Picture taking strategy

Jesse, Get a gorilla pod and find out how to shoot delayed pictures then you don't have to worry at all! Others have spoken about an interesting device that extends your camera and allows you take pictures of yourself. You can always ask the waiter in the cafe to take a picture. Others may have other suggestions.

Pam

People will be handing you their cameras all the time and asking you to take a picture of them. Are you going to steal their stuff?

Ask. Anybody will help. It's what people do.

On our trips, we have used our camera timer and/or asked people to take our picture. We choose people with a big camera, families, or older people we feel we can outrun!!! My arm wasn't long enough to do those self-portrait shots but now with a wider angle I might try it. Waiters seem to oblige for taking photos.

It depends both on the value of the camera and of the photos you already have on it. My wife thinks I am silly about this and I don't really mean to offend, but I will not trust my expensive (for me) camera to just anyone. Sure, most would take the picture and return it, but a few will run away. So, there are not many occasions when I would trust my camera to someone who is bigger and faster than me. The risk may be small but the loss would be too great if they did run off with the camera. The only times I have let my camera out of my hands for a "stranger" was with waiters (who then got a good tip) in a few cities and our landlord in Amsterdam, and one time when I volunteered to take a picture of other tourists with their camera in exchange for them taking a picture with my camera of us. I realize there is little chance that someone would run off with the camera, but it does happen sometimes. It is not a matter of trust or stereotypes; it is a matter of how much I would lose in the unlikely event the camera is stolen.

In Japan, a common tactic for getting someone to take your photo is to offer to take THEIR photo first. Etiquette dictates that they return the favor. In Europe, it works for me to find Japanese tourists and use this strategy. Of course, it probably helps that I speak Japanese and can ask them in their own language! (I'm a white American.) But they'll understand if you ask them in English. You can also ask them to take your photo first, but then offer to take their photo after they take yours. (And I've never even THOUGHT that someone might run off with my camera if I ask them to take my photo--ever. Anyplace in the world. Is that weird? Am I too trusting?)

You could get a little disposable camera that you use just for this purpose, just hand that to people and always keep your own more expensive digital with you. I have not personally done this, but I have seen it recommended many times.

LOL, Steve!! That is a plan!

We've had servers (i.e. waiters) take family pictures before. I've also ended up taking pictures for Asian tourists (Korean and Japanese) more than once in Europe AND Disneyland. I have small kids with me and a DSLR around my neck, so I think I must look honest. Sometimes, they offer to return the favor. I'll be in the same position (but mother/daughters), so it's a great question!

So, my strategy would be 1- employees of someplace where you are spending money (as long as they aren't too busy and you have built a rapport- a place where you tip is the best) and 2- Asian tourists/other tourists with kids who are taking a lot of pictures after you offer to take theirs first- look trustworthy, yourself!!

Jesse - Here is another vote for the Gorilla pod. They are great !

Jesse,, I travel alone sometimes, so I ask. Its fairly obvious who to ask,, you will know when you see them. Other tourists ,, taking their own photos of their group,, etc.

If I see, say, a man taking his wife's picture, I will often offer to take their picture together. (I have even done this completely through gestures, with a Chinese couple at the Great Wall.) Then they always offer to take mine for me. In Ireland, when I was traveling alone, I found a couple of other American tourists at Glendalough and asked them to take one for me, then returned the favor for them. Maybe I'm too trusting, but I have never worried about someone taking off with my camera.

I always look for the person with the best looking camera and ask them, in the hopes that if they have spent that much money on a camera, maybe they know what they are doing and I'll end up with a half decent shot! :) I'm sure you won't have any problems if you are in touristy places and don't hand your camera off to any sketchy looking people. :) Good luck and have fun!! I will also be in London and Paris soon, I can't wait!

Camera theft is one of those apocryphal events that probably occurs so rarely that it's not worth worrying about. And certainly, it's not going to happen a la the Grizwald family in "European Vacation", where the thief shows his face then blatantly runs off with the camera. With the flood of cheap digital cameras on the market these days, the resale value of a used camera is likely not worth the risk of stealing. Watch your wallet, but don't sweat the camera.

I think this is a case of being a bit too paranoid. Though I suppose it has happened, I've never heard of anyone having their camera stolen after asking someone to take their photo. It's going to be another tourist you ask, or maybe a friendly local. While you might want some caution about a shady looking young man that offers to take your photo, that's just not how European theives operate. Besides, this is a good way to meet people.

