A couple of weekends ago, I boarded a sailboat headed to Angel Island with five models I’d never met before and a handful of other photographers. Once we docked at the island, the skipper who happens to be a Nikon shooter asked if I’d like to try out his lenses.

“Which one would you like to try?” he asked.

“Um, how about the 300mm,” I said.

“Really?” he asked.

I grinned and nodded.

The Nikon 300mm f2.8 lens is a tank. And also happens to be $5,000. He said okay and helped me put it on my D700. Then he made the mistake of turning around to peer back into his photo case. Before he turned back around to me; I had already scampered off the boat, off the dock, and onto Angel Island with one of the models by my side. I cradled the 8-lb. camera and lens with both arms like a newborn and we giggled like elementary school BFF’s. We made it to the shady side of the island past the picnic tables and went to work.

When we got back to the boat, one of the other photographers on board said that the skipper joked that since I disappeared I must have hopped on the ferry back to San Francisco with his lens. I wouldn’t do that! After returning the tank, he told me he never shoots that lens without a tripod. Too heavy. Heh. I guess all the early morning bootcamp workouts have been paying off because I handheld it for 130 shots.

Model: Ning Ma
MUA: Cindy Crabtree