how do I protect my photo stuff
many moons ago crisavec asked me how I carry and care for my photo stuff... I haven't forgotten, it's just taken a long time for me to get to it.
The most important thing about taking delicate photography equipment with you in the field is protection... from physical damage both abrupt meeting with hard objects and also vibration and from being removed forever from my approximate location by someone who thinks he needs it more than I do.
They run hand in hand... Those who use expensive looking camera bags and cases advertise "take me--I'm expensive camera equipment"
I have nothing against expensive camera bags and camera/lens cases and indeed, I have some... but I rarely allow them to be seen unless I'm carrying them... They spend most of their time inside cheaper looking duffle bags or plastic totes...
Some suggestions:
--padded insulated lunch bags that have zipped or velcro closures for film and equipment
--cheap-looking backpacks
--if you sit down at a restaurant and take your camera pack with you--put your foot through the shoulder strap so you'll trip walking away instead of leaving your stuff for someone who thinks it should become theirs.
--take a couple sleeping bags with you to insulate your equipment and film from vibration and heat...
--take a junker vehicle to park at a vulnerable trailhead where vehicles are regularly broken into
--keep a couple of bags of clean trash in your vehicle to strew about (inside your vehicle) so anyone looking in will pass by instead of breaking into a vehicle to steal trash
--if you must take a nice vehicle, invest in those magnetic advertising signs... make it a believable company for septic tank work and splash a little mud on the running panel below the door that looks like it's source was inside the vehicle.
--a motion detector that has a vicious dog recording played instead of alarm (of course your windows need to be tinted so you don't tip your hand.
--some cheap or broken equipment more easily found that will be stolen instead of your hidden equipment (a fake wallet is a good idea for those who don't want to carry their good stuff on the trail)
--when leaving the trailhead to go on the trail if there are others present, go a short way up the trail and then return to see who was lurking to find if they were waiting to see whose vehicle would be safe to break into. (you know those folks who look like they are coming off the trail and ask you where you're going and how long you're staying? They may climb into their vehicle and drive away to return after you hit the trail... Record all the license plate numbers at the trailhead with them seeing you do it...
--if you are buying a van, you may want to make it look like a fleet vehicle with peel off numbers and some company name (eg. International satellite remote monitoring something or other) ... and put some antennas on top with an electronic buzzing sound from inside and a fake ground line going to a fake ground stake that looks like it's been pounded into the ground... and a small "electrical hazard" warning beside the door locks that warns to de-energize the whatever it is and a magnetic fake barrel lock beside the warning with "on-off" indicated.
I do most of these things... and am seriously considering the last one.
and am open to other suggestions.
Peace
ps if I have missed a question that you've asked or have forgotten or ignored it... please ask again... I just might answer it... or maybe not ;) I might forget again.
The most important thing about taking delicate photography equipment with you in the field is protection... from physical damage both abrupt meeting with hard objects and also vibration and from being removed forever from my approximate location by someone who thinks he needs it more than I do.
They run hand in hand... Those who use expensive looking camera bags and cases advertise "take me--I'm expensive camera equipment"
I have nothing against expensive camera bags and camera/lens cases and indeed, I have some... but I rarely allow them to be seen unless I'm carrying them... They spend most of their time inside cheaper looking duffle bags or plastic totes...
Some suggestions:
--padded insulated lunch bags that have zipped or velcro closures for film and equipment
--cheap-looking backpacks
--if you sit down at a restaurant and take your camera pack with you--put your foot through the shoulder strap so you'll trip walking away instead of leaving your stuff for someone who thinks it should become theirs.
--take a couple sleeping bags with you to insulate your equipment and film from vibration and heat...
--take a junker vehicle to park at a vulnerable trailhead where vehicles are regularly broken into
--keep a couple of bags of clean trash in your vehicle to strew about (inside your vehicle) so anyone looking in will pass by instead of breaking into a vehicle to steal trash
--if you must take a nice vehicle, invest in those magnetic advertising signs... make it a believable company for septic tank work and splash a little mud on the running panel below the door that looks like it's source was inside the vehicle.
--a motion detector that has a vicious dog recording played instead of alarm (of course your windows need to be tinted so you don't tip your hand.
--some cheap or broken equipment more easily found that will be stolen instead of your hidden equipment (a fake wallet is a good idea for those who don't want to carry their good stuff on the trail)
--when leaving the trailhead to go on the trail if there are others present, go a short way up the trail and then return to see who was lurking to find if they were waiting to see whose vehicle would be safe to break into. (you know those folks who look like they are coming off the trail and ask you where you're going and how long you're staying? They may climb into their vehicle and drive away to return after you hit the trail... Record all the license plate numbers at the trailhead with them seeing you do it...
--if you are buying a van, you may want to make it look like a fleet vehicle with peel off numbers and some company name (eg. International satellite remote monitoring something or other) ... and put some antennas on top with an electronic buzzing sound from inside and a fake ground line going to a fake ground stake that looks like it's been pounded into the ground... and a small "electrical hazard" warning beside the door locks that warns to de-energize the whatever it is and a magnetic fake barrel lock beside the warning with "on-off" indicated.
I do most of these things... and am seriously considering the last one.
and am open to other suggestions.
Peace
ps if I have missed a question that you've asked or have forgotten or ignored it... please ask again... I just might answer it... or maybe not ;) I might forget again.