Europe safe for photographers?

[Saiwing Yeung]

Hi all!

I will be going to London and Paris this March and will be carrying my D60 and 2-3 lenses with me (probably won't carry a tripod this time). I have a LowePro Nova sholder bag that I usually carry my gears with. But for the trip I also want to carry other things like the stuff I buy so I want to get a backpack instead.

I am thinking of getting one of those camera backpack like a LowePro street & field. I am a little worried that the logo LowePro/Tamrac would makes me an obvious target even for times when I don't have my camera hanging off my neck. Anyone has comment about this or any tips?

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

thanks!
Saiwing

 

[Andrus Suitsu]

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

I haven't. Have visited many obvious and very crowded tourist locations (like Venice, etc.) and wandered off to sidestreets with my Lowepro shoulder bag. Nothing has ever happened so far. Just follow common sense.

 

[Julian P Mussi]

You have a better chance of being mugged in the US. We have 10,000 gun murders a year vs 40-60 in france and england. Just dont go asking to have your stuff stolen. Keep it near you, don't let it out of your site. Most thieves go for the easiest jobs, so if they see a camera bag sitting on a cahir next to you they will go that route vs attacking you. Also I would keep a keener eye on your wallet rather than the camera bag. There are some very adept pick-pockets over there. Also it helps not to stand out as an american, dont wear the Bruce Springstein shirt and American Flag hat. Over all though Europe is much safer than the US. Just play it smart, and dont set your self up to be robbed and you'll have a great time.

Julian

 

[Frederic Villemin]

I am thinking of getting one of those camera backpack like a
LowePro street & field. I am a little worried that the logo
LowePro/Tamrac would makes me an obvious target even for times when
I don't have my camera hanging off my neck. Anyone has comment
about this or any tips?

I think french thieves don't know what LowePro/Tamrac is .. they prefer stealing people with Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent bags

Just be careful in Paris' subway, on the Champs Elysees and maybe around the Tour Eiffel.. otherwise it's quite safe if you care a bit about your bag..

 

[David Knight]

Saiwing

I hope you enjoy London. I was born and live in London and regularly go around with a Lowepro backpack either with a monopod or tripod attached. I've not had any problems, even at night but as in any place (large town or anywhere else in the world) you should always be cautious. I suspect your equipment is more at risk left in a hotel or car than on your back but be especially careful at train and tube (underground) stations and in bars/restaurants. I would recommend taking a tripod if you can manage it as there are a lot of good night-time shots to be taken. Maybe you could pick up a second-hand one and then resell it when you leave.

A word of warning - there is now a tendency for security guards at tourist spots to stop you shooting with a tripod - particular places include on the south bank of the Thames near the London Eye (the big wheel) and in Trafalgar Square. The latter seem more concerned with losing money from professional photographers and if you tell them you are strictly amateur then you'll be ok. The former might be more concerned with safety as the South Bank can get very crowded and they are extremely persistent in asking you to move on.

best wishes

David
http://www.dwknight.co.uk

Hi all!

I will be going to London and Paris this March and will be carrying
my D60 and 2-3 lenses with me (probably won't carry a tripod this
time). I have a LowePro Nova sholder bag that I usually carry my
gears with. But for the trip I also want to carry other things like
the stuff I buy so I want to get a backpack instead.

I am thinking of getting one of those camera backpack like a
LowePro street & field. I am a little worried that the logo
LowePro/Tamrac would makes me an obvious target even for times when
I don't have my camera hanging off my neck. Anyone has comment
about this or any tips?

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

thanks!
Saiwing

 

[phil wigglesworth]

The other advice here is all good. I just finished working in Paris and live near London, both places are pretty much the same as anywhere else. That is, essentially safe.

If you walk around with your wallet sticking out of your back pocket then someone will probably lift it. Oxford St in London is famous for pick pockets, including some who will slash backpacks etc. In UK they are generally young and work in groups; they aren't physically threatening. If you're bored take a seat and try to spot them. Most tourist spots in Paris seem to be the same.

When your attention's on your viewfinder someone else's might be on your wallet. The camera tends to mark you as a tourist, and therefore someone who's likely to carry cash and perhaps be an easy mark. Both London and Paris are comsopolitan: no one can tell from your ethnic origin what your nationality is, although [as per another post] if you wear loud check trousers, a visor and a baseball cap it might be assumed that you're american ;-)

I think that the general problem for visitors anywhere is assessing the risk in a given situation. Most tourist spots around here [possibly Rome excepted] are physically safe; I think your biggest risk would be more if you end up in the wrong neighbourhood whilst wandering about.

Please don't give money to beggars in London. We have a welfare system which takes care of everyone, and if you want to contribute there are charities who will happily take your money and ensure it's not spent on drugs, booze or ciggies.

