Note to Readers:
I have been on an extended trip to the central portion of the U.S. The trip was primarily for a short-term work assignment and secondarily for pleasure. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the trip, I was not able to keep up with my weekly posting. However, the material that I will be posting over the next several weeks deals with the trip and how you can write and take photographs during similar experiences. Thank you for your patience with my brief absence.
URBAN PHOTOGRAPHY – SAFETY IN A STRANGE CITY
Sometimes when we travel, we have the opportunity to engage in street or urban photography in a city that we do not know. Even if this is not your normal chosen style, it is a chance to expand our personal repertoire. When you consider the possible options just a little differently, you might understand that street photography is somewhat similar to wildlife photography or that urban photography is reasonably close to landscape photography. The subjects are a bit different but the actual photography is not dissimilar. It then becomes easier to use this opportunity of visiting a new city to become a better photographer.
One of the challenges of visiting an urban area is that we likely are not familiar with the rhythms of life in this particular environment. It is certainly not a secret that some places in a city are more safe for strangers than other areas. During the work week, “rush hour” for commuters may be earlier or later and more or less congested than in our home area. Weekends are often rather different than the work week and operate on their own routine. One needs to be aware that it may take some time to understand a city’s pulse and we may not have that much time to devote to acquiring that understanding. However, there are some techniques that can help shorten the process or may be employed as needed.
First, before your trip, do some research about the area where you will be visiting. Local Chambers of Commerce or Tourism Bureaus will probably have recommendations of places to photograph, and with the right questions, can inform you of areas where a photographer would be wise to avoid. Various online tools can also show locations in a city that could be interesting photographic subjects. The primary reason for your trip to this city may also yield safe opportunities for photographs. In many ways, researching new urban subjects is not very different from learning about new areas for landscape or travel photography.
Upon arrival in your destination, time permitting, consider following the advice of one of my favorite travel writers and take a walk around the city without a map or camera. You can learn about potential subjects without looking too much like a tourist. Of course, you will want to look at a map before hand so you have some mental idea of how to return to your starting point. Taking a few notes in a pocket notebook will help you find those subjects again at a later time.
Another technique would be to have another adult accompany you on your photo shoots, especially if you already know where you want to go. This second person can act as something of a lookout to watch for any dangerous or threatening situation while you are framing and shooting your photographs. You might also be able to choose a morning or evening “golden hour” when there would be fewer people in the areas where you want to shoot. This can provide a level of safety in and of itself.
Certainly there are other sensible ways to protect yourself in a new location, such as avoiding carrying branded camera bags that advertise “expensive gear here”. As you visit a new area, take appropriate precautions to protect yourself and your equipment. Reserve a little time in your trip to indulge your photography and to enjoy your excursion. With some advance planning, you can return home with some stunning photographs.