Barcelona

marts_uk

marts_uk

Messages
1,032
Name
Martin
Edit My Images
Yes
Im due to go to Barcelona for a few days shortly, I've read the threads here and know its one of the worst places for pick pockets etc.

How would you recommend I carry my DSLR around.

I've got a Kata 3n1 20 rucksack, so its not that obvious its a camera bag, and was thinking of taking my Canon 450D with 2 lenses (leave the others at home, 70-300 and 50) - so I'll take the 24-70 and the 10-20.

Would you carry the Kata bag on your back, or just take the DSLR and hang it around your neck? I know the recommend carrying rucksacks on your front...

The only insurance I have is travel insurance which covers upto 2k of personal posessions.

Advice wanted.

thanks
Martin
 
I always carried mine in my hand with the strap wrapped round my wrist.
I rarely sit and eat/drink anywhere near an area with enough tourists to attract many thieves so was not too worried putting it in a bag and under the table with the strap round my foot.
 
marts_uk said:
Would you carry the Kata bag on your back, or just take the DSLR and hang it around your neck? I know the recommend carrying rucksacks on your front...
Click to expand...

Depends on the weather, if it's cool enough I'd wear a jacket with the camera across my chest so it hung under my left arm out-of-sight (swap arms if you're left-handed).

I wouldn't carry a bag marked Kata, Lowepro or (worse) Crumpler if I didn't need to. A DSLR with lens and a second lens can usually fit into a messanger style bag.

Last time I was in Barcelona I was using a compact, however according to reports from friends and family who've travelled more recently with DSLRs you need to be very aware using the metro and in the Las Ramblas area. One friend had someone tray and grab the rucksack from his back as the doors were closing on the metro.
 
I was robbed on my very first day in Barcelona...handbag on floor with straps wrapped round my ankle whilst sitting at a table in a cafe just as we got off the train...the thieving sods sliced through the straps with a knife without me feeling or seeing a thing...

Luckily I had my camera, purse and mobile on the table, so they only got away with my credit card, which was quickly cancelled, and about £50 cash...

We suspect that the cafe owner was in league with them...he was incredibly helpful, showing us maps of where to go...we realised later that he was simply distracting us whilst his accomplice helped himself.

Such a shame that a fine and wonderful city is marred by these low-lifes...

Janet
 
Janet S said:
Such a shame that a fine and wonderful city is marred by these low-lifes...

Janet
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. I know you get this in many cities, and its such a shame.

I've been round Manchester, B'Ham and other large cities in the UK with my Kata on my back and never had a problem. Even been out in Castlefield at night without a problem....

arghh decisions!

Insurance can replace kit, but the thought of being mugged or attacked can never be forgot.
 
Went there on Monday of this week, took all my kit and had my camera on a sling strap.

Felt slightly anxious to start but that soon faded. Just be aware of who is around you and you'll have a great time.

The Picasso Museum is free on Monday's I'd your interested. )))
 
And don't forget the Chocolate Musem.. ..
 
Alastair said:
One friend had someone tray and grab the rucksack from his back as the doors were closing on the metro.
Click to expand...

This was me :thumbsdown:

When getting onto the train, one guy got on before me, turned and blocked my way whilst another tried to take the bag off my back from behind. I managed to hit out at the one in front and it seemed to startle the other, they both then hopped off the train before the doors had closed... Quite lucky really.

Try not to advertise your kit when descending to the metro. Rather nonchalantly I walked into the Ramblas Metro station with my camera around my neck and packed it up whilst sat on one of the benches, even though it was quiet I was obviously targeted due to them seeing the camera.

I was advised by friendly Barcelonians on the Metro after the event to wear my rucksack on my front rather than on my back - makes sense really. Just keep your wits about you when moving in crowds etc.
 
I have had a bad experience on the ramblas (so did the guys that tried to rob me) and I would never take a DSLR there again. In fact, I would never go there again.

Just be aware that the scumbags out to rob you are VERY good at it.
 