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

Not with or without a camera bag and I've lived here for a long time.

--
Phil
http://www.wigglesworld.btinternet.co.uk/

 

[Juli Valley]

Many years ago, I had my camera at my feet in a sidewalk cafe. Some gypsies came wandering by sending their young children scurrying around. They almost got my camera. I'd keep an eye on it at all times.

 

[Juli Valley]

I read somewhere that white sports shoes make you stand out as an American, so I took black ones. Wear a money belt to keep up with your passport, credit cards, and money.

 

[Matthias Blum]

Hi all!

I will be going to London and Paris this March and will be carrying
my D60 and 2-3 lenses with me (probably won't carry a tripod this
time). I have a LowePro Nova sholder bag that I usually carry my
gears with. But for the trip I also want to carry other things like
the stuff I buy so I want to get a backpack instead.

I am thinking of getting one of those camera backpack like a
LowePro street & field. I am a little worried that the logo
LowePro/Tamrac would makes me an obvious target even for times when
I don't have my camera hanging off my neck. Anyone has comment
about this or any tips?

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

thanks!
Saiwing

 

[Kevin VanBochoven]

I'm military and am currently stationed in Korea. My next assignment is to Mildenhall England, and I can't wait to get there! I had some questions about the safety of equipment and what not on the streets. We've all seen the Lampoon's get ripped off! I know nothing about the UK but have heard great things about it and look forward to my stay there.

I suspected that theft was more a problem in Europe than in the states, and Korea for that matter. From what I've read here it is no more a problem there than it is in the states; big city theft and what not. I now don't see it being a problem so long you are not "asking" for your equipment to get aquired by somebodyelse. I suppose commen sense and "street smarts" are key.

Great post BTW and thanks for the info.

Kevin Van Bochoven

 

[Bananas in Paris]

It all depends where you are going.
If you end up in Germany, you have very little to fear.

If you go to Poland or even further East, you should be very, very careful with your equipment. A friend of mine lives in Warsaw and was driving her car with doors locked and windows rolled up. Her purse was on the passenger seat. When she stopped at a red light, someone smashed the passenger side window with a pipe, and snatched her purse.

The obvious thing to do is get out of the car and run after the thief, right?

Wrong! If you leave your car with the ignition on, the thieve's partner will just drive away in your car.

Andrzej
(I am from Poland and live in NY)

T

You have a better chance of being mugged in the US. We have 10,000
gun murders a year vs 40-60 in france and england. Just dont go
asking to have your stuff stolen. Keep it near you, don't let it
out of your site. Most thieves go for the easiest jobs, so if they
see a camera bag sitting on a cahir next to you they will go that
route vs attacking you. Also I would keep a keener eye on your
wallet rather than the camera bag. There are some very adept
pick-pockets over there. Also it helps not to stand out as an
american, dont wear the Bruce Springstein shirt and American Flag
hat. Over all though Europe is much safer than the US. Just play it
smart, and dont set your self up to be robbed and you'll have a
great time.

Julian

--
Andrzej
http://www.oysterstudio.com

 

[Bananas in Paris]

One more thing.

I never dared to show my D30 in a NY subway. Always stays in a bag without any obvious gear logos.

The obvious thing to do is get out of the car and run after the
thief, right?
Wrong! If you leave your car with the ignition on, the thieve's
partner will just drive away in your car.

Andrzej
(I am from Poland and live in NY)

T

You have a better chance of being mugged in the US. We have 10,000
gun murders a year vs 40-60 in france and england. Just dont go
asking to have your stuff stolen. Keep it near you, don't let it
out of your site. Most thieves go for the easiest jobs, so if they
see a camera bag sitting on a cahir next to you they will go that
route vs attacking you. Also I would keep a keener eye on your
wallet rather than the camera bag. There are some very adept
pick-pockets over there. Also it helps not to stand out as an
american, dont wear the Bruce Springstein shirt and American Flag
hat. Over all though Europe is much safer than the US. Just play it
smart, and dont set your self up to be robbed and you'll have a
great time.

Julian

--
Andrzej
http://www.oysterstudio.com

--
Andrzej
http://www.oysterstudio.com

 

[tim martin]

Just be careful in Paris' subway, on the Champs Elysees and maybe
around the Tour Eiffel.. otherwise it's quite safe if you care a
bit about your bag..

That's true. The farther you are away from tourist areas the safer you
are, unless you've wandered out of the city into a very bad
neighborhood. Which would be very difficult to do in Paris.

But just be slightly "on guard" at all times. Not "panic stricken", but
just "on guard"... slightly.

And watch out for the RER station at Les Halles, a tiny bit.

 

[Volker Hett]

Hi all!

...

