Oh, sorry to hear that. When I'm in big cities or areas where i feel uncomfortable, i try to be as discreet as it gets...and that takes the fun out of it🙁 Hope you get well soon, it's always nice to see you here again 👍🏻💪🏻
Very sorry for your experience. I hope you will get yourself over this horrible thing quickly so we can continue to enjoy your lessons on street photography. Thank you for all you do.
I’m very sorry to hear of your scary experience. Any physical violation of your personal space and belongings by strangers is traumatic and you’re quite justified to feel stressed from it. Allow yourself to process it and you’re very courageous sharing that with all of us. Give yourself the opportunity to dissipate the emotional stress from the incident and know all of us appreciate you and are grateful you weren’t more badly harmed. I wish you better experiences in your travels going forward 🙏
Very sorry to hear this happened Peter. You sound a little shaken. Take your time and give yourself time to rebuild your confidence. Thanks for having the courage to make this explanatory video.
Very sorry to hear of your experience Peter. I fully take on board your safety suggestions particularly about using the back screen something I never used but will now to improve my awareness of what’s happening around me.
Sorry for what happened to you. When I'm out in my city I do 2 things usually. First one, I always keep both eyes open, even when using the viewfinder, and second, I use the reflections on the LCD as a rear view mirror to see behind me. That and things like picking the right time, location and always being on the listen. Sadly this stuff is hard to avoid.
That is a good tip to use the LCD to look back. Having both eyes open when using the EVF is good practise when ever you photograph. Seeing what is going outside the frame is crucial.
Hi Peter, Sorry to hear about that experience. I remember this city from visits long time ago as a very interesting spot where many faces and cultures meet. Yes also heard about dangerous people, with open eyes needed, however i also remember very very friendly people. Hope You have experienced many enjoyable moments too.
It's hard for me to hide, and personality factors make it hard for me to enjoy being cryptic or secretive. So I don't really try to hide the fact that I'm taking photographs on the street. I've had a surprising amount of luck just stepping out of the walkway into a visible area of the street and taking photos. I used my viewfinder a lot but I keep both eyes open. It takes a little practice but you can do both. I also look at the back of my camera when I'm using the viewfinder and I see a reflection of everything behind me. I like your advice, and I hope you stay safe!
So sorry you went through such an unsettling experience. I hope that the memory of the incident doesn't stay strong. I had a similar experience years ago in Bologne where a kid waved a paper in my face while two others tried to get my bag. Luckily it had a very heavy leather strap so it did not get cut right through as I yelled loudly, STOP, at them. Now I have everything in bags which have wire in the edges for security.
Glad nothing worse happened to you. I will be lookign for a camera bag that does not look like a camera bag and maybe have some wires inside the straps.
Thanks for the tip. I took a look, and those bags seem quite well made. The anti-theft zippers etc. are quite good. I have to take a closer look. I might buy one.
It happened to me 10 years ago in Brussels. A homeless person thought I had taken a picture of him, which was clearly not the case, came up to me and started kicking me. I will never go to Brussels again and it has drastically changed my life with regard to street photography. Street photography is a thing of the past for me, however sad it may be. I wish you all the best, greetings from Belgium😉
So sorry to know you had to experience that. We here in Pakistan had to look around for those and worst elements more than the subjects to frame. Sadly street crimes here are out of control and snatching phones and cameras are a norm. So yes I understand how you would be feeling. It kills creativity and the joy to be out with a camera.
Oh, sorry to hear this, Peter. I hope you feel better now. Sadly, these things happen. Istanbul is a wonderful city, but also very crowded and you need at least 4 eyes instead of 2 in some situations… All your tips apply pretty well for all the big cities now and it was a good idea to share this in my opinion, even if you felt shaken and emotionally hurt. I am sure others might have experienced something like this in any other big city. We live in a globalized world. We have to adapt to it in terms of safety precautions.
Some people just suck - no matter where u are in the world. Sry to hear about your experience. I’ve found when I really lean into the tourist role, people tend to leave me alone. There was only one instance in Paris where I felt threatened and I simply packed up my gear and got the heck out of there.
Sorry to hear about your experience. I'm likely travelloing to Istanbul in May 2025 to attaend a wedding - and of course spend a few days shooting on the streets. I'm sure these problems can happen anywhere. Like you, I've had no problems - so far. My only camera now is a Q3 which I keep strapped to my wrist in busy palces. Stay safe.
Sad it happened. My empathy and sympathy. Most important you were not hurt. I returned as a visitor to my hometown and forgot basics of personal security because I was out of practice and pickpocketed. For our hobby and activity, it is not easy to be inconspicuous.
Sorry for your bad experience, Peter. But you've also really shown how safe one can be if one mitigates risk and practices good sense, so thank you for this video. Personally, I don't like messenger bags because of how easily they can be pulled off one's shoulder, but I agree that an obscure-looking bag with a vague internal layout can do a lot to mitigate the threat of pickpocketing. Also recognizing the need to avoid/escape a situation as you did is crucial. Although you had some bad luck getting piled in with those pickpockets, your preparation meant they thankfully only made off with a non-critical item, which you were able to recover in the end.
