Some of my most prized possessions I inherited from my father. I have the coin collection that he worked on as a teen. His tattered Boy Scout Handbook sits on my bookshelf. These connections remind me of him.
When I was working in Germany, I noticed that a young man was carrying an old Lowepro backpack. His name is Johannes Leitner. I was admiring his bag and asked him if I could photograph it. As we talked, I asked him where he got it. “My father gave it to me,” he said. He had used it for years, and now it’s my turn.”
I smiled and said, “I would love to meet him.”
“Well, he’s right here,” replied Johannes as he motioned for his father to come over.
So I took their picture. The bag still looks great, and it’s a terrific story that made my day.
Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.
I inherited my father last camera, is an old german machine and works wondeful, i miss him a lot, one of the principal reasons to enter into the realm of photography was becasue him; is amazing how long Lowepro are among us, sometimes i didnt noticed enoght, “are just another tool”, but then i see my bag with scares and dirt and feel this special connection with every memory, my backpack were with me on so many adventures, in silence carrying my beloved equipment, so confortable on the long trail…not just another tool, is an old friend an conpanion. Yes perhaps i`m a nut but i love my bags 😉
What a great story — and such a great way to remember your father. We’re just happy to play even a small part in that.