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

thanks!
Saiwing

Hi Saiwing,

no, never. 43 years in germany and all over europe from Tromsoe, Norway down to Lisboa, Portugal. And during my eight years in the german navy I've been in many direputable locations .

But I haven't been mugged in Halifax, New York, Boston, Jacksonvile, Miami, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Shanghai and more.

Regards

Volker

 

[rob van den broek]

The obvious thing to do is get out of the car and run after the
thief, right?
Wrong! If you leave your car with the ignition on, the thieve's
partner will just drive away in your car.

Andrzej
(I am from Poland and live in NY)

T

You have a better chance of being mugged in the US. We have 10,000
gun murders a year vs 40-60 in france and england. Just dont go
asking to have your stuff stolen. Keep it near you, don't let it
out of your site. Most thieves go for the easiest jobs, so if they
see a camera bag sitting on a cahir next to you they will go that
route vs attacking you. Also I would keep a keener eye on your
wallet rather than the camera bag. There are some very adept
pick-pockets over there. Also it helps not to stand out as an
american, dont wear the Bruce Springstein shirt and American Flag
hat. Over all though Europe is much safer than the US. Just play it
smart, and dont set your self up to be robbed and you'll have a
great time.

Julian

--
Andrzej
http://www.oysterstudio.com

--
E10-WCON08B-TCON14B-LiPO grip-FL40.
Canon EOS D30-speedlite 420EX-Grip-some lenses

 

[OFfrench]

Hi,

I've spent three hours shooting with my D60 on a tripod near the Seine in Paris yesterday evening and night. No problem, as usual.

Some quick tips, though:

• Downtown areas are generally safer than suburbs. There are a few areas in Paris where I would not carry a camera around my neck or a tripod, such as Belleville, Barbes, the Halles for instance.
• Avoid the Metro late at night (10 pm+), especially near the end of lines, where the trains are near empty. Same thing for regional trains (RER), though some are patrolled.
• Also avoid areas where you are easily spotted and where there is nobody at night. I've spent some time shooting from the pathways along the Seine but I don't really like being alone there with my tripod in view and 30second exposure times...
• there are probably pickpockets in the Metro and in the most crowded areas (Eiffel tower, Champs Elysées, Louvre area, the Halles), some of them being young gypsies. Never saw any operating, though there are regular warnings in the Metro.
• I've seen some advice on how not to look as a tourist. Well, I think it is fairly easy to spot tourists in the metro for instance. In some cases, I even try to guess their nationality ;-)

I suppose I would also be fairly easy to spot in New York or London )

• In some areas, tripods are forbidden eg: the Louvre (courtyard with the pyramid) and inside Notre Dame. Almost every building in Paris is theorically copyrighted by its owners or architect, but this does not apply to someone who does not look "professional".

Hi all!

I will be going to London and Paris this March and will be carrying
my D60 and 2-3 lenses with me (probably won't carry a tripod this
time). I have a LowePro Nova sholder bag that I usually carry my
gears with. But for the trip I also want to carry other things like
the stuff I buy so I want to get a backpack instead.

I am thinking of getting one of those camera backpack like a
LowePro street & field. I am a little worried that the logo
LowePro/Tamrac would makes me an obvious target even for times when
I don't have my camera hanging off my neck. Anyone has comment
about this or any tips?

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

thanks!
Saiwing

--
=====================
Olivier Ffrench
http://www.offrench.net/photos

 

[Blinduzr]

Interesting note there on tripods, I got away with using a monpod in Notre Dame, but I was fairly quick and only carrying a small bag (a Lowe Top Load Zoom) with a couple of lenses.

I also recently had the security guards at the Canary Wharf development in London docklands tell me I was supposed to go through their press office but again only when using a tripod.

As for theft and trouble, try and be with other folks, I normally go out shooting central London with a friend who is also into photography. Never put your bag down, I wear it or hang it off my tripod

http://excession.nutec.co.uk/Liam/Pictures/CatGroup.ASP?Cat=London

Liam

I've spent three hours shooting with my D60 on a tripod near the
Seine in Paris yesterday evening and night. No problem, as usual.

Some quick tips, though:

• Downtown areas are generally safer than suburbs. There are a few

areas in Paris where I would not carry a camera around my neck or a
tripod, such as Belleville, Barbes, the Halles for instance.

• Avoid the Metro late at night (10 pm+), especially near the end

of lines, where the trains are near empty. Same thing for regional
trains (RER), though some are patrolled.

• Also avoid areas where you are easily spotted and where there is

nobody at night. I've spent some time shooting from the pathways
along the Seine but I don't really like being alone there with my
tripod in view and 30second exposure times...

• there are probably pickpockets in the Metro and in the most

crowded areas (Eiffel tower, Champs Elysées, Louvre area, the
Halles), some of them being young gypsies. Never saw any operating,
though there are regular warnings in the Metro.

