Do you fear theft/violence when under your darkcloth?

[Heroique]

When photographing in some areas of Liverpool, it's essential to have an extremely heightened sense of awareness, otherwise you could end up with a lot less gear than you had when you put your head under the focusing cloth.

Sharper -- because in NYC I am always afraid that as soon as I stick my head under the darkcloth, someone is going to come at me with a baseball bat.

The remarks above are bubbling up in the “photo-psychology” thread – they surprise me, and I thought they might deserve a little exploration:

Do you fear theft (or violence) when covered by your darkcloth?

Are such fears reasonable, or do they emerge simply because you're “in the dark”?

If your fears ARE warranted, how do you manage them?

I usually don’t shoot in the city, so thievery may apply less to my experience – but I’d like to hear from you. (In the woods, I’m usually more concerned with a squirrel scampering off with my granola than a thief absconding with my Schneider!)

[Gem Singer]

Depends on where you are photographing and how much time you are spending under the dark cloth.

If I have doubts about the safety of the area, I take someone along on the shoot.

Another solution is to use a focusing hood instead of a dark cloth.

[David Swinnard]

Not yet, but the seed's been planted I might.

Seriously though, on a recent shoot (daylight) in an urban environment I have to admit to wondering if I might have to deal with folks who might resent my presence. All turned out well and I did have pleasant conversations with a couple of the local business owners wondering why I would be taking pictures in such an area. (the now depressed main street in a small town where I spent my youth that I always felt I should photograph. Was there for totally unrelated reason, and actually had the Technika in the car, and chanced upon the perfect light for the occasion - how could I not shoot?)

I admit to worrying more about bears than people usually.

Dave

[D. Bryant]

The remarks above are bubbling up in the “photo-psychology” thread – they surprise me, and I thought they might deserve a little exploration:

Do you fear theft (or violence) when covered by your darkcloth?

Are such fears reasonable, or do they emerge simply because you're “in the dark”?

If your fears ARE warranted, how do you manage them?

I usually don’t shoot in the city, so thievery may apply less to my experience – but I’d like to hear from you. (In the woods, I’m usually more concerned with a squirrel scampering off with my granola than a thief absconding with my Schneider!)

Not when my two friends, Smith & Weston are hanging around.

Don Bryant

[PenGun]

Not when my two friends, Smith & Weston are hanging around.

Don Bryant

Interesting. Suppose they are not along ... what then?

[Turner Reich]

If you are standing on a country road, the siding next to the road, and a couple of dueling banjo types come running up yelling "give me that god damm camera shit" and they have shot guns, what do you do? What do you do?

You would not believe how fast you can react, shoving the equipment in the truck, racing off with the door still open and not looking in the rear view mirror for miles.

A gun could have immediately stopped the bastards in there tracks, or not. The only way would have been to have a pump action shot gun right there next to the tripod in plain sight. Better yet would be to put some claymore mines out there on the parameter. I know it's over kill but you might be the one to get killed in this world of ours.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/l...8-claymore.htm


...I know what you're thinking, did he fire six shots or only five...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l2y8HDU7-U

[Gem Singer]

Turner,

Under the conditions you describe, I would not hesitate for a moment to give those guys my "camera shit".

However, I would have made sure that my high end camera equipment was in a safe place back home.

They're welcome to my shitty stuff. I wouldn't take my best equipment to that type of location.

[Helcio J Tagliolatto]

Living in Brazil this may be the main reason you don't see people with cameras, except foreign tourists.
You need to be brave and lucky when photographing out in the streets.
Since I use my MF and LF gear in the countryside, I have no fear.

I think there are not many places in the world you can see people out, armed with Fal 15, and you are not in the battle camp nor they are cops.

It's very sad....

(It would be a paradise, but corruption abroad....)

[Eric Rose]

Wow I guess I'm lucky. Around here I don't worry at all.

[The Dread Pirate Robins]

I don't go for paranoia much. At 6'3" and north of 250 lbs I don't get much trouble from strangers.

Usually, if anything, I get approached by people with questions.