Safety considerations with extensive travel/street photography using gear that looks expensive and stands out?

In Barcelona, my bag was stolen from my car within seconds while I was a few meters away. Thank God they took this bag with the old binoculars and video camera. Next to it was an old leather suitcase with a Hasselblad xPan and a full set of lenses (about $8,000!!!)
This was the last time I took this set on a trip, and now I'm going to sell it, exactly because of the risk of theft.
Paris, especially Barcelona - problems with thieves, some areas of London - problems with robberies on the streets at night.
All Scandinavian countries and the Baltic countries are safe.
South Asian countries seem safe to me. I have seen robberies in South African countries, but they are very different, both countries and regions.
The problem is that you look like a rich tourist, a stranger. I lived in Russia for 20 years, I understand this country - therefore it is not dangerous for me, but not for other tourists.
A friend of mine who has traveled a lot in South America said that it is not dangerous to visit even favelas if you are wearing a sleeveless T-shirt with sweat stains, flip-flops and a can of beer in your hands
...
Can anyone tell me how safe it is to walk and take pictures in New York?
This city is special for vertical panoramas, but I'm a little afraid to walk with xPan
I plan to visit it in the spring, this is my first visit to America.


But mostly it's safe and hassle-free with the people you want to photograph, to do it with a smartphone!

I've taken a bunch of medium format cameras with me (Rolleiflex, Tele-Rollei, and a Lomo Belair X6/12) to Rome, the pair of Rollei 2.8's I have to Paris, the Rollei/Tele-Rollei/Lomo LCA120 trio to Mexico City, an RZ67 with three lenses to Mexico City (don't ask!... I was a glutton for punishment), a brand-new Fuji XT5 with a bag full of lenses to Mexico City (and a Canham 5x7!) most recently. I've shot with a Fuji XT body in Mexico City a number of times, and while I don't open carry it on the subway (the trains are too crowded for that in most circumstances), I've walked around on city streets with it around my neck, and never had a problem. Having a medium format camera out has led to a number of very nice conversations with people about photography. Oh, and back when I was still shooting 35mm film frequently, I took a Contax G1/G2 and five lens kit to Barcelona. Perhaps the worst idea (in terms of convenience, not in terms of picture-taking) was the trip I took to Spain with a backpack full of Hasselblad kit - I had a 500C/M, 50, 80, 120 lenses, a Superwide, an Xpan, and four film backs in a backpack. Even hauling that kit around I never felt concerned or under observation. These days I tend to go lighter with something like my Rolleiflex or the Kodak Chevron, or the Fuji digital kit that I can pack the body and a couple of primes into a small Domke bag that doesn't scream camera bag.

Rayt said:

The tourist trail is going to have the most danger. I tend to avoid those. How many photos of the most photographed places on earth do I need to take? Around Europe outside the usual places will be safe. I travelled for work and always tag on a few days for photography and never did I feel unsafe in either Mexico City, Manila, Kolkata, anywhere in Europe even at night walking randomly looking for subject matter. Important thing is to leave everything in the hotel and have a photocopy of your passport on you if the cops want to check your papers. Take enough local currency and some USD with you. And never go into a bar in any country without the company of a local friend. If you need a drink then do it in the hotel.

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Rayt you'd get mighty thirsty, if you travel alone. That's like saying never cross the street without an adult holding your hand.....
& your US dollars won't get you anywhere in Europe.....

TheFlyingCamera said:

I've taken a bunch of medium format cameras with me (Rolleiflex, Tele-Rollei, and a Lomo Belair X6/12) to Rome, the pair of Rollei 2.8's I have to Paris, the Rollei/Tele-Rollei/Lomo LCA120 trio to Mexico City, an RZ67 with three lenses to Mexico City (don't ask!... I was a glutton for punishment), a brand-new Fuji XT5 with a bag full of lenses to Mexico City (and a Canham 5x7!) most recently. I've shot with a Fuji XT body in Mexico City a number of times, and while I don't open carry it on the subway (the trains are too crowded for that in most circumstances), I've walked around on city streets with it around my neck, and never had a problem. Having a medium format camera out has led to a number of very nice conversations with people about photography. Oh, and back when I was still shooting 35mm film frequently, I took a Contax G1/G2 and five lens kit to Barcelona. Perhaps the worst idea (in terms of convenience, not in terms of picture-taking) was the trip I took to Spain with a backpack full of Hasselblad kit - I had a 500C/M, 50, 80, 120 lenses, a Superwide, an Xpan, and four film backs in a backpack. Even hauling that kit around I never felt concerned or under observation. These days I tend to go lighter with something like my Rolleiflex or the Kodak Chevron, or the Fuji digital kit that I can pack the body and a couple of primes into a small Domke bag that doesn't scream camera bag.