Thanks for the informative video, Peter! I have had a couple of threats while walking around. In both cases I detected that I was being followed, in one case, on my way to an ATM early one morning in Miami Beach and in the other, into a subway station in Barcelona that was nearly deserted. And in both cases, stopping and looking the thugs in the eye was enough to make them realize that I was on to them before they got too close. So, situational awareness is important, but I agree that it's hard to maintain when you are photographing. In both my cases, I was not distracted by that. Regarding safeguarding previous day's work, I do in fact upload everything to the cloud at the end of every day, so I'm not worried about potential mishaps like lost luggage, thieves, or my own negligence later during a trip. I recommend frequent uploads to the cloud under any circumstances, actually. That's where I keep my photos.
Yes. Being aware of what's happening on the block behind you may be your best defense. These guys will follow you for some distance, miles even, and wait for you to make a mistake. Of course, any crowded place is risky, because it's more difficult to observe the street action. Vigilance and situational awareness are your best defense. If they see you are observant, they will look for another victim.
Turkey have over 8 million refugee and everythings changed drastically since last 15 year, man as local i have worry when i left the home :D you dont have to look like local you have to look like afgan or syrian now in Turkey for to be safe xD and many beauty city you have in europe for example go to Budapest.. at least there you can find amazing architecture and palinka!
Not using a bag would be the best advice, I will say. In unsafe areas, yes, try to blend. In safe cities, being a tourist look might actually work to your benefit. And looking like a photographer makes sense too. When someone asks what you are doing, and you are not trying to hide, they will accept what you tell them -- and be honest about it. I use a wrist strap only, though I have considered using a shoulder sling / strap for the full-frame camera. I am not out all that long and keep the bag in the car. If you go out and shoot, and then do your video will work better anyway. We love to see the photos, and post comments about the photos. Take care, Loren
Having been pulled out of my car and had my car stolen last year, I sympathise with you. The offender unzipped my jacket pocket to obtain the keys while holding me against him. Luckily, I managed to grab my camera bag with mobile and purse, before he drove off. I now place very little in my new used car, place no ID inside (he had access to all the details but didn’t realise) and carry very little camera equipment. I make sure I have more pockets than is necessary. This happened in my hometown, so you don’t have to go overseas to be mugged. The guy, from another city, crashed the car and the police caught him. Yes, it has curtailed my activities.
Sadly those things can happen. There are cities where you can't wear shiny watch or jewelry. Big cities always have those problems. Sometimes the authorities try to control it, because no tourist want to go to a city where you can have those problems. Glad it went OK at the end.
G’day Peter, sorry to hear what happened to you I’m glad you’re okay. I have a couple of tips for you and everyone shooting in the street. I suggest you don’t use a traditional looking camera bag to carry all of your expensive gear, when you’re concentrating on actually shooting in the street alone. I travel with two lightweight bags, splitting my gear between the two so if I lose one bag I haven’t lost everything at once. Thanks for sharing. ✌️
Sorry to hear about your unfortunate adventure, Peter. The same thing happened to me in Florence back in 2018. I was accosted by three individuals who approached me to ask for directions in Italian. I told them I didn't speak the language when I felt one of the men trying to pull on my camera strap. Suddenly the men crowded me tightly and I yelled “police”. The men disappeared quickly and the event was over. It still made me feel terribly uneasy for the rest of my trip though…
I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm glad you didn't get hurt and got your bag back, but it stills leaves a person rattled when their personal security is put into question. I forget who, but there's another YT photographer that deliberately puts bits of duct tape on their gear to make it look used/abused to dissuade the interest of would-be thieves.
I had some of my camera gear stolen when I was on the street in South America & it is not a fun experience. You become more careful after that happens & it does effect you.
Sorry that this happend to you. When traveling I always use a old looking canvas messenger bag that does not scream camera bag with a insert for my camera's. And I have added some short string ropes in it which I use to lock the zippers from opening easily. It is all about slowing down pickpockets from grabbing stuff from my bag. Pick pockets always work in small groups, when they try to surround you, try to step away as soon as possible.
Glad you are safe. A few weeks ago two dodgy looking guys walked towards and past me on a busy street so I used the opposite side shop windows to glance at them and saw they had turned around, so I just turned around as well and walked towards them head on and smiled at them. They looked confused and continued. Did I avoid problem, or where they innocent. Either way I was glad my X-M1 was on a wrist strap.
@@ForsgardPeter I think growing up on a rough estate makes me more aware of my surroundings than many people. As a smaller person I learned to spot problems and get out of the way quickly!
I had someone trying to grab my camera earlier this month in East London. These guys are professionals, doing it all day, every day. But my family comes from there, so I was fairly wary. I'm putting together a 300 dollar set up, (a used Lumix GF3 plus 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6, thanks for asking) so I can do shutter therapy in the area without too much worry.
