p.2 #1 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
In Washington DC, using a long lens I'm mostly worried about attracting attention from security personnel, even if I'm shooting legally. I wouldn't be surprised if you got similar attention in high profile spots in places like NYC, LA, Paris, London or Chicago. I don't think the general public gets distracted by it though. It's also rare that I'll go street shooting with anything longer than 50 mm. If I'm interested in getting architectural detail then I'll bust out the zoom.
I actually do not really worry about people stealing my gear, but I am using a Lowepro shoulder pack and whenever I am shooting I keep the bag clasped. So it's near me at all times and it just looks like a big bag. Someone who is interested in mugging you is probably not spending his mental effort calculating the street value of your gear. I'm actually more afraid for my wallet than anything else.
I've actually become quite disinterested with taking photos of random people. Very few people are actually worth shooting. I'm actually more afraid of people *thinking* I'm shooting them, when actually, I'm not at all.
If I drive to some high profile or very heavily-trafficked place with my car and I leave my gear in the car, I usually put it in the trunk or down below the seat where no one can see it. Smash and grabs are extremely common... people will steal stuff and they don't even know what it is until they get home to inspect it.
p.2 #2 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
I carry a pistol, and I'm also trained in Judo/JuJitsu. Fighting someone off isn't my concern. My concern would be, I'm attacked for my camera. In the scuffle, my gear is broken. Or, I'm attacked, and I shoot the individual, now my pistol is in evidence until I'm cleared or even worse, I'm attacked and I get introuble.
My concern is getting "caught" taking the pictures. I'd rather avoid all confrontation. I'd rather just get my snap shots and get out. That said, the few candids I've got, I took with my 50mm lens. My longest lens is the 17-85 IS with a lens hood on it, and I think it's too long for candids (well at my local shopping mall). I couldn't imagine trying to shoot a 70-200 or whatever in that place. Then again, where I live it's not exactly like people walking everywhere ala LA NYC DC or something like that.
p.2 #4 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
pipspeak wrote:
Good lord. You sound almost as creepy as the guy pictured above
The ol' if everyone carries a gun, no one will get hurt scenario, as everyone knows everyone else has a gun and won't dare draw on them - because everyone is so 100% rational living in the perfect world we inhabit.
p.2 #6 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
Here comes the old gun arguements again.....
Pixel Perfect understands a little about the human thought process. Crimes are committed when people THINK they can get away with it! Ignore that fact of life and you will become one of the victims at some point. Denial and/or saying it shouldn't be that way doesn't change the possibility. Telling someone else they shouldn't defend themselves (using an effective defense strategy, yes guns are effective), is the equivelant of saying you want them to be helpless victims. Where is the human compassion, especially for your fellow photographers!
Before someone claims this is off topic, re-read the original poster statement regarding personal security in an uncertain world. I have had similar fears as I go around with the 70-200 2.8 IS, I never got as many looks from the Sigma 70-200 2.8 which is about the same size, but black!
p.2 #7 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
Never had a problem in the city, even with the 300/2.8L up. I guess people don't really care about it that much and it would be pretty hard to conceal if someone tried to run off with it anyway.
The only time I get nervous is on beaches. People get funny ideas that you're shooting for a paedophile website or some other nonsense. At that point I feel a lot less safe than I would on the street. I know a female PJ who was threatened by an angry mob on the beach one hot summers' day last year. She was just doing her job. It hasn't happened to me yet but people are so paranoid and reactive these days I'm resigned to the fact that it probably will one day.
I'll never own or carry a gun. No point in going there. This is about photography.
p.2 #8 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
claudermilk wrote:
Then hang out for a bit so they get used to you & start to ignore you. I don't do much street shooting, and that little bit is mostly at some kind of event (county fair for example). I usually use the 24-70 and have the gear hanging--no hiding what I'm up to. I'll get the occasional reaction to the brick, but usually can get my shot.
But the ignorance ends again when I put the camera to my eye….
p.2 #9 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
georgefun99 wrote:
I have had similar fears as I go around with the 70-200 2.8 IS, I never got as many looks from the Sigma 70-200 2.8 which is about the same size, but black!
The Nikon guys will be happy. Their lenses are all black…..
p.2 #10 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
Thanks for the replies!
Personally i have no problem in both getting involved and sniping. I think that both approaches yield different photos and its not always possible to go with one or the other - particularly where there is the risk of someone getting offended.