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The Rolleiflex is sweet. The only time anyone approached me was in Paris a few years ago, & the (french) person asked about the Rollei I was photographing with.

GregY said:

The Rolleiflex is sweet. The only time anyone approached me was in Paris a few years ago, & the (french) person asked about the Rollei I was photographing with.

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I get comments when using the Rollei all the time- oftentimes it gets mistaken for a Hasselblad (because that's the only non-35mm camera brand many people know). But it's a friendly camera - people aren't intimidated by it and will often agree to be photographed by it. It's also a great stealth camera because of the waist level finder and the near-silent shutter - you can take photos with it without being noticed. Braced carefully, you can also pull off hand-held shots with it that you can't with other cameras - I have successfully taken 1 second exposures with it hand-held.

Sergey Ko said:

In Barcelona, my bag was stolen from my car within seconds while I was a few meters away. Thank God they took this bag with the old binoculars and video camera. Next to it was an old leather suitcase with a Hasselblad xPan and a full set of lenses (about $8,000!!!)
This was the last time I took this set on a trip, and now I'm going to sell it, exactly because of the risk of theft.
Paris, especially Barcelona - problems with thieves, some areas of London - problems with robberies on the streets at night.
All Scandinavian countries and the Baltic countries are safe.
South Asian countries seem safe to me. I have seen robberies in South African countries, but they are very different, both countries and regions.
The problem is that you look like a rich tourist, a stranger. I lived in Russia for 20 years, I understand this country - therefore it is not dangerous for me, but not for other tourists.
A friend of mine who has traveled a lot in South America said that it is not dangerous to visit even favelas if you are wearing a sleeveless T-shirt with sweat stains, flip-flops and a can of beer in your hands
...
Can anyone tell me how safe it is to walk and take pictures in New York?
This city is special for vertical panoramas, but I'm a little afraid to walk with xPan
I plan to visit it in the spring, this is my first visit to America.


But mostly it's safe and hassle-free with the people you want to photograph, to do it with a smartphone!

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I don't want to get too off topic, but you mentioned New York, and I just wanted to note that I have never actually felt unsafe in New York City, with a camera or not. I feel the really bad reputation came from the 80s and early 90s. Like most cities, don't give anyone an opportunity for theft. Make sure your camera is on some kind of strap, wrist or neck, and safely tucked away when not in use. As long as you're not flaunting anything, I think you'll be fine.

I'm always amazed at the women there who are sporting handbags worth more than my salary...

guangong said:

I had an friend who, while standing at train station with all of his Hasselblad equipment in an aluminum Halliburton case between his legs, had all snatched and disappear.

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Last May my wife I I took the Eurotrain from London to Paris. We were warned to keep an eye on our luggage stored in the front of the car until the train car door was closed and locked so no one could reach in and take them. There were not stops between the cities. I bought a lock and bicycle chain before we left to lock them to the train. But it was just too heavy so I never took it and just kept an eye on the bags until the door locked.

skylight1b said:

I don't want to get too off topic, but you mentioned New York, and I just wanted to note that I have never actually felt unsafe in New York City, with a camera or not. I feel the really bad reputation came from the 80s and early 90s. Like most cities, don't give anyone an opportunity for theft. Make sure your camera is on some kind of strap, wrist or neck, and safely tucked away when not in use. As long as you're not flaunting anything, I think you'll be fine.

I'm always amazed at the women there who are sporting handbags worth more than my salary...

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As a New Yorker all my life, I never felt threatened. NYC is pretty safe. People are shooting cameras all over the place. However, you do have to be aware of your surroundings especially at night if you're in a "bad" neighborhood. You usually can see the troublemakers from a distance. Having said that, I once lost my Nikon F Photomic T on a NYC subway. Of course, I was partying and was drunk, so there's that. Which raises a good point. Leave you stuff in your hotel before going out to party and drink, regardless of what city you're in. Good idea to be with other friends as well.