Good you didn't got hurt although shaken up. Fully agreed on the "safe list" you go through. But it is so bad and the development tends to continue in a negative spiral.
Sorry that happened. I used to follow the opposite advice: use a bag that looks _the least_ like a camera bag. Nowadays I try not to take any bag for street, or just a small sling (with a shape that looks like it can't be holding any expensive gear). BTW there's no way I could look like a local in Türkiye 😄
Peter sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience. It’s sometimes useful to carry a local supermarket shopping bag into which a small camera or camera bag will fit. The bag doesn’t shout out camera and be ready to shout out ‘thief or police‘ so the honest people around you are alerted to your problem and the criminals will want to make a quick getaway. Barcelona is a really bad place for street criminals.
Sorry that happened, man. That bag was more of a target than the hat, but I guess it did act as a neon light arrow sign. I'd go out without that bag or hat. Just bring your GR. Though I know you film for your videos while doing street photography, perhaps while in Turkey, just explain the photos later . What is that strap you have? I didn't see it in your gear link or I'm blind. That's pretty cool compared to what came in the gr3x hdf box
First of all, good thing you are still in one piece if bit shaken. Must have been terrible situation. I suppose you just had bad luck and there wasn't anything you could have done to prevent it. It wasn't your fault. And, yes, Istanbul is on my to-shoot list. I just need to do some more precautions provided I get there some day.
I still carry my OM-1 for street photography because I refuse these arseholes spoil my hobby😅. However, I wear a camera strap across my body and a sleeveless jacket on top. I also wear my sling bag on top of the jacket (I adjust the strapping to ensure freedom of movement for the camera). This makes it harder for the thugs to snatch the camera off my body. Usually, there is very little in the sling bag, maybe a spare battery. Thankfully, I have yet to put this strategy to the test 🤞.
Peter hi...Liverpool Kev here...I was genuinely upset to hear of your unpleasant experience...I don't think it is just photography...I worked in and visited London for over 40 years...without a thought for safety really......it is not safe now in 2024.....As far as photography goes...I have become ever more conscious of having smaller cameras / lenses in public...often using phone instead...when any children near and sometimes otherwise I wouldn't dream of photography / video without being with my girlfriend...Not to be overstating....We live in less polite...less tolerant times...if you are a certain age like you me and Matti...we find that a bit sad do we not?...However, more positively.....not to be put off a fantastic hobby...but as you say to be more 'Mindful'...I wish you all the best as usual Peter...Liverpool Kev
I know you follow Faisal Westcott's videos & you may have seen his Istanbul videos, plus his good friend Roman Fox has done Istanbul videos. They walked the streets without any camera bag. I'll stick with the European & Scandinavian countries for my travels. I don't carry a camera bag, just a small cross body zippered pouch with an extra lens & spare battery plus a CPL filter. Depending on the city, I'll use my XS2o instead of my XT4.
Hi Peter, i have watched your video "Danger" in your youtube channel and i am really sorry about what you have experienced in Istanbul. I am a local who is a passionate of Street Photography. Since 2022, i am building up a multinational network of photographers. I have met a lot of photographers from all over the world who became my friends since then. Ofcourse you may have trouble in street photography but not only in Istanbul ofcourse but Istanbul is still one of the best and safe places for street photographers. Only a few of the photographers (1-2%) had problems like you because they were trying to shoot in dangerous spots Where even the locals do not go and shoot. As i said i am really sorry what you had here but i am really sorry to hear that you announce Istanbul is not a safe place and you do not recommend it. I respect what you say beccause it is your own opinion but i want to say that i don't agree, Just because of 3 idiots you are blaming Istanbul.
I am sorry but that has been my experience. In both times I have been there I have been harrassed. That has not happened any where else. Unfortunately my opinions are based on my own experience. I agree that it a quite good place to do street photography in many ways. It has a lot of diversity.
I also learned again, a thing in Turkey a few years ago. Say no! Always. My ex and I was forced to buy useless copies. I was held up in the shop, while the owner walked with my ex wife to an atm to take out money to pay for the stuff. 300$ wasted on stuff we didn't need. Don't go in shops, unless it's for water or a red bull.
@ForsgardPeter I'm planning to go back to turkey though 😅 need landscape and wildlife photography from there 😊📸 did you try the boat trip? About 5 hours activity 😊 Sadly we didn't see any turtles or dolphins 😬
I had bad experience in London in SoHo. There are some very colorfull taxi's and I took a picture of one of them and they guy went mental, and screamed about white supremacy, racism and what not? I also felt rather shaken.
I ve bougth canon 6d and 50mm 1.4f lens cuz it is cheap ff and not too heavy for daily use . A love this camera even in 24. Some scum stole it from my basic bag near my home couple days ago! It is very public place and there is a lot of video cameras. Still cant find him. Propper bag is important so as self awairness.
