 2010, 12:13 PM

I lost a Casio Exilim camera either at or near the Mohonk House, New Paltz, NY on June 11, 2010. There were pictures of Mohonk House and Bermuda on the memory card.

Posted By David on June 21, 2010, 3:02 PM

hello, lost our camera in Ile Rousse, Corsica, France, left it on a park bench near the center of town, many wanted photo's on the camera, silver Canon digital in a soft black case, do not care about camera just the memory card.

Posted By kgw on July 20, 2010, 10:52 PM

I lost my camera in the San Juan, Puerto Rico airport on September 5 after returning from a Royal Caribbean Cruise. The camera is in a royal blue case that also contains sd cards. All of our vacation pictures are on the sd cards. We would love to have the cards even if the camera is not returned. If someone found this camera, please post pictures so that we can have our vacation memories returned to us.

Posted By Marie Nanton on September 8, 2010, 12:49 AM

We lost our camera in Kauai, Lihue airport on September 10, 2010. Canon Ixus 85 silver and black case. The digital camera is not important, just the sd card with our photos. We thought in the Bar next to Starbucks.

Thanks!! tutmonkaATgmail.com

Posted By Jonka on September 16, 2010, 2:56 AM

Lost our pink Sony Cyber Shot camera in a cab in February 2010, in Oahu, Hawaii (Waikiki) had wedding pictures on it. Cab came from Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. Would love the memory card back, those are memories we lost.

Posted By Chanel on September 21, 2010, 4:24 AM

I dropped my Pentax Optio S5z digital camera from a bridge on the Swift River in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on Sept. 28, 2010. I would love to have the memory card back with all of my photos, especially my grandchildren.

Posted By Barbara Lindberg on October 5, 2010, 6:22 PM

My camera was left on the veranda at Longmire Inn, Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park on the evening of September 24, 2010. My memory card is very important with pictures of my grandaughter and my 90 year old mother.

Posted By Jennifer W on October 10, 2010, 6:56 PM

My silver Canon Powershot 520 digital camera and black case were left on the veranda at Longmire Inn, Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park on the evening of September 24, 2010. My memory card is very important with pictures of my grandaughter and my 90 year old mother.

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Posted By acandanix on April 9, 2011, 10:46 AM

I left my Sony Cybershot camera on the chair when I was at the Emei Shan Tourist Information Centre. It contained 2 extra batteries and 1 extra memory stick in the camera case. Most importantly are all the photos taken of Chengdu, Leshan, Emei Shan and Jiuzhaigou. I hope whoever picked it up will at least return the photos to me.

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