I worked as a photo developer while in University and I remember that from time to time, customers would come in with films from cameras they had found and ask us to develop them. The idea was that if they saw the pictures, they might be able to return them and the cameras to their rightful owners. After a while, we filled a wall in the store with “orphaned photos” to see if anyone would recognize them.

In my three years at the store, only one camera was ever matched. Even in a relatively small city like Oslo, the chance of a person being identified from a random picture is very small.

Then the internet came along.

Found Cameras and Orphan Pictures is a blog that takes advantage of the world wide web to reunite owners with their precious memories. It’s an ingenious idea (wish I’d thought of it) and it has great potential for success as long as enough people know about it. This picture for instance, was recognized by its owner and plans are now being made for the safe return of a lost memory card.

So if you find a camera or a memory card (or even film!), send in the photos to the blog. If you’ve lost your camera, visit the blog and hope that whomever finds it reads Dabbler and knows about this great service.

[ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com]