I go into Manhattan quite frequently. The city has changed much for the worse from when I first lived there. In '50s and early '60s it was not unusual to see folks on the subway going to the Met Opera wearing full dress and gowns. In early 1960s I lived for a while on west 125th street and once helped a friend working backstage at th Apollo theater present an African dance group.
You don't wear anything nice on subways today. Several years ago my wife and i watched one guy picking fleas from himself and cracking them with his teeth. Even the worst years of the past look bucolic compared to present day Manhattan. I used to walk alone from Chinatown through deserted streets (what is now Soho) without any worry. Now even the most violent criminals are immediately released after being arrested. It's the law.
Of course, there are many places and neighborhoods that are relatively safe. I still enjoy walking the streets viewing the older architecture. But when in Manhattan I choose my routes carefully. I usually carry a small rf camera and a Minox. If with friends sometimes carry a larger camera.

@Rayt, very nice photos - but perhaps more suited for one of the Street Photography threads.
Gents, perhaps back on topic after this NY diversion? It's always lovely to hear stories about the US, don't get me wrong, but let's veer back to the old world in this particular thread, please.

Alan Edward Klein said:

Last May my wife I I took the Eurotrain from London to Paris. We were warned to keep an eye on our luggage stored in the front of the car until the train car door was closed and locked so no one could reach in and take them.

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In my experience, the high speed trains in Europe are not a very likely setting for petty theft. Less so than the regular trains. They're expensive, but generally a pleasurable way of traveling between major cities.

Comparing cities in other parts of the world to European cities seems perfectly part of this thread. How else to gage differences?

guangong said:

I go into Manhattan quite frequently. The city has changed much for the worse from when I first lived there. In '50s and early '60s it was not unusual to see folks on the subway going to the Met Opera wearing full dress and gowns. In early 1960s I lived for a while on west 125th street and once helped a friend working backstage at th Apollo theater present an African dance group.
You don't wear anything nice on subways today. Several years ago my wife and i watched one guy picking fleas from himself and cracking them with his teeth. Even the worst years of the past look bucolic compared to present day Manhattan. I used to walk alone from Chinatown through deserted streets (what is now Soho) without any worry. Now even the most violent criminals are immediately released after being arrested. It's the law.
Of course, there are many places and neighborhoods that are relatively safe. I still enjoy walking the streets viewing the older architecture. But when in Manhattan I choose my routes carefully. I usually carry a small rf camera and a Minox. If with friends sometimes carry a larger camera.

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I don't want be too pessimistic, for me life is going better through the last 1\2 centure, but I was born in Soviet Union...
But the safety issues are far from the ideal now
That's why I like Minox too

ChiangMai2019_1 by Sergey Kozlov, on Flickr

Eastbourne 1 by Sergey Kozlov, on Flickr

Sean said:

Hi,

Just curious about our member's experiences shooting around Europe. Is having a 'flashy' looking camera asking to get mugged or the gear pinched, or do you feel unconcerned about it?

It might be better to have the gear slightly concealed under a jacket, pull out, shoot, conceal. I have no idea what to expect or if this is a concern whatsoever.

The pessimist in me wonders if opportunists floating around scoping out tourists would see me and say 'oh yeah, we got one'.

This would be my daily driver and I doubt much tripod use at all.

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Sean - I worked briefly in Poland (Rzeszow) and for 2.5 years in Cape Town, and benefitted from the advice of the citizens I worked with there about the relative safety of various locations. I was careful to dress down and carried a minimum of gear in a raggedy sling - hard to prove the negative, but I had only one encounter that got to me - and that was with a cop who shook me down for a bribe! It's hard for a tourist to present as a native. As has been mentioned, situational awareness is paramount.

Akin to Sirius Glass' experience, I was once walking from downtown Cape Town to Observatory - this was before I had the benefit of locals' go/no-go zones. In Salt River a couple of guys who looked agitated and had been eyeballing me approached. I was feeling pretty vulnerable. But they just told me that I shouldn't be walking there, and escorted me to the train station a hundred meters away. I should have known ahead of time where I could safely walk, and given the willingness of co-workers to advise, it was just plain dumb not to know.