Listen, every capital has it own share of pick pocketing and thieves and you just have to go on London tubes to experience that. I was in Barcelona about a month ago and stayed there for about a month. I had my racksack on me and my camera hanging on my neck and I was in very touristic places where thieves allegedly are. Tell you what, not a single incident. Met a lot of nice people from all over the world. The Spanish love the camera unlike England. You will taking pictures of everything and everyone and no one will blink. I loved it there and will go there anytime, actually next summer. The only advice I can give is to be aware of your surrounding and don't look like a tourist. Be confident and know what your are doing. Research where you are going and know your way before hand and you will love it.
 
I was in Barcelona a few weeks ago and wandered around with my 5D and 'L' lenses, with a LowePro camera bag - didn't have any problems at all. I was well away from Las Ramblas though.
 
marts_uk said:
Just checked my travel insurance

£300 single item limit - might just take the sigma 10-20 and my nifty fifty 1.8
Click to expand...

You'll need the Sigma for when you visit La Sagrada Familia.


La Sagrada Familia by Ricardodaforce, on Flickr


Woah! That is ONE BIG CHURCH! by Ricardodaforce, on Flickr

FWIW I don't like Barcelona. I too was subjected to an attempted robbery on the metro. Of the bigger cities Madrid is much friendlier. Also the Catalan "we are not Spanish" attitude gets on my wick.
 
Barcelona is a fantastic city to photograph and has a fair share of crime just like any other tourist city.

I too was set upon on the Ramblas on a stag do I was attending, I was walking back to my hotel, very much worse for wear when two men grabbed me, I put up a bit of a struggle but was losing quite easily. Then I stopped them in their tracks with one swift movement......................of my stomach...............I puked up over them and they ran off......... I staggered off (as usual).........and managed to get the rest of the way home safely.

Just be as vigilant as you can and enjoy yourself.
 
tiler65 said:
Barcelona is a fantastic city to photograph and has a fair share of crime just like any other tourist city.
Click to expand...

Maybe living out here means I see the place differently, but it's the only place I've ever been to in Spain that I have felt threatened in.
 
artyman said:
I have a Lowepro 400 where the main camera section is against your back, and just a smaller pocket at the back.
Click to expand...

thats what i use and if i sit down i put my foot through the strap

also walk confident and dont look like a victim
 
Alastair said:
Depends on the weather, if it's cool enough I'd wear a jacket with the camera across my chest so it hung under my left arm out-of-sight (swap arms if you're left-handed).

I wouldn't carry a bag marked Kata, Lowepro or (worse) Crumpler if I didn't need to. A DSLR with lens and a second lens can usually fit into a messanger style bag.

Last time I was in Barcelona I was using a compact, however according to reports from friends and family who've travelled more recently with DSLRs you need to be very aware using the metro and in the Las Ramblas area. One friend had someone tray and grab the rucksack from his back as the doors were closing on the metro.
Click to expand...

i have removed all the badges from my kata and lowepro bags i dont use nikon straps or anything that brags i have a camera
 
Janet S said:
I was robbed on my very first day in Barcelona...handbag on floor with straps wrapped round my ankle whilst sitting at a table in a cafe just as we got off the train...the thieving sods sliced through the straps with a knife without me feeling or seeing a thing...

Luckily I had my camera, purse and mobile on the table, so they only got away with my credit card, which was quickly cancelled, and about £50 cash...

We suspect that the cafe owner was in league with them...he was incredibly helpful, showing us maps of where to go...we realised later that he was simply distracting us whilst his accomplice helped himself.

Such a shame that a fine and wonderful city is marred by these low-lifes...

Janet
Click to expand...


thats terrible and why you see tye foreign exchange students walk around with their rucksack on the front,did you report him to the police?
 
straycat said:
thats terrible and why you see tye foreign exchange students walk around with their rucksack on the front,did you report him to the police?
Click to expand...

If I had reported it I would have been arrested for drunk and disorderly....:D

May be I should have reported it but as it was a stag weekend I wasn't going to sit in a station where my Spanglais would probably have made things worse.
 
tiler65 said:
If I had reported it I would have been arrested for drunk and disorderly....:D

May be I should have reported it but as it was a stag weekend I wasn't going to sit in a station where my Spanglais would probably have made things worse.
Click to expand...