Train and subway stations require extra vigilance. They watch and note where you keep your money, if for example you are buying tickets, then they will follow you however long it takes, and strike when they see the opportunity. Don't expect help from the local police either; to them it's just another tourist tax to separate wealthy tourists from their money. it can happen anywhere.
Unfortunately that’s one of the oldest pickpockets tricks. One or two people coming towards you gesticulating and being very distracting while another approaches from behind to take what they can. They are well practiced for sure. First time I saw this was in Hanover over 30 years ago, and the pickpockets… Turkish.
I got hit in Lisbon walking into a cathedral. The guy in front stopped suddenly, and the guy behind me bumped me from behind. Guess what? They were of course working together.
Not so much a problem with street photography as such but as you say it's a problem with Istanbul. Your points on blending in, not standing out, are super critical for street photographers, as thieves are looking for victims. A foreign tourist that stands out and looks like there's money to be made off of by stealing their bags is at risk (this happened to my father in Rome: he put an obvious camera bag under his chair at a train station coffee shop and while he was distracted (two accomplices yelling at each other for a couple of seconds right in front of him) someones slid the bag from under the seat and took off with not only cameras and lenses, but more importantly all photos of his trip!). For that reason, your points in the video are great. When I spend time in NYC, for instance (my home town, but I rarely go there any more), I wouldn't use a camera bag, but rather a courier bag repurposed, and if I need to carry a tripod for night shots, then it goes into a gym duffle bag so it's not recognisable from a distance. Wearing old clothes and baggy ones at that help: it also helps if you look like you belong there and have situational awareness galore, always checking out what is going on around you. None will save you from a directed attempt to steal whatever you have but taking yourself off the radar for thieves is always good...
Older guys with big, funny hats and camera bags are the main targets for crocks. You looked Leica people for them. Anyway, has nowhere been safe to do street photography lately?
This post is still an integration with Ricoh, which is funny. To sum it up, what really happened to make such a name for your video? Nothing really is the answer.
@@ForsgardPeter I mean that you name the post DANGER with caps, tell this messy story about an ordinary easy money attempt you may face literally in every European capital now, but when it comes to camera you spell its name and model precisely. This is called soft integration man
Real world experiences like that are very disturbing to civilized people. They obviously weren't pro's just thugs. I hope your trip improves, sorry you went through this.
Oh goodness!! What a horrible experience. I do hope that it doesn't put you off going out with the camera again. And I have crossed Istanbul off my list of places to visit.
Sorry for your experience. Istanbul is beautiful but very dangerous. Here in Italy we have Naples that is a bit similar, fantastic street photography town but you have to be really careful there.
I didn't quite understand the messages in this vlog and I wouldn't contradict you, but Istanbul is safer than Paris or London, whether someone likes it or not!
It is possible. My experience is different. This video is made from my experience. Never had any problems in London or Paris. I am not saying that the same could not happen in London or Paris. Maybe I have had some bad luck while in Istanbul.
Oh, sorry to hear that. When I'm in big cities or areas where i feel uncomfortable, i try to be as discreet as it gets...and that takes the fun out of it🙁
Hope you get well soon, it's always nice to see you here again 👍🏻💪🏻
Very sorry for your experience. I hope you will get yourself over this horrible thing quickly so we can continue to enjoy your lessons on street photography. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you so much!
I’m very sorry to hear of your scary experience. Any physical violation of your personal space and belongings by strangers is traumatic and you’re quite justified to feel stressed from it. Allow yourself to process it and you’re very courageous sharing that with all of us. Give yourself the opportunity to dissipate the emotional stress from the incident and know all of us appreciate you and are grateful you weren’t more badly harmed. I wish you better experiences in your travels going forward 🙏
Thank you very much.
Very sorry to hear this happened Peter. You sound a little shaken. Take your time and give yourself time to rebuild your confidence. Thanks for having the courage to make this explanatory video.
Thanks.
Very sorry to hear of your experience Peter. I fully take on board your safety suggestions particularly about using the back screen something I never used but will now to improve my awareness of what’s happening around me.
I am sorry you had to go through that experience and pleased you still have everything. I hope the rest of your stay is excellent.
Thank you so much!
I’m so sorry to hear what happened to you. Hopefully you’ll recover soon from this awful experience. Thanks for posting and for the useful tips.
Thanks.
Sorry for what happened to you. When I'm out in my city I do 2 things usually. First one, I always keep both eyes open, even when using the viewfinder, and second, I use the reflections on the LCD as a rear view mirror to see behind me. That and things like picking the right time, location and always being on the listen. Sadly this stuff is hard to avoid.
That is a good tip to use the LCD to look back. Having both eyes open when using the EVF is good practise when ever you photograph. Seeing what is going outside the frame is crucial.
Hi Peter, Sorry to hear about that experience. I remember this city from visits long time ago as a very interesting spot where many faces and cultures meet. Yes also heard about dangerous people, with open eyes needed, however i also remember very very friendly people. Hope You have experienced many enjoyable moments too.