SA is very important. Don’t think you can be oblivious to what is going on around you . Having traveled the world extensively in a wide variety of places, you need to avoid looking like a Japanese tourist, if you get my drift. (And yes, I have lived in Japan for several years). When I used to walk around in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which is very negative about photography in general, I used to keep a motorized Nikon F3 with a 20mm lens in a small opaque shopping bag and no one even knew I had a camera. Always keep in mind of the economy you are in. If local people are very poor, they will be scoping you out to rob you in any way possible. Just being in their ‘hood’ makes you stand out. Wearing western clothes makes you stand out. You look rich, so you will be a target. Rarely put your camera up to your eye. Use any camera with auto exposure, and use bracket focusing. Set your hyperfocal focus for the scenario you are in. The secret is to blend. Otherwise, you’re never going to get the candid shots you may be seeking. As I learned from National Geographic, hire a local guide to escort you to the places you wish to venture. The will know where it is safe and where it’s not.

Edgy01 said:

SA is very important. Don’t think you can be oblivious to what is going on around you . Having traveled the world extensively in a wide variety of places, you need to avoid looking like a Japanese tourist, if you get my drift. (And yes, I have lived in Japan for several years). When I used to walk around in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which is very negative about photography in general, I used to keep a motorized Nikon F3 with a 20mm lens in a small opaque shopping bag and no one even knew I had a camera. Always keep in mind of the economy you are in. If local people are very poor, they will be scoping you out to rob you in any way possible. Just being in their ‘hood’ makes you stand out. Wearing western clothes makes you stand out. You look rich, so you will be a target. Rarely put your camera up to your eye. Use any camera with auto exposure, and use bracket focusing. Set your hyperfocal focus for the scenario you are in. The secret is to blend. Otherwise, you’re never going to get the candid shots you may be seeking. As I learned from National Geographic, hire a local guide to escort you to the places you wish to venture. The will know where it is safe and where it’s not.

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I have know that I can recognize from a long is someone has been in the military by their posture. Going a step further many nationalities can be recognized by not just clothes but by posture alone. I have been told by locals which I had become friends with when I was out of my country, that often they can spot Americans accurately by posture as well as other nationalities. Back when people smoked cigarettes more, one could tell some nationalities by how they held the cigarette as they smoked.

Separately, I learned about SA, Situational Awareness, from working on government space contracts.

Sergey Ko said:

In Barcelona, my bag was stolen from my car within seconds while I was a few meters away. Thank God they took this bag with the old binoculars and video camera. Next to it was an old leather suitcase with a Hasselblad xPan and a full set of lenses (about $8,000!!!)
This was the last time I took this set on a trip, and now I'm going to sell it, exactly because of the risk of theft.
Paris, especially Barcelona - problems with thieves, some areas of London - problems with robberies on the streets at night.
All Scandinavian countries and the Baltic countries are safe.
South Asian countries seem safe to me. I have seen robberies in South African countries, but they are very different, both countries and regions.
The problem is that you look like a rich tourist, a stranger. I lived in Russia for 20 years, I understand this country - therefore it is not dangerous for me, but not for other tourists.
A friend of mine who has traveled a lot in South America said that it is not dangerous to visit even favelas if you are wearing a sleeveless T-shirt with sweat stains, flip-flops and a can of beer in your hands
...
Can anyone tell me how safe it is to walk and take pictures in New York?
This city is special for vertical panoramas, but I'm a little afraid to walk with xPan
I plan to visit it in the spring, this is my first visit to America.


But mostly it's safe and hassle-free with the people you want to photograph, to do it with a smartphone!

Click to expand...

Sergey, I am curious, was your car broken into? Or was it unlocked? Thanks in advance

Edgy01 said:

SA is very important. Don’t think you can be oblivious to what is going on around you . Having traveled the world extensively in a wide variety of places, you need to avoid looking like a Japanese tourist, if you get my drift. (And yes, I have lived in Japan for several years). When I used to walk around in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which is very negative about photography in general, I used to keep a motorized Nikon F3 with a 20mm lens in a small opaque shopping bag and no one even knew I had a camera. Always keep in mind of the economy you are in. If local people are very poor, they will be scoping you out to rob you in any way possible. Just being in their ‘hood’ makes you stand out. Wearing western clothes makes you stand out. You look rich, so you will be a target. Rarely put your camera up to your eye. Use any camera with auto exposure, and use bracket focusing. Set your hyperfocal focus for the scenario you are in. The secret is to blend. Otherwise, you’re never going to get the candid shots you may be seeking. As I learned from National Geographic, hire a local guide to escort you to the places you wish to venture. The will know where it is safe and where it’s not.

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Edgy, I'm not quite sure why you suggest hiring a guide.... Sean is visiting Europe.....not the middle east or third world countries.

