Camera security in hotels

Phil Murray · June 24th, 2013, 08:14 PM

Just a quick note now that I am in Iquitos, Peru. The folks here agree that small is better right now. Crime and armed robberies have increased dramatically and an inconspicuous camera is what they recommend.

I start doing some prep work and maybe a little shooting tomorrow. Can't wait to get started. I love this place!

Steven Digges · June 24th, 2013, 09:23 PM

Have a great trip Phil and be safe! The value and professionalism of cameras has always been judged by their size to the unfamiliar. Luckily for us we know that has all changed. Enjoy the challenge of your "small" camera. Not attracting the attention a shoulder mount gets can work to your advantage in many ways. But you know that. Be well!

Steve

Allan Black · June 25th, 2013, 05:51 PM

Phil, so how's things in Iquitos, shooting some good stuff? How's the mosquitoes treating you, got plenty of DEET there?

Last Nov. we cruised further east along on the Amazon, it was great, loved it. In the season, we were told the mosquitoes are so bad,
you can't open your mouth to speak! Hope it's better in Iquitos.

Cheers.

Phil Murray · June 25th, 2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Digges

Have a great trip Phil and be safe! The value and professionalism of cameras has always been judged by their size to the unfamiliar. Luckily for us we know that has all changed. Enjoy the challenge of your "small" camera. Not attracting the attention a shoulder mount gets can work to your advantage in many ways. But you know that. Be well!

Steve

Thanks, Steve. I'm hoping I can do a good job with a small camera. I am definitely glad that I don't have the larger camera. I walked around in Belen, the unbelievably poor neighborhood here, and I had everyone's eyes on me as I walked around. It was a very different feeling from years passed. A gringo walking alone catches everyone's attention and I didn't notice as many smiles as I'd received before. That was a little unnerving.

Interestingly, I did see a guy with what looked like a Sony EX3 on nice Vinten sticks shooting in central Iquitos. I tried to talk to him, but he acted like a jerk and wouldn't talk, so I just walked away. He looked nervous and probably thought that I was going to rob him!

Phil Murray · June 25th, 2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Black

Phil, so how's things in Iquitos, shooting some good stuff? How's the mosquitoes treating you, got plenty of DEET there?

Last Nov. we cruised further east along on the Amazon, it was great, loved it. In the season, we were told the mosquitoes are so bad,
you can't open your mouth to speak! Hope it's better in Iquitos.

Cheers.

It's a completely different world on the Amazon, isn't it, Allan? I really love this place.

I've never had any problem with mosquitoes here. I've been here maybe10 times over the years and probably have seen less than 5 total in all that time -- both in town and downriver in the jungle, too. Maybe my blood is poisonous to them. More likely, though, is that I sweat so much that they can't get through to my skin!

Haven't shot much -- trying to get rested up from all the travel. Did a little today down by the river, but plan to get to work for real tomorrow.

Here's a pic I took with my little point-n-shoot while eating a hamburger for dinner. (This kind of beautiful sunset is a daily thing here.)

Allan Black · June 28th, 2013, 06:39 PM

Hi Phil, nice descriptive pix there.

Totally agree, the Amazon River is a wonderful world to itself, all the surrounding country and the people who live there rely on the river for their livelihood. Last Nov. we sailed in from the Carribean, 1600kms west, more than halfway across Sth America for 11 days, in and back out again.

One city I loved was Manaus, at one time during the rubber boom, it was the richest city in Brazil.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mana...w=1366&bih=673

They had electric street lighting before most European cities and in the late 1800s the city fathers built a European style Opera House. We had 2 days in Manaus and we wanted to see whatever was on, but I couldn't book in advance. Soon as the ship docked, I raced across the city to grab some
of the last tickets for that night.

It was the 60 piece Amazonian Orchestra playing works by a Brazilian composer. The house was full and they played for 85 minutes.
It was a once in a lifetime experience and I marvel at how lucky we were to have been there.

Amazon Theatre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How is your shoot going?

Cheers.

Linn Jones · October 28th, 2013, 12:38 PM

I always bring my gear with me. And put my computer under the blankets in the bed. You never know when you might get a great shot! :)

June 24th, 2013, 08:14 PM	#16
Phil Murray Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cusco, Peru Posts: 375	Re: Camera security in hotels Just a quick note now that I am in Iquitos, Peru. The folks here agree that small is better right now. Crime and armed robberies have increased dramatically and an inconspicuous camera is what they recommend. I start doing some prep work and maybe a little shooting tomorrow. Can't wait to get started. I love this place!

June 24th, 2013, 09:23 PM	#17
Steven Digges Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,828	Re: Camera security in hotels Have a great trip Phil and be safe! The value and professionalism of cameras has always been judged by their size to the unfamiliar. Luckily for us we know that has all changed. Enjoy the challenge of your "small" camera. Not attracting the attention a shoulder mount gets can work to your advantage in many ways. But you know that. Be well! Steve __________________ www.CorporateShow.com Been at this so long I'm rounding my years of experience down...not up!

June 25th, 2013, 05:51 PM	#18
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,926	Re: Camera security in hotels Phil, so how's things in Iquitos, shooting some good stuff? How's the mosquitoes treating you, got plenty of DEET there? Last Nov. we cruised further east along on the Amazon, it was great, loved it. In the season, we were told the mosquitoes are so bad, you can't open your mouth to speak! Hope it's better in Iquitos. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

June 28th, 2013, 06:39 PM	#21
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,926	Re: Camera security in hotels Hi Phil, nice descriptive pix there. Totally agree, the Amazon River is a wonderful world to itself, all the surrounding country and the people who live there rely on the river for their livelihood. Last Nov. we sailed in from the Carribean, 1600kms west, more than halfway across Sth America for 11 days, in and back out again. One city I loved was Manaus, at one time during the rubber boom, it was the richest city in Brazil. https://www.google.com/search?q=mana...w=1366&bih=673 They had electric street lighting before most European cities and in the late 1800s the city fathers built a European style Opera House. We had 2 days in Manaus and we wanted to see whatever was on, but I couldn't book in advance. Soon as the ship docked, I raced across the city to grab some of the last tickets for that night. It was the 60 piece Amazonian Orchestra playing works by a Brazilian composer. The house was full and they played for 85 minutes. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I marvel at how lucky we were to have been there. Amazon Theatre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia How is your shoot going? Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

October 28th, 2013, 12:38 PM	#22
Linn Jones New Boot Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 10	Re: Camera security in hotels I always bring my gear with me. And put my computer under the blankets in the bed. You never know when you might get a great shot! :)