Yes, there are friendly people like the gentleman that brought back the pouch.
It's hard for me to hide, and personality factors make it hard for me to enjoy being cryptic or secretive. So I don't really try to hide the fact that I'm taking photographs on the street. I've had a surprising amount of luck just stepping out of the walkway into a visible area of the street and taking photos.
I used my viewfinder a lot but I keep both eyes open. It takes a little practice but you can do both. I also look at the back of my camera when I'm using the viewfinder and I see a reflection of everything behind me.
I like your advice, and I hope you stay safe!
Thanks.
So sorry you went through such an unsettling experience. I hope that the memory of the incident doesn't stay strong. I had a similar experience years ago in Bologne where a kid waved a paper in my face while two others tried to get my bag. Luckily it had a very heavy leather strap so it did not get cut right through as I yelled loudly, STOP, at them. Now I have everything in bags which have wire in the edges for security.
Glad nothing worse happened to you. I will be lookign for a camera bag that does not look like a camera bag and maybe have some wires inside the straps.
@@ForsgardPeter I use pacsafe bags which are not specifically camera bags but work well.
Thanks for the tip. I took a look, and those bags seem quite well made. The anti-theft zippers etc. are quite good. I have to take a closer look. I might buy one.
It happened to me 10 years ago in Brussels. A homeless person thought I had taken a picture of him, which was clearly not the case, came up to me and started kicking me. I will never go to Brussels again and it has drastically changed my life with regard to street photography. Street photography is a thing of the past for me, however sad it may be. I wish you all the best, greetings from Belgium😉
I will be in Brussels next week. I have been there before and eveything has been fine. It has been nice to photograph there. I hope it stays that way.
So sorry to know you had to experience that. We here in Pakistan had to look around for those and worst elements more than the subjects to frame. Sadly street crimes here are out of control and snatching phones and cameras are a norm.
So yes I understand how you would be feeling. It kills creativity and the joy to be out with a camera.
Thanks. Sorry to hear about the situation over there. Keep safe!
Oh, sorry to hear this, Peter. I hope you feel better now. Sadly, these things happen. Istanbul is a wonderful city, but also very crowded and you need at least 4 eyes instead of 2 in some situations… All your tips apply pretty well for all the big cities now and it was a good idea to share this in my opinion, even if you felt shaken and emotionally hurt. I am sure others might have experienced something like this in any other big city. We live in a globalized world. We have to adapt to it in terms of safety precautions.
I’m disappointed to hear that happened to you Peter. My best wishes for your recovery and further journey.
Thanks.
Some people just suck - no matter where u are in the world. Sry to hear about your experience. I’ve found when I really lean into the tourist role, people tend to leave me alone. There was only one instance in Paris where I felt threatened and I simply packed up my gear and got the heck out of there.
Sorry to hear about your experience. I'm likely travelloing to Istanbul in May 2025 to attaend a wedding - and of course spend a few days shooting on the streets. I'm sure these problems can happen anywhere. Like you, I've had no problems - so far. My only camera now is a Q3 which I keep strapped to my wrist in busy palces. Stay safe.
You should be ok, just be careful with your camera. Q3 is a nice camera!
Sad it happened. My empathy and sympathy. Most important you were not hurt. I returned as a visitor to my hometown and forgot basics of personal security because I was out of practice and pickpocketed. For our hobby and activity, it is not easy to be inconspicuous.
You always give good advice
Thanks Peter
Thank you.
Sorry for your bad experience, Peter. But you've also really shown how safe one can be if one mitigates risk and practices good sense, so thank you for this video. Personally, I don't like messenger bags because of how easily they can be pulled off one's shoulder, but I agree that an obscure-looking bag with a vague internal layout can do a lot to mitigate the threat of pickpocketing. Also recognizing the need to avoid/escape a situation as you did is crucial. Although you had some bad luck getting piled in with those pickpockets, your preparation meant they thankfully only made off with a non-critical item, which you were able to recover in the end.
Thanks.
Thanks for the informative video, Peter!
I have had a couple of threats while walking around. In both cases I detected that I was being followed, in one case, on my way to an ATM early one morning in Miami Beach and in the other, into a subway station in Barcelona that was nearly deserted. And in both cases, stopping and looking the thugs in the eye was enough to make them realize that I was on to them before they got too close. So, situational awareness is important, but I agree that it's hard to maintain when you are photographing. In both my cases, I was not distracted by that.
Regarding safeguarding previous day's work, I do in fact upload everything to the cloud at the end of every day, so I'm not worried about potential mishaps like lost luggage, thieves, or my own negligence later during a trip. I recommend frequent uploads to the cloud under any circumstances, actually. That's where I keep my photos.
Yes. Being aware of what's happening on the block behind you may be your best defense. These guys will follow you for some distance, miles even, and wait for you to make a mistake. Of course, any crowded place is risky, because it's more difficult to observe the street action. Vigilance and situational awareness are your best defense. If they see you are observant, they will look for another victim.