My more dangerous experience - in Central Europe, early 2000’s, taking photos from a stairwell perch halfway up an apartment building looking out a large full size window down toward an “auto shop” maybe 40 yards away, this shop owned by muscled youngish guys with shaved heads, black leather jackets and strong cologne. Taking photos of these same attendees (Ukrainian mafia), comings and going. They‘d killed several people inside in past year(s). They’d have visiting prostitutes. But mostly this branch’s meeting place. One day important fella on phone out in the lot was standing by his car chatting, occasionally looking about. And then he sees me up in the apartment building with my camera taking pictures. Wait, does he really see me? Yes, I think so… No. I know so. And he’s angry. Seeing this through a zoom lens makes your heart really race. Terminates his call and slams his hand on the car roof still staring at me. Now more than angry. He bolts inside the auto shop. Probably to get his friends or… tools.

Do I head to the roof or race as fast as possible down many flights of stairs to the backside lot to my rental car and make a run for it? I certainly didn’t anticipate this contingency. This isn’t a movie with a practical roof option. (I’d left the sidearm back in the office safe that day and my host support co-workers were absent on another task at least fifteen minutes away unable to help— this was the only day of several months activity when they had to leave me solo - so yes I was a little unnerved, feeling helpless.) You’ve never seen a man spill so fast down a stairwell and fly away in a VW as if it were a Ferrari.

I’m more afraid of being pick-pocketed while distracted fidgeting w camera gear and taking photos in a strange town than the gear actually being stolen via robbery or strong arm. It’s worse when you’re with family because they always push you to hurry up and are so impatient that you end up worse distracted.

Now that I’m a vacationer, I try to stray from the temptation to photograph the rough and obviously troubling types…

GregY said:

Sergey, I am curious, was your car broken into? Or was it unlocked? Thanks in advance

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It was unlocked, I did just a few steps aside
We never lock the cars on fuel stations in Lithuania, or going to take something form back luggage. In Barcelona it is bad practice!

GregY said:

Edgy, I'm not quite sure why you suggest hiring a guide.... Sean is visiting Europe.....not the middle east or third world countries.

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Third country like Thailand, for example, looks much more safe for me, than some cities & districts of Europe

I like abandoned buildings and shoot with nice-looking silver or black camera. I carry an obvious camera bag, including at "strange", "creepy", "uneasy" places.
No incident to report whatsoever, over 3 decades.

Run-ins with guards/police are far-more common and even that goes without any punishment, just showing you the gate out of the premises.

Some derelict/poor neighborhoods are the only thing to worry about. Perhaps. You can easily avoid those.

This or I don't know - random violence isn't as popular in places I've been, as elsewhere? This includes Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia... Russia, however - felt safe only in major cities, like St. Petersburg - everywhere else people just give you depressively-aggressive / envious stare and want to take that little bit of happiness away from you to claim their own, just to fill their voids. No wonder I felt dread and war in the air just couple years before UA "happened".

So - avoid these , I guess : )

Once in Ulm Germany we were going to a shop and parked across the street from it. In front there were a group on motorcycleists decked out in leather and drinking. I had my camera and didn’t want to open the trunk with all of our stuff plus the rest of my equipment. I tried to go around them but one happened to spot the camera. He asked me to take pictures of them. It turned out to be a wedding celebration and I became the wedding photographer. One of them gave me his address so I could send the pictures when we got back to the states. I did but never heard back.

Sergey Ko said:

Third country like Thailand, for example, looks much more safe for me, than some cities & districts of Europe

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& I find Europe much safer than the USA....

GregY said:

Edgy, I'm not quite sure why you suggest hiring a guide.... Sean is visiting Europe.....not the middle east or third world countries.

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I was simply suggesting it in the event he wasn’t familiar with his destinations. Sometimes that route is helpful.

I believe we may all be a bit too paranoid about our gear. In most cases we won’t be the biggest target on the street.

Edgy01 said:

I was simply suggesting it in the event he wasn’t familiar with his destinations. Sometimes that route is helpful.

I believe we may all be a bit too paranoid about our gear. In most cases we won’t be the biggest target on the street.

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Edgy, I agree completely about the paranoia about gear. I'm sure there are lots of people on forums whose interest is collecting, and who value their cameras as treasures rather than as tools. As far a getting a guide....I'd suggest that Europe is safer than the USA, and the idea of getting a guide for anywhere unfamiliar recalls an era of privilege. Does anyone remember how we travelled in the 70s, before Google maps? Isn't the idea of travel to visit unfamiliar destinations?