Loss
Today, while traveling in France, our car was broken into and my computer, hard drives, cameras and other personal effects of mine and Maggie’s were stolen. All this while we were less than 30 feet away in an off the road and isolated antique store where we spent no more than 10 minutes. The police wouldn’t come and we had no recourse but to leave, even though we could see that a scam team had done the deed.
I’m sorry to say that I cannot post a photograph until I can access a computer and my files again. I will do my best to catch up once I’m back in the studio.
Thank you for being patient.
joel
ONCE MORE AROUND THE SUN 
Joel, that is terrible, how disappointing and shocking to have that happen. I hope you are able to recover quickly from the loss and disruption.
LikeLike
So sorry to hear the news. Its a real privilege to receive your daily blog, something I find myself looking forward to. So I hope you can replace the replaceable items and have not lost too much. Ian
LikeLike
Awful. Just got back from 5 weeks in India and had several close calls. Ended up carrying everything in a backpack which I never put down. Tracking on the computer?
LikeLike
Sorry to hear that, Joel. I hope you can recover all your stuff soon. We will wait patiently for your words and images. Your daily gift, nobody can steal that from us. All the best, Jose.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Joel
This is awful news for you and there is no need to apologise. While I look forward to the daily email, it is totally understable that you are unable to post and I look forward to the point when you can resume.
I was once asked, in my former life as a UK Bobby, what I thought about dealing with incidents such as this. The chat in the mess room had been of having to deal with lots of, ‘crappy little jobs’ from one particular colleuage. After we had a rather frank conversation about the personal impact of such things, and I disagreed with the term used we went on to discuss context. He argued there are worse things in the world, which I didn’t disagree with (as many a photography would attest to) but I tried to explain the frustration, loss, invasion of space on several levels, not to mention the need to address wider underlying causes. I won’t bore you further but we spoke for some time about personal impact. He still wasn’t sure, so the next day I stole his pint of milk from the fridge. He hit the roof and screamed an outrage when he found someone had taken it – I won the point!
I hope this incident hasn’t had too personal an impact on you and your good lady and that the items lost for you an you wife will be found or replaced soon. These things do matter and a little understanding goes a long way.
I look forward to your blog continuing when you’re able.
All the best
Mark
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sorry to hear that! I have really appreciated you sharing your photos and look forward to seeing more in the future!
LikeLike
It’s just a sorry state that the world is in that there are thieving assholes everywhere and the police wouldn’t help you.
I know you will get back on track, if they stole your precious Leicas I have an M6 which it would be an honour to lend you in the meantime, drop me an email and can arrange to get it to you if that helps?
LikeLike
Argh! That’s so frustrating. Wishing you the best, hope all is well!
LikeLike
Argh! That’s so frustrating! Wishing you the best, and hope all is well.
LikeLike
What a testing time. Life can be so unfair. Try not to take it personally, life’s too short. Bon courage, Lou
LikeLike
how terrible, hope you had back up
LikeLike
Hi Joel,
Sorry to hear that your camera and computer are stolen.
I hope you soon manage to pick up your beautiful work.
All the best
Nol
LikeLike
Dear Joel,
I am very sad to hear what happened to you. I know how much hassle it is, to get all the stuff back, the data, dealing with insurances etc.. All I wanted to say is that I really Do appreciate that you share your thoughts about photography in specific and life in general with me (us). If you need help or if you come to Switzerland, send me an mail!
With kind regards, Marcus
PS: your retrospective in Düsseldorf was phenomenal!
LikeLike
Hopefully, when you’re looking back on this year in December… this event will be just a minor hiccup, overshadowed by the many positive things you’ll encounter this year.
LikeLike
Oh, no! I’m so sorry to read your news, and doubly sorry that the police compounded the injury by treating you with such indifference.
It always shakes my faith in the world a bit when setbacks like this happen to lovely people like you and Maggie …
My very best to you, and as they say in France, <>
LikeLike
Many people always say, when you got stolen, that these are just material stuffs but the things we lived with made feelings and memories hard to replace. My grand father gave me his camera before he passed away and somebody stole it ; it was my first real camera, I was sad.
Hope there was not many unreplacable things in your car.
Kindly,
Nicolas
LikeLike
thoughts with you both, what a dreadful lesson in detachment! I’ve learned never to leave valuables in a car in Europe. Very much loving your updates they are so worthwhile! Good luck with sorting the frustrating details, don’t give yourself too much of a hard time – it could have happened to any of us. Very much look forward to the ping of your next post in my inbox!
LikeLike
LET’S START WITH I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START. HOW ABOUT DEVASTATED? HUGS TO YOU AND WIFE. MAKE SURE SHE KEEPS DANCING. NOT SURE HOW CONNECTED YOU WERE TO YOUR CAMERA, OTHER THAN AS A SHOOTER, BUT THEY DIDN’T STEAL YOUR EYE, YOUR HEART OR YOUR WOMAN. I LOVE THE PROJECT. WILL BE SPENDING MAY IN PARIS, WORKSHOP WITH PETER TURNLEY. MAYBE WE WILL SEE ONE ANOTHER. HAVE SOME FEARS ABOUT BEING ROBBED, NOW MADE EVEN STRONGER. STAY STRONG. YOU REMAIN A PHOTOGRAPHIC HERO TO ME.
LikeLike
So sorry to hear of your gear loss Joel. It must have been devastating for you both, do hope things get sorted out for you soon. We await further news and the return of your daily blog.
LikeLike
That’s terrible news! I can’t imagine the frustration of having your stuff stolen. 😦 I hope you find them soon. Best of luck.
LikeLike