It is also easier to spot these on the streets, but metro coaches are harder to prevent these. Not many places to hide or get away.
Very sorry to learn of your recent unhappy experience in Istanbul Peter ;hopefully no lasting problems for you and every thing back to normal now !
Thanks. Yes, I does not affected me that much now that times has passed a few weeks. I have made some changes how I carry my stuff etc.
That must have been an awful experience, Peter. I’m glad you’re ok and nothing more serious happened. Thanks for sharing your experience and tips.
Thanks so much.
Sorry to hear about this Peter, but glad it all worked out OK, albeit leaving you a bit shaken. Good advice within!
Thank you.
Turkey have over 8 million refugee and everythings changed drastically since last 15 year, man as local i have worry when i left the home :D you dont have to look like local you have to look like afgan or syrian now in Turkey for to be safe xD and many beauty city you have in europe for example go to Budapest.. at least there you can find amazing architecture and palinka!
sorry to hear this and glad to know that you were not injured hope that you recover as soon as possible from this bad experience.
Thanks.
Not using a bag would be the best advice, I will say. In unsafe areas, yes, try to blend. In safe cities, being a tourist look might actually work to your benefit. And looking like a photographer makes sense too. When someone asks what you are doing, and you are not trying to hide, they will accept what you tell them -- and be honest about it. I use a wrist strap only, though I have considered using a shoulder sling / strap for the full-frame camera. I am not out all that long and keep the bag in the car. If you go out and shoot, and then do your video will work better anyway. We love to see the photos, and post comments about the photos. Take care, Loren
Thanks, good advice.
Having been pulled out of my car and had my car stolen last year, I sympathise with you. The offender unzipped my jacket pocket to obtain the keys while holding me against him. Luckily, I managed to grab my camera bag with mobile and purse, before he drove off. I now place very little in my new used car, place no ID inside (he had access to all the details but didn’t realise) and carry very little camera equipment. I make sure I have more pockets than is necessary. This happened in my hometown, so you don’t have to go overseas to be mugged. The guy, from another city, crashed the car and the police caught him. Yes, it has curtailed my activities.
That is horrible. Glad that nothing worse happened.
Sadly those things can happen. There are cities where you can't wear shiny watch or jewelry. Big cities always have those problems. Sometimes the authorities try to control it, because no tourist want to go to a city where you can have those problems. Glad it went OK at the end.
Muchas gracias por compartir tu experiencia.
G’day Peter, sorry to hear what happened to you I’m glad you’re okay. I have a couple of tips for you and everyone shooting in the street. I suggest you don’t use a traditional looking camera bag to carry all of your expensive gear, when you’re concentrating on actually shooting in the street alone. I travel with two lightweight bags, splitting my gear between the two so if I lose one bag I haven’t lost everything at once.
Thanks for sharing. ✌️
Thanks. That is a good advice.
@ No problem! Another tip…if you use an iPhone, consider sewing in an AirTag into the lining of your main camera bag. Stay safe! 🙏✌️
It is very difficult not to be spotted as a tourist if you take photos all the time (and carry a bag). Those characters are focusing on spotting them.
You are right. It is very hard, but it is worth trying.
I am glad to know that you were not injured . Not a good experience and for certain it will make you feel uncomfortable for some time.
Sorry to hear about your unfortunate adventure, Peter. The same thing happened to me in Florence back in 2018. I was accosted by three individuals who approached me to ask for directions in Italian. I told them I didn't speak the language when I felt one of the men trying to pull on my camera strap. Suddenly the men crowded me tightly and I yelled “police”. The men disappeared quickly and the event was over. It still made me feel terribly uneasy for the rest of my trip though…
Those type moments are scary.
I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm glad you didn't get hurt and got your bag back, but it stills leaves a person rattled when their personal security is put into question.
I forget who, but there's another YT photographer that deliberately puts bits of duct tape on their gear to make it look used/abused to dissuade the interest of would-be thieves.
Yes, having a beat up camera is a good advice. Maybe I make some marks to my camera. I think it was Roman Fox?
I had some of my camera gear stolen when I was on the street in South America & it is not a fun experience. You become more careful after that happens & it does effect you.
Sorry to hear. Yes it affects you when something like this happens.
Sorry that this happend to you. When traveling I always use a old looking canvas messenger bag that does not scream camera bag with a insert for my camera's. And I have added some short string ropes in it which I use to lock the zippers from opening easily. It is all about slowing down pickpockets from grabbing stuff from my bag. Pick pockets always work in small groups, when they try to surround you, try to step away as soon as possible.
Glad you are safe. A few weeks ago two dodgy looking guys walked towards and past me on a busy street so I used the opposite side shop windows to glance at them and saw they had turned around, so I just turned around as well and walked towards them head on and smiled at them. They looked confused and continued. Did I avoid problem, or where they innocent. Either way I was glad my X-M1 was on a wrist strap.
Thanks. Being aware and eyes open hepls a lot.
