Safety whilst out

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Pegasus2

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Rob
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I like to do a lot of night shooting and when I used a compact this wasn't so much of a problem but since stepping up in kit I've become more concious about being out. I don't earn that much so it took me ages to save up.

Anyway, a funfair has spawned on the local town centre event ground and I wanted to go and shoot some of the rides to get some light trails etc. I din't go in the end because these places can attract a more shifty group of people and I was worried about my kit.

Similarly standing on a motorway bridge in the dead of night can have its problems I imagine.

Anyone else have safety related worries?
 
Try not to worry to much,sometimes its just a lot of commom sence,the places i have taken photos in :eek:

Also look into getting your stuff insured :)
 
forget your gear that isn't important, you need to make sure you are safe
 
Hi, Gary, I've returned from solo night shoots and thought, "What the hell have I just done!".

I've never felt worried or in any danger but just being out alone in the dark with camera gear sometimes feels a bit :help::help:

One way to play safe is to organise a group meet...find a venue and post a thread in the Meeting Place thread here clicky linky

Cheers.
 
I've done a fair few night time shots over the years and tend to plan them to some degree of safety.

My first rule of thumb is I never go out on a friday or saturday night, it's my golden rule, statistically there are more eejits out and about.

Then, I only bring what I'm likely to need, eg I never bring my 55-250 lens.

Then, always have a charged mobile phone.

Then if I do get approached, as I have a few times I will engage in conversation but in a friendly yet "yes/no" sort of way rather than encouraging them to stay any longer than it takes for them to see Im busy. This usually works, there were only 2 times it didn't.
One of the times it was obvious the bloke would talk the hind legs off a donkey, so I simply took my shot said, "oh I'm glad to be done with that shot" making it obvious I was done then moved on in his opposite direction giving him a cheery bye.

the second time was 2 drunk lads who were full of, what you doing / you need to watch yourself being out etc. When they asked what would I do if someone tried to nick my stuff when I was out like that I simply told them I'd stab the person with the screwdriver in the sheath of this camera bag (patting it to reinforce it) and then use the stanley knife in my back pocket. Funnily enough, off they went. To be fair I had neither and wouldn't do so anyway, I'd probably whack them with the tripod and leg it!

I think you just have to minimise any risk anyway you can, in fact I want to get out tonight for the full moon to try and get a shot, it breaks my friday rule but its in an area that has no through foot traffic as it's a swimming pool building / pyramid in Bedford and hoping to get the moon reflected off part of it. There's a big car park, well enough lit, car will be close by, minimal gear, and Ive checked google earth as well as the photographers epherisis tool to see where the moon will be in relation to the building so it narrows down the time I will actually be out, rather than waiting about for ages.

Again, it's all about minimising the risk to you.
 
Having a pack of cigs and a lighter on you and being able to offer a smoke can get you out of many a dodgy situation, especially with an overly inquisitive homeless person who you've just interrupted or stumbled into their area.
 
I guess it depends what you are shooting, but I tend to go out on a winters evening between 5 and 10pm. I do other stuff in the summer.
I certainly avoid town centres at kicking out time.
And as others have said keep some awareness. (listening especially, although I nearly 'defended myself' from a night jogger last winter who approached my shoot site from behind me, giving me a big shock.)
I also carry a bright torch, a. for camera settings, b. for finding dropped stuff c. for dazzling would-be trouble makers whilst I make my ungainly escape with 2 tons of kit.
(A 6D maglite can also be a handy enforcer...)
 
jimmyb said:
you can do some damage with one of those, I've retired mine for the more economical and brighter 2D LED Maglite.
Click to expand...

A detective sergeant friend of mine bent his in half over a crazed drug addict's head after he jumped out of a wardrobe brandishing a syringe during a drugs raid. Mag replaced it FOC but let him keep the bent one as a souvenir.
 
The motorway bridge should be ok, as long as it's not classed as part of the motorway, these are usually well lit and often under cctv, you might consider a hi-vis jacket, or similar. otherwise motorists passing below might think your going to drop bricks or something and call plod.
The fair is a different matter, many of the workers are itinerant, some are good some are bad. These fairs are usually ok earlier one but later is a different matter. If your fair is anything like my local fair then theres trouble nearly every night, with gangs of drunken yobs fighting the fair people and anybody else in sight, the security staff (read bouncers) actually locked themselves out one year for their own safety. I'd give that one a miss personally with my camera
 
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