Hi everybody,
I will be traveling alone to Paris in September I will be 71 at the time. I am bringing a nice, new camera. I would like some pictures with me in them, but I'm afraid of having my camera stolen by a stranger. Can anyone suggest a way out of this dilemma? Is there a way for me to be in some of the photos? I will not be physically able to fight with anyone at my age.
You will have to trust people a bit, but I usually just observe people before asking them. I try to find a family with a nice camera of their own. Often I will offer to take a picture of their group and then they offer to take one of us. Maybe I'm being naive,but I think most people you meet are good. And if you find a family of American tourists, they probably are more concerned with getting a good shot of their family at a famous landmark than trying to steal your camera. I haven't run into a problem yet and have done this in London, Paris, New York and Washington DC. Have a great trip!
I agree. I think you'll be fine if you just look and see who's taking pictures around you. If someone else has a decent camera or camera period (as opposed to a phone), they likely appreciate using a camera and will respect your desire to have some nice photos of yourself.
Hi patrick, other than just trusting that someone will do the right thing-and I don't blame you for being concerned-the only thought I had is to use a small table-top or flexible tripod, along with your new camera's self timer feature, presuming it has one. Unfortunately this would mean stepping away from your camera while the shot is being taken, so using in crowded places could still be disconcerting or not feasible for you.
Here are links for a couple of different ideas, you will need to pay attention to the type and weight of camera a particular unit is designed for. I would suggest familiarizing yourself as thoroughly as possible with the camera before you go.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/843953-REG/Oben_TT_50_TT_50_Table_Top_Tripod.html
First, definitely do not watch "National Lampoon's European Vacation" before you go! :-)
A nice French gentleman took our picture on the Pont des Arts (happily pre-locks) and returned our camera with a smile. I doubt if he's still there though. :-)
Kidding aside, I agree with the advice you got above. Pick someone who looks honest and already has a camera (which means he or she will likely take a better picture of you). Another older American or Brit if you want to play it safe and communicate easily. Maybe another geezer like us (I'm your age) who can't run any faster than you. :-)
Done with the kidding. I'm a point-and-shoot guy, I can see where the owner of a more expensive camera would have more concerns. Especially with all you hear about pickpockets and purse-snatchers and such (they can be a problem, but not always everywhere). You didn't get to our age without some ability to read people, so use the common sense we all developed over these decades!
You choose whom to ask for help. Not many people will volunteer their photo-snapping services until you ask them, and if they do volunteer, that's when I become slightly suspicious.
I have been traveling in Europe since 1960 always with a nice camera -- and now also with a point and shoot. I have pictures of myself and myself and my husband from every trip we have taken in the last 35 years and virtually all of them have been taken by strangers. I figure the odds that I will choose and approach a thief are low. It is common at tourist sites for people to trade cameras to get those shots. I am also 71 and am not going to worry about it. I am sure you have common sense and would not ask a stranger who is likely to run with your camera. I have never heard of this happening to anyone -- I am sure it must have some time or other -- but I have never known anyone. I know two people who lost cameras in Europe. One left it in a restroom booth and it was gone when he went back to retrieve it. The other sat it on his cafe table and it was apparently picked up by a pickpocket when he wasn't looking.
Cameras -- especially big clunky DSLRs -- are not prime targets for thieves. Phones, credit cards and money are the targets. A small camera left careless on a table might be a target of opportunity, but they really want your money and your Iphone.
janettravels44
www.janettravels.wordpress.com
Gosh, now I feel odd! I often volunteer to take others' pictures. I'm old and do not look like a threat or that I can run fast, lol.
I also offer to take others' pictures when I am traveling, particularly when I see a family or a couple. I haven't often been turned down. If that makes me odd or suspicious, no one seems to care.
I too am one of those who offer to take pictures of someone else, and then they usually offer to reciprocate. It seems a little safer than just asking someone to take my picture.
With good cameras in the new i-phones, so many people just use them instead of cameras and they are much more attractive to thieves than cameras.
I, too, offer to take other people's photos of them, here and when on vacation. I am not scared of people when I'm on vacation, only if my gut screams at me, then I'll back away, so I would have no qualms about asking many people. On the other hand, I don't want my picture taken no matter where I am, only if I'm with someone of whom I want to have a picture. I see myself everyday in the mirror, no thank you! LOL.
I too often offer to take photos for folks so they can both (couple) or all (family) be in the pic. You can often tell when someone wishes you would stop to offer!