@@ForsgardPeter I think growing up on a rough estate makes me more aware of my surroundings than many people. As a smaller person I learned to spot problems and get out of the way quickly!
I had someone trying to grab my camera earlier this month in East London. These guys are professionals, doing it all day, every day. But my family comes from there, so I was fairly wary.
I'm putting together a 300 dollar set up, (a used Lumix GF3 plus 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6, thanks for asking) so I can do shutter therapy in the area without too much worry.
It can happen every where, unfortunately.
Good you didn't got hurt although shaken up. Fully agreed on the "safe list" you go through. But it is so bad and the development tends to continue in a negative spiral.
Thanks. Yes, I am afraid the things are are not getting better when it comes to safety.
Sorry that happened. I used to follow the opposite advice: use a bag that looks _the least_ like a camera bag. Nowadays I try not to take any bag for street, or just a small sling (with a shape that looks like it can't be holding any expensive gear). BTW there's no way I could look like a local in Türkiye 😄
When it is colder I do not take a camera bag with me. Everything fits in my pockets. That helps a lot.
Peter sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience. It’s sometimes useful to carry a local supermarket shopping bag into which a small camera or camera bag will fit. The bag doesn’t shout out camera and be ready to shout out ‘thief or police‘ so the honest people around you are alerted to your problem and the criminals will want to make a quick getaway. Barcelona is a really bad place for street criminals.
Thanks. Good advice! I will definately do that.
Sorry that happened, man. That bag was more of a target than the hat, but I guess it did act as a neon light arrow sign. I'd go out without that bag or hat. Just bring your GR. Though I know you film for your videos while doing street photography, perhaps while in Turkey, just explain the photos later .
What is that strap you have? I didn't see it in your gear link or I'm blind. That's pretty cool compared to what came in the gr3x hdf box
The wrist strap is from Wotancraft. It is this one: www.wotancraft.tw/en/product/aca08-02-bnw000-p00-pd
Good advise for anywhere
Thanks.
First of all, good thing you are still in one piece if bit shaken. Must have been terrible situation. I suppose you just had bad luck and there wasn't anything you could have done to prevent it. It wasn't your fault. And, yes, Istanbul is on my to-shoot list. I just need to do some more precautions provided I get there some day.
Thanks. I know it as not my fault, but there are still things that we all can do to be more safe.
I still carry my OM-1 for street photography because I refuse these arseholes spoil my hobby😅. However, I wear a camera strap across my body and a sleeveless jacket on top. I also wear my sling bag on top of the jacket (I adjust the strapping to ensure freedom of movement for the camera). This makes it harder for the thugs to snatch the camera off my body. Usually, there is very little in the sling bag, maybe a spare battery. Thankfully, I have yet to put this strategy to the test 🤞.
Thanks for sharing.
Peter hi...Liverpool Kev here...I was genuinely upset to hear of your unpleasant experience...I don't think it is just photography...I worked in and visited London for over 40 years...without a thought for safety really......it is not safe now in 2024.....As far as photography goes...I have become ever more conscious of having smaller cameras / lenses in public...often using phone instead...when any children near and sometimes otherwise I wouldn't dream of photography / video without being with my girlfriend...Not to be overstating....We live in less polite...less tolerant times...if you are a certain age like you me and Matti...we find that a bit sad do we not?...However, more positively.....not to be put off a fantastic hobby...but as you say to be more 'Mindful'...I wish you all the best as usual Peter...Liverpool Kev
Thanks.
I know you follow Faisal Westcott's videos & you may have seen his Istanbul videos, plus his good friend Roman Fox has done Istanbul videos. They walked the streets without any camera bag. I'll stick with the European & Scandinavian countries for my travels. I don't carry a camera bag, just a small cross body zippered pouch with an extra lens & spare battery plus a CPL filter. Depending on the city, I'll use my XS2o instead of my XT4.
Yes, I follow both of them. Sometimes a camera bag might be the thing that attracts some poeple.
Hi Peter, i have watched your video "Danger" in your youtube channel and i am really sorry about what you have experienced in Istanbul. I am a local who is a passionate of Street Photography. Since 2022, i am building up a multinational network of photographers. I have met a lot of photographers from all over the world who became my friends since then. Ofcourse you may have trouble in street photography but not only in Istanbul ofcourse but Istanbul is still one of the best and safe places for street photographers. Only a few of the photographers (1-2%) had problems like you because they were trying to shoot in dangerous spots Where even the locals do not go and shoot. As i said i am really sorry what you had here but i am really sorry to hear that you announce Istanbul is not a safe place and you do not recommend it. I respect what you say beccause it is your own opinion but i want to say that i don't agree, Just because of 3 idiots you are blaming Istanbul.
I am sorry but that has been my experience. In both times I have been there I have been harrassed. That has not happened any where else. Unfortunately my opinions are based on my own experience. I agree that it a quite good place to do street photography in many ways. It has a lot of diversity.
