For those who are regulars here, you’ll know that while not professional photographers, we enjoy taking shots of what we see in the Loin, especially when it comes to the foods (yes, we enjoy inducing the “nom nom”). For those who are regulars in this neighborhood, it’s a pretty well-known fact that slinging about with a decently expensive DLSR is often not the brightest of ideas. At best it puts people off and gets really bizarre catcalls you have to ignore on certain blocks. At worst, you might be a target for theft, although I’ve never really felt that to be an issue. Being what it may, I tend to keep my camera stashed in my very sweat-a-licious five year-old Timbuk2 bag that has a Lowepro camera bag inside which I cut the top off of. It’s not the best setup, but it’s served me well and proudly here and in many trips.
A couple of weeks ago, through associations with them from a previous project, Timbuk2 contacted us to take a look at their brand new Snoop Camera Messenger bag that they’re starting to sell today to see what we thought–given that we’re running around a lot taking urban photos here in the Loin.
After several days using it, yes, this is definitely a solid replacement for my rigged up Lowepro crap setup. First off, the appearance of being just a basic Messenger bag is great. A straight-out camera bag screams, “tourist!” or “steal me!” so this makes you blend in like never before. The camera section is completely removable, which means that if you want to ditch the gear at home, you still have a regular bag. Also, within it there are movable compartments so that you can have a sandwich one day and then a six pack of beer the next (obviously lunch options need to be varied). And last but not least, they also added in a a great slot to the back to store a small laptop for professional photographers to send their pictures from the field right away (check out all the new features here).
But, enough about my bag, what do you photogs out there use? Are you guys stealthing it up like I usually do or are you out in the open? Just today, we were walking down Hyde to be cautioned by a geared-up photographer coming up the street that folks around Turk were in a bad mood. We didn’t see a problem and wondered if others out there have been harassed while taking shots? Has anyone actually had their gear directly stolen from them while walking out and about?
7 Comments until now
Awesome bag! It’s a pain in the ass to find cool..incognito camera bags. Photojojo has a few, but i always feel like they are geared for 14 year old girls or people with too much money and no desire to actually photograph.
And to respond to the question..well first let me just say that i am 5 feet tall..maybe pushing 120lbs..and a girl…I assume I am a prime target for theft. I dont look like I could fight my way out of a paper bag. Anyhow, I have a canon 7D that I use for my porn job and I take that thing EVERYWHERE..or at least I try to. I never use a camera bag unless im dragging along two or three film cameras. It’s too much of a hassle to stop what im doing, unbuckle my bag, pull my big ass camera out, put the strap around my wrist/neck…id miss so many shots..Just the other day I took a stroll through the TL..camera slung over one shoulder..nobody yelled, i wasnt harassed..it was fine. I feel like the TL is one of those places that’s relatively harmless unless your extremely stupid, too trusting, or are on drugs/trying to buy drugs.
PLUS…im kicking someone in the shaft, or shoving my fingers in someones eyeballs before I let them take my camera…it was expensive.
I have to say, at first I was a bit reluctant to carry my camera around all naked-like in the TL, so I just used my DIY camera bag which closely resembles this one:
http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Make_a_Stealth_Camera_Bag
Anyway, a year in, since I never had any heckling issues (thus far) from taking random snapshots of the street, I just proudly carry my camera on the sling and walk around wherever I go. I figure if I get into trouble, I can just dash into one of the zillion TL bodegas that never seem to close.
In fact, there was an episode where some angry-looking homeless guy wanted me to actually take his picture upon seeing my camera, so I obliged. What can I say. He was nice.
My TL photog rules:
a.) Don’t go into dark alleyways where you’d need to use a flash in the middle of an f/16 day.
b.) Get to know the people and stores in the neighborhood. Don’t have to be chummy. Yeah, it helps, but just learn a name or two.
c.) If taking a photo, just DO it. Ask if you must. It just arouses temptation and suspicion on all fonts if you’re coy or sneaky about it.
Thanks for the review! Stoked our covert camera bag is serving you well in the Loin.
“I feel like the TL is one of those places that’s relatively harmless unless your extremely stupid, too trusting, or are on drugs/trying to buy drugs.”
Spot-on, Alyssa. Totally agree.
great post thanks
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