Photography tips in 'dangerous' places?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 135
Photography tips in 'dangerous' places?
So a number of cities have a reputation for requiring extra caution, Rio, Sao Paulo, Jo-burg, Nairobi, come to mind, rightly or wrongly.
I enjoying photography, and have a nice digital SLR. I also don't like being chained to a tour bus and enjoy walking around the places I normally visit. What are your tips for toting around this stuff in places where you could be a target of petty crime?
Also, i don't mean to bash the places I listed above by any means, in fact, I'd love to visit sometime.
I enjoying photography, and have a nice digital SLR. I also don't like being chained to a tour bus and enjoy walking around the places I normally visit. What are your tips for toting around this stuff in places where you could be a target of petty crime?
Also, i don't mean to bash the places I listed above by any means, in fact, I'd love to visit sometime.
#3
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,802
So a number of cities have a reputation for requiring extra caution, Rio, Sao Paulo, Jo-burg, Nairobi, come to mind, rightly or wrongly.
I enjoying photography, and have a nice digital SLR. I also don't like being chained to a tour bus and enjoy walking around the places I normally visit. What are your tips for toting around this stuff in places where you could be a target of petty crime?
Also, i don't mean to bash the places I listed above by any means, in fact, I'd love to visit sometime.
I enjoying photography, and have a nice digital SLR. I also don't like being chained to a tour bus and enjoy walking around the places I normally visit. What are your tips for toting around this stuff in places where you could be a target of petty crime?
Also, i don't mean to bash the places I listed above by any means, in fact, I'd love to visit sometime.
And of course you're talking about mega-cities that have safe as well as "unsafe" areas, so watch out for brushes that are too broad.
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oakland
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,109
One option, which wouldn't let you have your SLR, but would reduce the risk of theft, would be to dress down a cheaper point and shoot so it doesn't look valuable. That way instead of saying, "I'm a tourist with $5k of camera gear in my bag", you say "I'm broke as a joke after getting here and didn't bring my good stuff with me."
See: http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/safet...easure--085028
See: http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/safet...easure--085028
#5
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 298
I think the idea of "dressing down" the camera is exactly the way to go. Let's face it: if you can't afford your gear to be stolen, don't bring it. I mean it.
It's not worth risking your personal well-being for your camera. So prepare to surrender your stuff if you are robbed (you may want to travel with many chips and keep them on you in a hidden pocket so you at least don't lose all pics in the case of all cases....)
Even though I hate it myself I think deliberately soiling your gear (in a way that it doesn't hinder functionality) is the best bet.
Apart from that, pack it away, keep the stuff 'unprofessional' - not that fancy photo backpack but a worn out backpack with your old sweater wrapped around it. And be "invisible" as much as possible on the road, not only you get better pictures but also you be safer...
It's not worth risking your personal well-being for your camera. So prepare to surrender your stuff if you are robbed (you may want to travel with many chips and keep them on you in a hidden pocket so you at least don't lose all pics in the case of all cases....)
Even though I hate it myself I think deliberately soiling your gear (in a way that it doesn't hinder functionality) is the best bet.
Apart from that, pack it away, keep the stuff 'unprofessional' - not that fancy photo backpack but a worn out backpack with your old sweater wrapped around it. And be "invisible" as much as possible on the road, not only you get better pictures but also you be safer...
#6
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Buy a cheap film camera. You can find a decent film SLR from the 70s/80s with nice prime lens for <$30 nowadays. Nobody wants to steal film cameras, much better quality pictures than a P+S
#7
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#8
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#9
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I bought a PacSafe neck strap that does not advertise "Nikon D700" in large yellow letters that can be read from a block away. Also blacked out the white letters on the camera (don't forget the lens cap). A sophisticated thief will still recognize an expensive camera but it certainly cannot hurt to be less obvious.
#11
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#13
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Apart from that, pack it away, keep the stuff 'unprofessional' - not that fancy photo backpack but a worn out backpack with your old sweater wrapped around it. And be "invisible" as much as possible on the road, not only you get better pictures but also you be safer...
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2
I recently had two, two-week trips to Rio de Janeiro for work in September and November of 2009. I was thoroughly warned through the company that the country was high in petty crime and the fact that we had 3 security briefings before I got to the hotel emphasized that.
Despite being in a "safer" part of the city I did witness two guys on a motorcycle pullover a VW sedan and rob the three people inside. I also met a coworker on the first trip that had got robbed by three 'kids' a block away from the hotel. Both incidents happened on the same night on Ipanema beach.
I did a couple things to lessen my chances of being a victim,
+ stayed in well lit areas, publlic areas
+ i went out with at least one other person (strength in numbers as suggested above)
+ a local gave me the advice that if you see someone suspiscios to be sure to make eye contact.
+ brought a thin, drawstring bag that i pulled over my camera to cover it up.
+ brought a cheap camoflagued-patterned, velcro decoy wallet
+ and most importantly i carried a monopod and held it like a bat most of the time.
Safe journey.
Despite being in a "safer" part of the city I did witness two guys on a motorcycle pullover a VW sedan and rob the three people inside. I also met a coworker on the first trip that had got robbed by three 'kids' a block away from the hotel. Both incidents happened on the same night on Ipanema beach.
I did a couple things to lessen my chances of being a victim,
+ stayed in well lit areas, publlic areas
+ i went out with at least one other person (strength in numbers as suggested above)
+ a local gave me the advice that if you see someone suspiscios to be sure to make eye contact.
+ brought a thin, drawstring bag that i pulled over my camera to cover it up.
+ brought a cheap camoflagued-patterned, velcro decoy wallet
+ and most importantly i carried a monopod and held it like a bat most of the time.
Safe journey.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Posts: 3,205
I think I paid about 30 euros for the guide for 3 hours and he reached his own arrangement with the police for an hour or so. The Algiers Casbah is not Mogadishu - the danger is from light-fingered kids and the occasional robber with a knife. The presence of a policeman with a gun is enough to make sure people ignore you.