I also learned again, a thing in Turkey a few years ago. Say no! Always. My ex and I was forced to buy useless copies. I was held up in the shop, while the owner walked with my ex wife to an atm to take out money to pay for the stuff. 300$ wasted on stuff we didn't need. Don't go in shops, unless it's for water or a red bull.
That was horrible. I did not go into shops. I have been warned about those.
@ForsgardPeter I'm planning to go back to turkey though 😅 need landscape and wildlife photography from there 😊📸 did you try the boat trip? About 5 hours activity 😊 Sadly we didn't see any turtles or dolphins 😬
I had bad experience in London in SoHo. There are some very colorfull taxi's and I took a picture of one of them and they guy went mental, and screamed about white supremacy, racism and what not? I also felt rather shaken.
I ve bougth canon 6d and 50mm 1.4f lens cuz it is cheap ff and not too heavy for daily use . A love this camera even in 24. Some scum stole it from my basic bag near my home couple days ago! It is very public place and there is a lot of video cameras. Still cant find him. Propper bag is important so as self awairness.
Sorry to hear that your camera got stolen. Yes a proper bag helps, but it cannot prevent totally.
That 6d is really good camera! Still use it much! It makes awesome night pics!👍🏻💪
Train and subway stations require extra vigilance. They watch and note where you keep your money, if for example you are buying tickets, then they will follow you however long it takes, and strike when they see the opportunity. Don't expect help from the local police either; to them it's just another tourist tax to separate wealthy tourists from their money. it can happen anywhere.
Unfortunately that’s one of the oldest pickpockets tricks. One or two people coming towards you gesticulating and being very distracting while another approaches from behind to take what they can. They are well practiced for sure. First time I saw this was in Hanover over 30 years ago, and the pickpockets… Turkish.
I got hit in Lisbon walking into a cathedral. The guy in front stopped suddenly, and the guy behind me bumped me from behind. Guess what? They were of course working together.
Yes, the "good" method. Unfortunately it works.
Sorry to hear about your experience.
Not so much a problem with street photography as such but as you say it's a problem with Istanbul. Your points on blending in, not standing out, are super critical for street photographers, as thieves are looking for victims. A foreign tourist that stands out and looks like there's money to be made off of by stealing their bags is at risk (this happened to my father in Rome: he put an obvious camera bag under his chair at a train station coffee shop and while he was distracted (two accomplices yelling at each other for a couple of seconds right in front of him) someones slid the bag from under the seat and took off with not only cameras and lenses, but more importantly all photos of his trip!).
For that reason, your points in the video are great. When I spend time in NYC, for instance (my home town, but I rarely go there any more), I wouldn't use a camera bag, but rather a courier bag repurposed, and if I need to carry a tripod for night shots, then it goes into a gym duffle bag so it's not recognisable from a distance. Wearing old clothes and baggy ones at that help: it also helps if you look like you belong there and have situational awareness galore, always checking out what is going on around you. None will save you from a directed attempt to steal whatever you have but taking yourself off the radar for thieves is always good...
Sorry to hear about the camera theft. Good points about the bags and clothing.
Older guys with big, funny hats and camera bags are the main targets for crocks. You looked Leica people for them. Anyway, has nowhere been safe to do street photography lately?
You are absolutely right.
This post is still an integration with Ricoh, which is funny. To sum it up, what really happened to make such a name for your video? Nothing really is the answer.
What do you mean by integration with Ricoh?
@@ForsgardPeter I mean that you name the post DANGER with caps, tell this messy story about an ordinary easy money attempt you may face literally in every European capital now, but when it comes to camera you spell its name and model precisely. This is called soft integration man
Real world experiences like that are very disturbing to civilized people. They obviously weren't pro's just thugs. I hope your trip improves, sorry you went through this.
Thank you. I am already back home. Yes it went ok, but of course it affected a bit my photography after the incident.
Scarey... And disappointing. Disappointed in the lack of humanity on their part.
Oh goodness!! What a horrible experience. I do hope that it doesn't put you off going out with the camera again. And I have crossed Istanbul off my list of places to visit.
Thanks. I will traveling this week again. It will be interesting to see if that still affects my photographing. Hope not!
Sorry for you . buy just a"sifflet" whistle
Sorry for your experience. Istanbul is beautiful but very dangerous. Here in Italy we have Naples that is a bit similar, fantastic street photography town but you have to be really careful there.
Dreadful experience. One should be able to wear a hat.
I live in Istanbul, with that hat you are screaming i’m rich, i guarantee you wouldnt get that attack if you wouldnt wear that hat.
You are right and that what I was expecting for the reason.
I didn't quite understand the messages in this vlog and I wouldn't contradict you, but Istanbul is safer than Paris or London, whether someone likes it or not!
It is possible. My experience is different. This video is made from my experience. Never had any problems in London or Paris. I am not saying that the same could not happen in London or Paris. Maybe I have had some bad luck while in Istanbul.
Leave Turkey
I am back home already.