Giving away stuff

I've given lots in many venues and saw things wasted or pawned. I've received very little from others.

It's the same as the coin dishes at cash registers... always the same people who give coins and never take... always the same people who always take and never give.

Yes, I'm jaded... but for very good reasons.

During the twenty-four years of helping students make photographs, many things came and went. A lot of my time, sometimes some of my stuff. Quite a bit of equipment and paper/chemicals dropped off as donations. If our program could not use it, I found a home for it amongst the students. The university started to get fussy about it, though.

I tend to loan gear out more so than give it away, as I figure why let a friend do without something they could use while it otherwise sits on a shelf taking up space and collecting dust? Sometimes it is a lens to someone while out at the same area just so they can try it out, others it is a complete camera and gear bag sent along with them and ending up staying with them for years. (Mostly because it was something I didn't really use because I had since upgraded to gear I liked more anyway, and keep forgetting that technically it is still mine.)

I have given out maybe three rolls of film to people in the last year, developed film for someone once or twice, have offered the use of my daylight tanks and other equipment to someone who is thinking of getting into film work, and awhile back I traded a roll of Delta 100 to someone I met randomly in the park in exchange for a roll of TMax simply because they mentioned they were curious about how the Ilford film would work for them.

These days I do nothing for people unless I know them personally and know for a fact they're in need of basic essentials such as food or water. I always help with those if I can.

I've got enough spare gear to outfit at least two darkrooms, not to mention tons of paper and chemicals. All of it given to me.

I keep it hoping someone will be interested and ask me for help so I can pass it along. There is always hope!

I buy a lot of inexpensive random camera stuff: interesting lenses, broken things I can fix, or cameras/lenses I always wanted to try but which used to be too expensive. Some of this I sell, but very often I just pass them on to students or the school where I teach.

The last person I gave film and processing to still hasn't put the roll in their camera. ???

MattKing said:

I think telling others about how much others appreciate these types of gifts, in the interest of encouraging others to also give, is a great idea.
Just as its fine to tell others about how much you enjoyed seeing others enjoy the stuff you give.
For financial and similar gifts, I don't disagree with Rick, although I think it is always a good idea to encourage philanthropy.

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The people to whom you give the money, film, labor, or equipment need whatever you give and most likely appreciate the gift. If it strokes your ego, fine, it is not for me to criticize you for giving. You gave and that is the important thing. Maybe if more people stroked their egos that way it might make many people happier, both the givers and the receivers. Lighten up people.........Regards!

I tend to give stuff away if I drink too much, even if I can't afford the gifting. I should stop drinking.

I haven't yet got into the situation of giving, as there is no extensive interest on film around my circle. Tried to tempt some acquitances, because certain bits of gear are inexpensive.

Luckless said:

I tend to loan gear out more so than give it away, as I figure why let a friend do without something they could use while it otherwise sits on a shelf taking up space and collecting dust? Sometimes it is a lens to someone while out at the same area just so they can try it out, others it is a complete camera and gear bag sent along with them and ending up staying with them for years.

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It's a good idea and I was pondering that one. I will soon move and not all the stuff can come, amongst them, cameras. I obtained an SX70 on a Xmas giveaway, and yes, I could sell it for a nice profit to support the moving costs but I may as well leave it with a friend for the meantime. If it was given to me, it seems wrong selling it.

adelorenzo said:

I've got enough spare gear to outfit at least two darkrooms, not to mention tons of paper and chemicals. All of it given to me.

I keep it hoping someone will be interested and ask me for help so I can pass it along. There is always hope!

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Too bad about geography! I would take an outfit and make it into a facility, or if possible, a community darkroom. Thing is, many miles between and a continent.