• I've seen some advice on how not to look as a tourist. Well, I

think it is fairly easy to spot tourists in the metro for instance.
In some cases, I even try to guess their nationality ;-)
I suppose I would also be fairly easy to spot in New York or London
)

• In some areas, tripods are forbidden eg: the Louvre (courtyard

with the pyramid) and inside Notre Dame. Almost every building in
Paris is theorically copyrighted by its owners or architect, but
this does not apply to someone who does not look "professional".

Hi all!

I will be going to London and Paris this March and will be carrying
my D60 and 2-3 lenses with me (probably won't carry a tripod this
time). I have a LowePro Nova sholder bag that I usually carry my
gears with. But for the trip I also want to carry other things like
the stuff I buy so I want to get a backpack instead.

I am thinking of getting one of those camera backpack like a
LowePro street & field. I am a little worried that the logo
LowePro/Tamrac would makes me an obvious target even for times when
I don't have my camera hanging off my neck. Anyone has comment
about this or any tips?

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

thanks!
Saiwing

--
=====================
Olivier Ffrench
http://www.offrench.net/photos

 

[David Lawson]

Yesterdays Sunday Times reported "People in England are more than twice as likely to b mugged as their American counterparts, according to an official study.Research by the US Department of justice shows...". Goes on to say 2.3 times more prevalent in England than America. So my advice is, as others, be aware, their are a lot of people here with expensive habits to support. david

You have a better chance of being mugged in the US. We have 10,000
gun murders a year vs 40-60 in france and england. Just dont go
asking to have your stuff stolen. Keep it near you, don't let it
out of your site. Most thieves go for the easiest jobs, so if they
see a camera bag sitting on a cahir next to you they will go that
route vs attacking you. Also I would keep a keener eye on your
wallet rather than the camera bag. There are some very adept
pick-pockets over there. Also it helps not to stand out as an
american, dont wear the Bruce Springstein shirt and American Flag
hat. Over all though Europe is much safer than the US. Just play it
smart, and dont set your self up to be robbed and you'll have a
great time.

Julian

 

[Ken Phillips]

Adding in a few million square kilometers of mountains and farmland will certainly lower the crime statistics for anywhere!
KP

Hi all!

I will be going to London and Paris this March and will be carrying
my D60 and 2-3 lenses with me (probably won't carry a tripod this
time). I have a LowePro Nova sholder bag that I usually carry my
gears with. But for the trip I also want to carry other things like
the stuff I buy so I want to get a backpack instead.

I am thinking of getting one of those camera backpack like a
LowePro street & field. I am a little worried that the logo
LowePro/Tamrac would makes me an obvious target even for times when
I don't have my camera hanging off my neck. Anyone has comment
about this or any tips?

Btw, anyone has been mugged in Europe carrying a camera bag?

thanks!
Saiwing

--

A big heavy Canon DSLR, a not as heavy Canon SLR, a couple of off-white lens and some red-stripe lenses and one with a gold stripe, some flashes and tripods and remotes and a closet full of things that are banned in Britain. A minivan and a Fender Stratocaster. A three bedroom ranch on an acre. Also, absolutely no Canon 1200mm f/5.6. Yet.

 

[AwakeAtTheWheel]

I live and shoot in Manhattan and yes even on the subway. I'm usually moving too fast for anyone to get near me; I make sure I'm in control of the situation. I even shoot on trains coming in from the Bronx. (I'm building a series of people sleeping on the trains.) My D60 with the grip is so heavy that I guess it looks intimidating because I've never been hassled. I am aware that someone could grab it out of my hands; but by the same token, I could hit them with it and probably do as much damage as with a baseball bat. (When I go to sleep at night, I always hide my camera before I go to sleep, although sometimes I'll leave my flash and/or 50 1.4 out. Yes, everything is insured.)

Outside the subway, in general, my camera never ever leaves my hands unless a wall is behind me, the camera in front of me on top of a bag, and no one within 10 feet of me. That's my setup for changing lenses, stooping down over the lowepro bag, eyes wide open.

Shooting thousands of pictures on the street last summer, I was only hassled three times, and each time it was very obvious that it was because the people were illegal aliens and thought I was INS.

I do remember, however, reading a dpreview thread wherein someone recounted a special type of thieving that can go on in European trains at night: the thieves stick a hose under your door, send gas into your compartment, that puts you to sleep, they get into your cabin, and when you wake up in the morning your equipment is gone. I think the thread mentioned German trains, maybe French...somewhere mid-Europe. Not only did this story totally unravel me, I still have not thought of a way to guard against this possibility, short of sleeping with your own oxygen supply and putting the equipment into a safe and handcuffing it to your leg.

--
Sandy Santra
http://www.pbase.com/santra