While the Gorilla tripod is a nice idea, especially if you are at place with no people, you are actually more likely to have your camera stolen that way. You'd be several feet away on some busy street and THAT is how thieves operate.

Hello?? You pick someone who looks like they cannot run as fast as you can!

Wow, I wasn't expecting so many replies! Thanks for reassuring me, and maybe I'll consider Steve's advice :) I'm not super paranoid about it, mainly curious.

Thanks!!

If anyone happens to stop back by this thread, can anyone recommend a website that has tips for taking quality travel pictures with a point and shoot? I have pretty nice one and I want to get some good shots on my trip.

Jesse,

Check out photo.net's web site. They have some pretty good, practical advice for point and shoot cameras. As for worrying about someone stealing your camera, you're more likely to set it down somewhere and leave it behind than to have someone actually pinch it. Relax and enjoy! My favorite method for finding someone to take our picture is to locate a tour bus group. They can only run as far as their bus.

"you're more likely to set it down somewhere and leave it behind than to have someone actually pinch it." That needs to be stated more often on this website!

If you're using a P&S camera, the XShot might also be an option: http://xshotpix.com/

Jesse,

I tend to favour asking others to take my photo rather than using self timers and Gorillapods. The problem with the self timer approach is that it's difficult to get the best composition. That's something that's best done by the human eye.

Most of the time I ask other tourists to take my photo after they've asked me to take theirs. I always travel with two Cameras and hand them the small P & S as that's the one they'll be most familiar with. I also have a large dSLR but rarely allow others to use that.

I'm travelling in Europe now and was asked several times this afternoon to take photos of others at the Lion monument in Lucerne. I suppose I fit the profile mentioned by
others here, the guy with a large Camera that looks like he can't run too fast.

If possible back up your photos each night and take a "backup" Camera.

Happy travels!

You asked for a site on taking pictures with a point and shoot. I don't know of a particular site, but from the workshops I've taken, the best tip is to start with composition. My workshop leader told me on looking at one of my photos, "you don't need the thistle." I took that to mean that should try to capture everything in one shot. The other tip he had was to take a variety of pictures. Don't make them all landscapes or cityscapes. Get the middle distant and close ups as well. It really can make a difference when you look back at your pictures. Lastly, avoid shooting into the sun! ; )

Pam

Jesse,
I usually look for someone I can outrun. I'm not kidding. Be aware and assume everyone wants your camera. I bought a Gorrillapod for my trip to italy so I can avoid the situation. Just don't get too far from that either or you might loose both.
I'm not trying to scare you off I just don't want you to loose your gear.
Bob

For many years I have lived in Hawaii most of the year by myself. I make it a point of offering to take other peoples pictures when they look like they would appreciate it. Especially when I see one person taking a picture of another person who appear to be a couple. I use to get turned down by lots of Japaneese tourists but not any more. Now when I travel to Europe in the summer, I ask folks to take pictures of me and my traveling partner with no fear that they will run off with my camera which is not an expensive one. I guess I believe in "what goes around comes around". Common sense with whom to ask is a must if you are the one asking. Go for it.

I carry a tiny tripod (not a gorilla but similar) which works well for family shots when no one is around to ask. Compose the picture, set the delay switch and jump into the picture.

The vast majority of people will be happy to take your picture and won't steal your camera. I might be worried about someone who approached me out of the blue and asked if I'd like them to take our picture. I don't think an average person asks you to hand them your camera.

Jesse
I have two cameras my one that's really good and no one gets to touch but me and the one I pass to others to take pictures of us together. I do this partly because I don't want anything to happen to the pictures I take, as I've heard of people accidentally erasing everything you've taken trying to be helpful.
Also have the 2nd because sometimes you do hand it to the wrong person and they won't give it back without asking for money, like at the pyramids. If they do take it it's only a small loss.
trying to pick someone our of a crowd good luck. But you shouldn't have too much trouble where you are going. Have fun.
Ask people in your tour group to take your a picture of you.

Jesse- check out the Quikpod, it's a hand held tripod that attaches to your camera and telescopes out so it's a bit easier to take self pictures. My girlfriend got it for our girls' trip to Maui last year, it attaches easily to her point and shoot camera. We were laughing so much because it looked so silly but we got great group pictures and no one was left out! We're actually planning to bring it with us on our next "chick trip" which will be in italy this October!

I forgot to tell you that you can get it on Amazon!