DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Out and About >> London, Paris
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 16 of 16, (reverse)
AuthorThread
04/21/2012 11:43:26 AM · #1
Hello,
I'm traveling to London, Paris and Bordeaux area for 3 weeks from May 3 to May 23.
(London, Paris, Bordeaux, Amboise and Paris again).
I'd like some tips, different places to visit and photograph, etc.
As I will be on myself in London and Paris would like to know if it is safe to go out at night with the camera.
thanks for your help,
Lele

Message edited by author 2012-04-22 09:45:01.
04/22/2012 07:54:06 AM · #2
Bump!
04/22/2012 10:16:11 AM · #3
Bump!!
04/22/2012 11:04:06 AM · #4
As far as going out at night in Paris with a camera, just make sure to stick to larger avenues and busier areas. For places to visit/photograph, the 6th and area around Saint Michel is always good, Montmartre too. As far as cityscapes go, the bridges on the Seine are nice, especially Pont du Bir-Hakeim and Pont Alexandre III. I'm going to be in Paris in June-- I'll just miss you :(
04/22/2012 12:00:13 PM · #5
As for london I can't say but as for paris: if i were you i'd definitely be on the river at sunset - amazing light and if you're lucky you'll get a lot of super candids. as for security i can't say - i never had a problem at all - the inner arrondissements are the most popular and therefore you'll feel safer... the higher the number the sketcher the area in my experience. hope it helps
04/23/2012 07:52:48 AM · #6
Thank you ozmaster and mrchhas. Very nice tips.
04/23/2012 08:20:29 AM · #7
https://www.google.no/search?q=places+to+photograph+in+london&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

snap away, have fun, black cab taxi drivers in London have a four year apprenticeship, so it's easy to get lost but the cab drivers will get you out of it and there's always the tube - keep a tube map handy at all times

Waterloo Sunset


not forgetting Notting Hill
04/23/2012 11:13:33 AM · #8
Thank you raish, very nice links :)
I'll add "The Kings" to my iPod
05/01/2012 09:46:30 AM · #9
Some more tips?
05/01/2012 10:38:27 AM · #10
London's got everything! (can you tell I'm a Londoner?) what do you like to shoot? Nature/animals/birds? you've got the royal parks, Barnes bird centre, Regents Park zoo. Architecture? Westminster/St Pauls/numerous palaces. In the city: Lloyds building/Shard/Gherkin. Street life? Is everywhere! Piccadilly circus/Camden/Brixton/Shoreditch markets Chinatown. Water? There's thousands of opportunities on the River Thames and Canals. London eye/River cruises. Events? Get a copy of timeout...

London, especially the centre is generally very safe, pickpockets and opportunity thieves would be the biggest threat and even this is quite rare and if you're aware you'll be fine at any time.

This is the view from the bridge next to my workplace:

05/01/2012 10:47:21 AM · #11
Originally posted by ozmaster:

As far as going out at night in Paris with a camera, just make sure to stick to larger avenues and busier areas.

Bad experience or something?
Carrying the 70-200mm screams cash money yet I've never had problems throughout the city at night. French is my first language, but I don't think that should affect anything in relation to what you're trying to insinuate.

CS
05/01/2012 02:08:14 PM · #12
I've never had any problem walking alone in Paris, night or day, with camera.

For the very best bargain in photography, think about taking the Batobus Riverboat Shuttle on the Seine. Not only is it a fun trip, you can get a day pass that's fairly inexpensive and get on and off at your leisure. that way you can get close to the popular spots via the Seine and explore on foot in the vicinity.
05/01/2012 03:27:17 PM · #13
Sounds like a great trip you have planned Lele!

With just a couple of visits to London I had no problem walking alone with camera gear, even late at night. I'm a medium sized guy though, and I would expect as a woman you might want to be a little more cautious. But in my experience the city seems quite safe for photography.

The last time I was in Paris though was a different experience. No doubt things were likely crazier than normal because I was there over New Years. I don't want to name a specific ethnic group here, but one group who has a reputation anyway of "liberating pedestrians of their property" seemed to be everywhere. Most of the week I was there I was with an entourage of people who saw these people literally do hand signals to one another to point me out as someone with camera gear. On a couple of occasions had my friends not been watching my back I might have lost something.
When I went out in Paris alone I was careful to watch my back. And since this group seemed to like to target North Americans who I guess are normally oblivious to their scams by approaching them with a map and asking if they speak English I learned to answer then with a stern no in German and they immediately backed off.
I don't mean to make you paranoid about the streets of Paris, and again things might have been a little crazier than normal during the New Years week I was last there. But I would be very cautious there with your camera gear. Keep watching your back (yet try to look like you know where you are going), and don't carry a bag with compartments that can be easily opened in a crowd. Just be confident yet cautious, and then enjoy the wonderful city that is Paris :)
05/01/2012 04:30:46 PM · #14
it's a shame, but where I live ( Sao Paulo city) is very dangerous go out alone with a camera, even during the day. That's why I'm asking for advice.
Thank you so much, guys
Alice, thanks for the great idea, sure I'm going to take the bateau.
05/01/2012 06:04:13 PM · #15
Why would you like to walk around late at night? At this time of the year the daylight finishes around 9:30pm!

I have seen the police frisk children near the Eiffel Tower last September. Gangs of pickpockets are unfortunately common around major tourist attractions and they employ children. I carry my camera in a crumpler bag that looks like a cheap handbag so it's not obvious (I am pleased it fits OK 5D with 24-105 lens!). I have also a money belt but I did not use in Paris. I carried only one credit card and some cash in a small wallet in the front pocket of jeans and checked it frequently.

The important thing though is that I have never come across any muggings. There are usually a lot of people around in the central parts of London and Paris till 11pm (amd later, till the tube and Metro close) and I think it is reasonably safe. Especially in the theater districts. I would not walk alone anywhere where there are no people like parks and river banks after dark.

I visited London, Paris and Bordeaux last year. I felt the safest in the center of Bordeaux. Lots of people around, trams are full till 11pm. I would not walk alone in Montmartre after dark, especially around Place Pigalle.

Re photos - I am not a street or architecture photog so I don't have much to recommend ;) It depends on what you like. Just looked at your profile - you might enjoy gardens of Versaille! I would not recommend Giverny as there were just too many people there.
05/01/2012 06:40:45 PM · #16
Originally posted by MargaretN:

Why would you like to walk around late at night? At this time of the year the daylight finishes around 9:30pm!

I have seen the police frisk children near the Eiffel Tower last September. Gangs of pickpockets are unfortunately common around major tourist attractions and they employ children. I carry my camera in a crumpler bag that looks like a cheap handbag so it's not obvious (I am pleased it fits OK 5D with 24-105 lens!). I have also a money belt but I did not use in Paris. I carried only one credit card and some cash in a small wallet in the front pocket of jeans and checked it frequently.

The important thing though is that I have never come across any muggings. There are usually a lot of people around in the central parts of London and Paris till 11pm (amd later, till the tube and Metro close) and I think it is reasonably safe. Especially in the theater districts. I would not walk alone anywhere where there are no people like parks and river banks after dark.



The mugging part is why I said to stick to larger avenues at night.. Paris is really safe-- I wandered around all the time on my own at day and night and nothing ever happened to me, but some of my friends have been mugged at one time or another. Just be aware that it does happen and although unlikely you should be smart about where you go at night.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 06:01:59 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 06:01:59 PM EDT.