Did you know, the school kids there only have 2 hours a week of education in Spanish? OK, that's my last random fact of the day :lol:
 
The police station at the bottom of the Ramblas has a couple of English speaking coppers.

We found them very helpful when we wuz robbed.
 
Well I survived Barcelona, and what a great city it was.

Arriving on Monday am, I avoided the Metro, and got the Aerobus from the Airport to the centre for just over 10 euro's for the two of us (me and the wife). We dropped off the suitcase and left camera at the hotel, and had a walk around the main areas, along Las Ramblas etc. Afrer reading some of the pick pocket stories on here and other sites, I was conscious of checking who was around me. This soon wore off and I felt pretty relaxed. Lots of people with cameras, some high end DSLRs with pro lenses and plenty of camera bags around.

Yes there were the usual tricks/scams/games setup on the floor, and annoying whistle sellers, and it was very busy - so the next day I took my 450D, 24-70 and 10-20 out with me in my Kata bag.

Never felt un-safe and kept the camera close by, even when sat at a Cafe. Having said that, we didn't dress in shorts/t-shirts etc just the usual jeans and shirts even though it reached 28 degrees in the day, and 23/24 at night. Funnily enough we got asked by Spanish people on about 6 occasions various questions (directions I guess) so we must have blended in well!

Got some reasonable shots of Gaudis' houses etc, and other sites in and around Barcelona and overall had a great time. Arrived back late last night.

The things with being a photographer is when taking photographs in public places, one of 3 things always happens. Very true in Barcelona...
1. You find a great shot with nobody in, and as soon as you start taking the picture you get surrounded with people behind taking the same shot.
2. You find a great shot with nobody in, then you get someone walking into shot taking the same picture.
3. You get "can you take a picture of me", and get handed a camera (which is on full auto, flash on etc).


Martin
 
Last edited:
marts_uk said:
Well I survived Barcelona, and what a great city it was.

Arriving on Monday am, I avoided the Metro, and got the Aerobus from the Airport to the centre for just over 10 euro's for the two of us (me and the wife). We dropped off the suitcase and left camera at the hotel, and had a walk around the main areas, along Las Ramblas etc. Afrer reading some of the pick pocket stories on here and other sites, I was conscious of checking who was around me. This soon wore off and I felt pretty relaxed. Lots of people with cameras, some high end DSLRs with pro lenses and plenty of camera bags around.

Yes there were the usual tricks/scams/games setup on the floor, and annoying whistle sellers, and it was very busy - so the next day I took my 450D, 24-70 and 10-20 out with me in my Kata bag.

Never felt un-safe and kept the camera close by, even when sat at a Cafe. Having said that, we didn't dress in shorts/t-shirts etc just the usual jeans and shirts even though it reached 28 degrees in the day, and 23/24 at night. Funnily enough we got asked by Spanish people on about 6 occasions various questions (directions I guess) so we must have blended in well!

Got some reasonable shots of Gaudis' houses etc, and other sites in and around Barcelona and overall had a great time. Arrived back late last night.

The things with being a photographer is when taking photographs in public places, one of 3 things always happens. Very true in Barcelona...
1. You find a great shot with nobody in, and as soon as you start taking the picture you get surrounded with people behind taking the same shot.
2. You find a great shot with nobody in, then you get someone walking into shot taking the same picture.
3. You get "can you take a picture of me", and get handed a camera (which is on full auto, flash on etc).


Martin
Click to expand...

So when do we get to see the photos??:)
 
I've put a couple on my flickr (link in sig), but heres a few;

1/8 Second handheld in a fairly dark room. Had to wait about 20 mins in the room for it to be free of people! Converted to Mono. In the background you'll notice Gaudi on a projector screen, this was a hologram so came out in all colours of the rainbow, which took away form the scene - hence the convertion to mono.
6266228700_ec4404bf60_z.jpg



Classic shot;

6265718181_985c6158de_z.jpg
 
I tried that room shot too but gave up because of the crowds.

You were very lucky, and also skilful enough, to have got such a cracking shot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top