Carrying Camera Equipment in Risky Situations.

Traveling presents unique problems to the camera freak. DSLR's are expensive the least
amout around $400-500. better cameras go up to $8000. not including lenses, cards, multimedia storage devices. The list goes on. Camera bags just scream money and carrying your equipment in a shopping bag is nuts.

How do you cope in your travels? Bring out the good equipment in the jungle and
carry a small Point & Shoot in your pocket in the cities?

What tricks do you have? What warnings?
Have you lost equipment? Reply to this

I agree with Ali, this is a great topic that should be discussed more. I have taken my camera into some pretty sketchy places (not as sketchy as some but sketchier than others) and have not had too many issues. My advice is:

a) If your camera equipment is always with you (most likely because you're using it) its less likely to get stolen. Even though I'm a photo-geek and travel with a bunch of stuff, I usually carry it with me ALL the time. I invest in good camera packs that are comfortable and good camera straps that are comfortable so that I can have my camera with me and not feel like I'm being beaten up by it. Check out these sights for places that I've used for equipment: Moose Peterson Travel Bags , Black Rapid Camera Strap

b) When walking through a sketchy area with a camera (specifically a pro or semi-pro camera like Ali and I use) always be aware of your surroundings. If I'm in a sketchy place in the US, France, Africa or SE Asia the same advice always works for me. Travel with a group of people if you can. Don't count on a flimsy camera strap as protection. Always have people standing between you and the street (this works against people who snatch from cars or motorcycles). I usually carry my camera in these areas in one of two ways. (1) With a camera strap fully over my neck and both hands on the camera or (2) With my strap wrapped multiple times around my wrist and my camera in one hand (usually right) down by my side. Both of these ways make it harder for someone to grab them and run. If its harder for someone to steal and you're very aware, thieves notice and look for someone who's an easier mark. (NOTE: I've never been through South America which is notorious for theft...)

c) Always have full insurance on your camera stuff, specially if its expensive. The way I look at it, $5000 US of camera equipment is well worth the $100 US of insurance coverage from a good insurer. This way, when in doubt, if you are held up at gun point you know that you can give it all away and not lose a thing. Its a good piece-of-mind to know that you are better off giving your equipment up than getting stabbed or shot!!!

d) I always have good equipment to protect my equipment. Upon the advice of professional wildlife photographers I always use good protection for my junk (pun intended!!) For instance I use Lens Coats for my expensive lenses and camera bodies for travel. I use a Monitor Cover for my Nikon D700's screen. I also use a Nikon NC Clear Filter to cover the glass on the end of my nice Nikon lenses to protect against dirt.

While I realize that a lot of this protection feels unwieldy and expensive, its important to me. I certainly don't expect anyone else to go through what I do. I'm semi-professional and have sold my photography and therefore take it VERY seriously. This is all advice I have learned from reading and speaking to other pros.

Good luck,

Mike T. Reply to this

I live in Rio de Janeiro. As far as theft and crime is concerned, this city is quite risky. Just being a gringo can be a bit risky in some areas let alone carrying an expensive camera around. Rio is an amazing city to photogaph but there are some things I've had to learn. Photographing in touristy places is fine, you wont have much trouble in Ipanema, Copacabana, Urca and the like however some common sense is required. The problem I've had is in less well trodden places. Even other parts of the city that are usually frequented by tourists like Centro and Santa Teresa aren't always so safe for a big DSLR's.

My trick is to have my DSLR in a back pack rather than a camera bag. Back packs are pretty common so they won't draw too much attention. I took a photo of a Favela once in an area of the city that is not even so safe to walk in let alone walk around with a camera. My trick was to already have the camera set up to shoot in my back pack. Waited until there were a few respectable looking people around me, took it out real quick, snap snap snap, away the camera went and I walked away straight onto public transport. This may sound a little paranoid but a) it worked and b) I like to be safe than sorry.

The idea of a small point and shoot camera is good for several reasons. One for descrete shooting in dodgy places and also if you're going out partying, you dont want to lug around a big DSLR with you. Also point and shoot cameras usually have video on them for some of the fun drunken moments.

The best advice I could give is be as desrete as possible without looking like you're guity of something. Try to look like you should be there (will be tough if you're white and in Africa or Asia) and be around as many peole as possible. Preferably people you know and/or trust. Reply to this

I would recommend carrying your camera everywhere with you for a few weeks before you go away. That way you become comfortable with having your camera with you and don't feel awkward with it. If you carry your camera naturally you draw less attention to it and become less noticeable. On the other hand if you're not comfortable carrying it you will become more fumbly and draw more attention to yourself and your camera.
Of course this does not guarantee that you won't be targeted for theft but it's all about blending in and reducing the chances. I've debated whether to take my camera and equipment in the past but I bought it with travel in mind and decided a nice camera isn't much good still in the box.
Take out seperate camera insurance which will also help to ease your mind.
Enjoy your travels and get some great pics. Reply to this

Something else you might consider is a tripod that is a vacuum mount. They are easy to attach and stow after wards - out site of thieves. Be careful you go with vacuum and not suction. Suction mounts have no warning when they are going to loose their grip, but the vacuum ones do. Reply to this