And who, if not a traveling photographer, should know the rules of behavior and safety rules during such trips? When you lose your head from what you see, and with your head you can lose documents, money and equipment. And even if you are just too curious a tourist, some of these rules will be useful to you.
There are thieves in all countries, and they will never miss their opportunity. An experienced thief can evaluate your equipment in just a few seconds and estimate how much he can get for it on the black market. Therefore, it is better not to flash a brand-new camera, but to make something out of it that absolutely will not appeal to hunters for someone else's good. You can do this with tape and a patch.
Also make sure that all the identification marks that can give out the cost of the camera (brand name and model) are also securely hidden from prying eyes. Also, a brand new camera with multiple lenses can also attract the attention of airport employees. «And why do you need such a camera?», «Maybe you— spy?!», «And how much does it cost?!», «Where did you buy it?», «It's brand new! We need to declare it!» and other incredible pretexts under which valiant customs officers (or border guards) can take you to an additional conversation. And even if you know all your rights, why spoil your nerves once again?
A brand new fashionable camera case or bag can also attract attention, so it's better to use old, worn cases or bags.
Photographers value not only their equipment, but also the results of their work. Therefore, every photographer (or journalist) is reinsured and stores the footage not only on a laptop, but also on separate hard drives. On standard trips, Joe usually has two such discs, and each disc is an exact copy of the other. And he keeps them in different places, so that in case of theft of a backpack or bag, at least one disk remains with the owner. If the photos are very valuable, you can use Dropbox to store them.
And even if you are not a photographer, and photos are not your main means of making money, it is better to be safe and periodically merge photos on a laptop or get several cards. Sometimes even such photos are much more important, since they are not work, but life and memories of places that a person has visited, and about people with whom he shared his travels.
Be safe, even if you take pictures with your phone, as phones tend to get lost, fall and break or end up in the water (proven by your own experience). You can always send photos to your email. If not all, then at least the very best. At the same time, learn how to filter the footage and leave really the best and most emotional photos. And not to arrange a photo warehouse from a computer in the style of « And this is me near a fountain, a tree, a flower bed, a sofa in the hotel lobby (and so on indefinitely)».
Of course, this does not mean that you can take any person off the street and ask to become your guide for money. So you can stay not only without a camera, but also without a wallet and sometimes without life. If you really want to find out how people live in this country, or to see the most interesting and beautiful places that are not marked on tourist maps, you will not find a better guide than a local resident. And it is better to look for such guides in travel agencies or on the advice of trusted acquaintances. And this applies not only to local beauties, but also cafes with restaurants.
For example, in Kiev in the old city there are a lot of interesting places that you will not find in tourist booklets. And for those who do not like standard excursions, there are special routes to unknown places and interesting courtyards. For example, in the courtyard of one of the old Kiev streets there are huge aviaries with wild crows, which you can feed with bread and scratch behind the ear, if they are, of course, in a good mood. And there are a lot of such places in Kiev. Who will tell you about them better than the locals? With tales and legends to boot?
And there are such courtyards in all cities. The most interesting things happen there and only there you can see the life of the locals without the tourist gloss.
And some more tips about traveling with photo equipment from Joe El:
