TURKEYBOY PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT DRIVE

Hello my name is Curtis Ray Benally and I am also known as “Tazhii Ashki” (Turkeyboy). I am fundraising to replace lost photography equipment to theft. I am a small business owner of TURKEYBOY PHOTOGRAPHY located in Farmington, New Mexico.

On Saturday, September 24, 2022, I lost a camera bag with numerous photography equipment worth over twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) on the campus of the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. I was in the middle of a wedding shoot when the incident occurred. I filed an incident report with the UNM Police Department. On Sunday, September 25, 2022, I was notified by the UNM PD that the campus surveillance cameras recorded a female individual picking up my camera bag and driving off. The identity of the individual and her vehicle are still not known at this time. There have been no new updates from the UNM PD since then. If you have any information regarding the stolen equipment, please contact the UNM Police Department, or the Albuquerque Police Department at (505) 242-COPS.

Stolen equipment include the following: Canon R6 mirrorless body (Serial# 0420210018789). Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS len. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM (Serial # 3530003741). Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM (Serial #2650004384). Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 USM (Serial # 0220000352). Canon lens EF-RF mount adapter. Canon remote control TC-80N3. Three Pocket Wizard Plus III transceivers. Rode Video Mic Pro. Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT flash (Serial # 0900109069). Two Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion batteries. Camera & lens caps. Pouch & SD media cards. Paul C. Buff Cyber Commander. Paul C. Buff Cyber Sync transceiver. Lowe Pro large green camera bag.

Funds raised will be applied to the replacement of some, if not all, of the aforementioned items.

To those that do not know me, or of my photographic work, photography is my full-time occupation and it’s my livelihood. This is how I make my living, pay my bills, pay my taxes (yep, taxes) and provide for my family.

I have spent the last few days recanting in my mind over and over on what I should have done, could have done and would have done to have prevented the incident from occurring in the first place. The most distressing part of this unfortunate incident is losing years of financial investment in professional-level photography equipment—the tools of my creativity—in a short period of time.

With much prayer and contemplation, I’ve come to accept the fact, the reality and the peace that I may never see my stolen equipment ever again. With that clarity of mind, I have to move forward. Life does not stop. Responsibilities and obligations do not stop.

With the love, support and encouragement of many, I am turning to one of the options available to me—GO FUND ME.

Should you choose to be part of this fundraising campaign, your financial contributions—however small or large—will be greatly appreciated. Should you choose not to be, I understand. I am still grateful for your consideration, and please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I rebuild this part of my life.

If you wish to donate through other means, via Zelle, Venmo, CashApp or PayPal, contact me through my social meda sites: Facebook "Turkeyboy Photography", Instagram @turkeyboyphotography and Twitter @turkeyboyphoto.

Lastly, another way you can support me is by booking me for photo shoots. I provide photographic services for Seniors, family, weddings, commercial, headshots, events and just about anything that can be photographed.

May peace be with you and may you all continue to walk in beauty. ~TURKEYBOY