My main concern was the security aspect - i come from malta which is a small, extremely safe place, however when i'm abroad in the city its comforting to know that i'm not running around with a big target mark on my back if i choose to use my larger lenses.
p.2 #11 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
I have to say I never had a problem and never felt threatened. I typically use a 1DMKii (now a Mkiii) and a 70-200 f2.8 IS for city candids not once have felt insecure. I travelled in India, africa, Aisa, Iran, Cuba and would regularly go off the beaten track.
p.2 #13 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
pipspeak wrote:
Good lord. You sound almost as creepy as the guy pictured above
I don't think I'm creepy. I avoid confrontation at all costs. If I'm attacked, I'd do what's needed to get to safety. If I was in a position where I had to defend myself, what more can I do? Lay there and take it? No, when someone wishes harm on you, you've got to beat them to it.
More on topic, when I was in San Fran in 04 I was doing a lot of candids. Granted, they weren't good candids, but they were what they were. I was using a Canon Powershot G3. Most of the people didn't notice, however a few confronted me afterwards. Quick use of the menu and deleting their shot saved a lot of arguements (You took my picture, no sir I'm afraid you're mistaken, I was taking this picture "shows picture").
Where I live now, there's no so much like bustling walkers all through the streets. When you think of the big city you can think of people walking through the city streets, and the oppourtunities for those shots are there. Basically if you're walking on the street here, you see the other person and they see you.
My biggest concern like I said wouldn't be the fight or anything, it would be the confrontation. Is it really worth the picture when some ass is getting irate over it? I'd rather go through life and not make some random stranger mad. Doesn't mean I won't do candids, I'll just be catious about it, and hopefully my approach will work, if they ask I'll delete the shot. Then again if they know I took it, how candid was it.
I think a few rules of thumb would be, don't take pictures of a crowd that is a demographic of people who would be inclined to kick your butt because of your demographic.
p.2 #14 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
Yeah I would definitely confront someone taking my picture without permission. I would not strike that person with my fist, but I would let them know that I think paparazzi shots should be limited to celebrities and those who willingly put their likeness into the public arena for exploitation.
p.2 #15 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
wilsonprince wrote:
Yeah I would definitely confront someone taking my picture without permission. I would not strike that person with my fist, but I would let them know that I think paparazzi shots should be limited to celebrities and those who willingly put their likeness into the public arena for exploitation.
And yet, that person is perfectly entitled to take the picture assuming you are both in a public place!
p.2 #17 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
Yakim Peled wrote:
First thing I do is to look around .. with the camera in the bag or pointed down. When I spot such a shooting opportunity I pull it out quickly, make the all the necessary arrangements (e.g. pre-selecting focal length ...) with my back to the subject and only when all is set I turn around and shoot.
This behaviour might seem a little odd to a member of the public. Here in London, odd behaviour with a camera can have its own consequences as the police here are fuelling the every-photographer-is-a-terrorist campaign.
p.2 #18 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
That's funny. Israel is a country which fought for it's existence since its birth, 60 years ago. Wars and terrorist acts are - unfortunately - our almost daily bread'n'butter from the cradle. It has its peaceful times but this issue is never far from our minds (just watch the news). Nevertheless, if I am not near a security facility, nobody seems to mind if I am taking pictures anywhere.
p.2 #19 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
This whole string provides an excellent argument for adding a G9, or equivalent, to your kit. Small, easily concealed, quick to deploy, and provides a pretty good file (particularly if you shoot in RAW).
p.2 #20 · Running around the City with a big white lens...
Glassbottle wrote:
I live in South Africa, a high-crime country. I work for a newspaper that employs many photographers and fits them out with the latest gear.
Of the four in my office, none has ever been mugged, to my knowledge. And I think I would have heard of muggings among the eight or so photographers at head office, but I haven't.
Even bad places aren't as bad as we fear.
I live in South Africa as well and considering how horrible crime is over here I have only heard of one incident of photographers being mugged(I'm sure there are more). It was when I was still studying a group of 5 or 6 students were out for an assignment and got mugged. They were in a dodgy area right around sunset so I guess it's a case of wrong place at the wrong time. They didn't even have any pro equipment as far as I'm aware.
I think the biggest danger in SA would be for tourists who might not always know where these dodgy areas are.
I have felt slightly unsafe at times but I think it may be that I'm overly paranoid about crime at the moment. (Walking around with a 70-200 F2.8)