Me, too, Nancy, Wray, and Kim. When I see people taking turns taking pictures of one another, I often volunteer to take a photo with both of them in it. Typically, they then offer to do the same for my husband and I.
I don't usually volunteer to take photos of a person on their own with a really good camera, though. I guess I've never thought of it--just assumed they were there to get fabulous shots and wouldn't want me making a muck of it. g
Anyway, I agree with the suggestions to choose likely looking people to ask, and simply rely "on the kindness of strangers."
In Paris, I would be a little more careful than in many other places. As a single traveler, seek out conversations. You're probably going to spend most of your time in places full of other tourists. Strike up conversations while waiting in line, or while looking at a vista, or sitting in a cafe or restaurant. By the way, you can always ask your waiter to take a photo if that's a place you want to remember. You may be surprised at how easy it is to engage other tourists in conversations - and how interesting and informative it is. You may end up with photos with some of those people, and they will bring back great memories for years to come.
Last thought - people with expensive camera equipment will generally take better pictures than someone using a little point-and-shoot.
I also volunteer to take photos of people, especially those taking turns. A few of them quickly assess my ability to run off with their camera, which makes me laugh.
Pick someone that is taking photos of their travel companion and offer to do it for them.
I had to tape up the battery compartment of my camera with ugly duct tape. I realized that this made it much less attractive to thieves, so left it that way. But I am much more worried about losing or misplacing it than of a thief. I change out the memory card every couple of days to minimize the loss.
The kids today use selfie sticks, I refuse!! So I used my arm to take pictures of me and my hubby. I look constipated in most of those pictures!!! I just asked someone to take pictures of us, much easier and nicer pictures. I was super paranoid of thieves before our trip almost to an obsession, no issues the entire time. Just ask, everyone is always glad to do it and most likely will have you do the same.
Just getting back from NYC, hubby and I had probably 3-4 people ask us to take their photos. When we were in Italy last year in Ravello, I had a woman (I think she was Irish) offer to take a photo of our group of three (and it's our only photo with me and my hubby and mom from the whole trip!). But yeah - I would def look for someone else who looks like a tourist to ask. If someone offered to take my photo and I got a bad vibe, I'd pass - trust your instincts - they are generally spot on...
Jenncaroline -- your post made me chuckle. I have a new point and shoot that has the feature that the view screen flips up so you can compose the selfie shot as it counts down and so I can at least get selfies that include the people I am hoping to include. But anything done at arms length is going to have my big fat face dominating if I take the picture. We have been using snapshots of our travels for our holiday card now for years and they are always taken by some random passerby kind enough to snap our picture. We have had very good luck getting perfectly fine pictures this way. The snapshot at the top of my photo journal main page of me and my husband was taken on the wisteria bridge at Giverny by some guy as people took turns in the spot and took turns taking each other's pictures.
janettravels44
www.janettravels.wordpress.com
Whenever I ask someone to take our picture I always choose someone I think I can run faster than. At 71 your options will be limited.
I agree with others' comments of selecting who you want to take the photo. Also, to reduce the risk of not having any photos in case of theft, bring two memory cards, so you can switch out halfway through your trip. Keep your 2nd card in your luggage, not in your camera bag.
I take a spare memory card just in case one stops working. And I backup my photos almost daily, more in case something happens to the card than to the camera.
We have many lovely photos taken by strangers during our travels both in the USA and Europe.
My husband is a photographer and his suggestions include labeling your camera with your name and contact info, silver permanent marker works well. He labels his camera body and each lens and his pack. He often takes photos of others and picks passers-by to take our photo. He will frame the photo and focus, so the volunteer just needs to push a button as if it was a point and shoot. Also keep your request simple - use Photo? instead of a complex "Please take our picture?"
Many people volunteer to take our photo and never once did it get stolen. Often you are in a place where they could not get away - on the top of the Eiffel or Arch for example. Nice people are every where! We have an excellent shot of us on a ski slope in the Dolomites :-) taken by a stranger with whom we had no common language - just an inquisitive "Photo?" and a friendly smile.
Once a volunteer kept backing up, stepping into a gap in a thick crowd, and I started to get nervous but eventually she framed me with the top of the Arch de Triumph and returned my camera with a smile. A great day with a parade of veterans relighting the permanent light for the unknown soldier.
Enjoy the trip and talk to strangers :-)
