wearing light meter

**Thom Bennett** · 10-Jan-2015, 11:14

This may sound paranoid but...

I photograph in urban environments sometimes and, while I usually like to wear my light meter in a holster on my hip, I'm beginning to get concerned with it being perceived as a gun by either a muggle or a police officer. How do you/would you handle this? Just keep moving and deal with it or start keeping my meter off my person?

Then again it may deter some folks from approaching me if they think I'm packing heat. Hmmm.

**William Whitaker** · 10-Jan-2015, 11:20

I'd stay home.

**vinny** · 10-Jan-2015, 11:47

buy a holster, put it in that.

**Bruce Osgood** · 10-Jan-2015, 12:02

Perhaps wear it in the front where no cop or thief would wear a holster.

**John Kasaian** · 10-Jan-2015, 12:26

I hang mine from around my neck, along with my focusing loupe. I can see where that might be an attractive crime of opportunity in urban areas so I usually avoid those kinds of locations.
As far as a cop confusing a light meter for a pistol, if it really bothers you, paint you light meter with neon paint to identify it as a non-weapon.
Of course, that also identifies you as "easy pickings" for muggers!

**William Whitaker** · 10-Jan-2015, 12:43

Originally Posted by Bruce Osgood

Perhaps wear it in the front where no cop or thief would wear a holster.

Oh, like a chest holster?

If it is perceived as a weapon, it doesn't matter whether it actually looks like one or not or what color it is. People have been shot dead because somebody (cop or otherwise) thought it was a weapon when it fact it was a cell phone or other innocent item.

Maybe you could hire an assistant and let them handle the metering for you.

**Michael Graves** · 10-Jan-2015, 13:04

I've had police approach me about my Soligor 35mm Magnum. One of them actually laughed when I said, "Officers, I'm just reaching for my light meter. I will withdraw it slowly using only the tips of my fingers."

The other one didn't think it was so funny and called me a smartass. Are cops allowed to do that?

**Ari** · 10-Jan-2015, 13:12

Originally Posted by Will Whitaker

Maybe you could hire an assistant and let them handle the metering for you.

I could see going through a few assistants in rapid succession that way.
Or somebody giving you grief? "Hey, why don't you do my metering for me in rougher parts of the city?"

**Heroique** · 10-Jan-2015, 13:15

If anyone on this forum, at any time, has ever been approached by a cop, or wildlife officer, due only to his meter's resemblence to a gun, it would be instructive for all of us to hear more.

I've never read a post where this actually happened, but there might be one?

I remember only jokes and suspicions about the possibility.

**Michael Graves** · 10-Jan-2015, 13:20

Originally Posted by Heroique

If anyone on this forum, at any time, has ever been approached by a cop, or wildlife officer, due only to his meter's resemblence to a gun, it would be instructive for all of us to hear more.

I've never read a post where this actually happened, but there might be one?

I remember only jokes and suspicions about the possibility.

I wasn't joking. However, the officers were professional and courteous and I much prefer justifiable caution over crazed gunmen walking the streets. There are enough crazed photographers. And the other officer was right. I was being a smartass.