Out and About in Foreign Cultures
Discussion
As I am going to be lucky enough next month to travel to a Middle Eastern country, I thought I'd post up for any experiences, tips, definite no-nos and the like.
Clearly pointing the camera at a pile of sand is OK
Clearly sticking it in the face of a local is a complete no-no
Getting crowd scenes around the souks isn't necessarily a problem in my experience, but then that was with a compact digital - a little less "threatening" than an SLR with chunky glassware!
Pointing at buildings needs some care. I tend to believe the guides when they warn not to shoot certain buildings!! And I don't try and cause a scene at airports either!!!
Anyone got any experiences to share......?
(Stopping off in Doha on a trip after Easter...Anything particular I should try and shoot while there?)
Clearly pointing the camera at a pile of sand is OK
Clearly sticking it in the face of a local is a complete no-no
Getting crowd scenes around the souks isn't necessarily a problem in my experience, but then that was with a compact digital - a little less "threatening" than an SLR with chunky glassware!
Pointing at buildings needs some care. I tend to believe the guides when they warn not to shoot certain buildings!! And I don't try and cause a scene at airports either!!!
Anyone got any experiences to share......?
(Stopping off in Doha on a trip after Easter...Anything particular I should try and shoot while there?)
simpo two said:Absolutely! Where abouts in the Middle East? I love Israel. Although the last time I was out there was before I got into photography.
Middle East - lucky?
I would have thought some of the markets could make some interesting photos. The thing that amazed me over there is just the sheer age of everything. In the US something that's a couple of hundred years old is old. In Europe it's maybe 500+. Over there something that's old is measured in thousands of years old.
If you're in Jerusalem then you'll be spoilt for choice. And I think some photos depicting the military presence juxtaposed against the ancient religious buildings etc. could be interesting - I'd suggest asking them if they mind first though.
LexSport said:Doha - I know, I put it in small print so I couldn't expect any one to read that
Where abouts in the Middle East?
That's in Qatar, by the way. Been to Egypt before, and Dubai - love Dubai!
"lucky" (staying in a half-decent hotel, good food, sunshine, seeing somewhere different) Thinking about:
- markets (souks) - wish I had had my camera for the fish market at Sharja when we were last in Dubai.
- falconry
- sand dunes
- architecture
- sunrise/set over the city scape (should be somewhere high up - Four Seasons overlooking the sea)
I was in Morrocco and the guide was really great, letting you know exactly what was, and what wasn't, OK to photograph. I would suggest hiring a guide at your hotel for the first couple of forays with the camera....it may be a bit more expensive but he will be reputable and trustworthy. Be sure you don't point your camera blatently at the women! I took this one with the camera at my side while walking through the Medina of Chefchaoun.
Martin.
>> Edited by V6GTO on Wednesday 8th March 12:02
Martin.
>> Edited by V6GTO on Wednesday 8th March 12:02
I didn't have any problems strolling about the spice souk in Doha taking photographs.
People are generally okay (you know the sitting down old man type person approach) - ask them, if you're arabic is not up to scratch - the old point at the camera and then point at them seemed to work for me. Thank them afterwards.. (shokran).
You won't have a problem on the Corniche, nor round about the Doha Sheraton which is the pyramid shaped hotel at the end of the Corniche.
If you see armed police it's normally not a good idea.
Architecturally you'll be hunting for different buildings - lots of plain office type buildings - having said that the sun reflecting off them can be quite nice.
People are generally okay (you know the sitting down old man type person approach) - ask them, if you're arabic is not up to scratch - the old point at the camera and then point at them seemed to work for me. Thank them afterwards.. (shokran).
You won't have a problem on the Corniche, nor round about the Doha Sheraton which is the pyramid shaped hotel at the end of the Corniche.
If you see armed police it's normally not a good idea.
Architecturally you'll be hunting for different buildings - lots of plain office type buildings - having said that the sun reflecting off them can be quite nice.
V6GTO said:
Be sure you don't point your camera blatently at the women!
In fact don't point your camera at any women, full stop ! Oh, and make sure you don't get in a lift on your own with a woman who is not a relative. Also be aware that they can have very funny ideas about what constitutes a military site - in some countries simple bridges can be considered to be military locations ! Any kind of government offices no matter how local, road junctions etc. are also a no-no.
te51cle said:
Be sure you don't point your camera blatently at the women!
In fact don't point your camera at any women, full stop ! Oh, and make sure you don't get in a lift on your own with a woman who is not a relative...
Are you referring specifically to when in The Middle East, or anywhere? I can't comment on The Middle East as I'm yet to travel in that area, but elsewhere (Asia, America's etc) I've found women to be ok when wishing to photograph them. So long as you approach them with respect I've found many to be open to having their pictures taken.
So long as you are courteous and keep a polite smile, I reckon you'll be ok 90% of the time
You may find www.trekearth.com quite helpful
simpo two said:
I took this one with the camera at my side while walking through the Medina of Chefchaoun.
Striking. It can't be a straight shot though surely? Some details are sharp, others blurred to buggery. I give up, how did you do it?
Tatal fluke John...that's straight from the camera except saturation and sharpening.
Martin.
Andy M said:
Are you referring specifically to when in The Middle East
Yes, just the middle east. My particular experience is with Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia but other states nearby will be similar. I have seen a man get, how shall we say, "very stimulated" when he saw two women dressed head to toe in black robes walking together at a distance of at least a quarter of a mile away ! The culture is very different to ours and I recommend its best not to take any risks where you won't be able to understand the language - and sharp knives form part of the judicial system.
te51cle said:
Are you referring specifically to when in The Middle East
Yes, just the middle east. My particular experience is with Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia but other states nearby will be similar. I have seen a man get, how shall we say, "very stimulated" when he saw two women dressed head to toe in black robes walking together at a distance of at least a quarter of a mile away ! The culture is very different to ours and I recommend its best not to take any risks where you won't be able to understand the language - and sharp knives form part of the judicial system.
Wow! Thanks for the information. Certainly something to bear in mind when planning trips in the future
In my experience of photographing in muslim countries (from Saudi through to Morocco) with SLRs and big white lenses I would say the following.
- DEFINITELY do not photograph women without asking. They really don't like it. Best just to not bother.
- A friendly smile goes a LONG way and has got me out of trouble before.
- Be prepared to PAY: In some places if they think you are a tourist they will want money off you for having their picture taken. Learn the words 'journalist' and 'photographer' in the local language and you will find that some (though not all) of them then respect that you are working and may rescind their request for money. Just resign yourself to the fact that you may have to pay a couple of quid (or local equivalent) for a shot or two. A snakecharmer in marrakech got upset when I tried to take some photos until I bunged a fiver's worth of cash in his direction then he put on a whole big show for me and was more than happy. Carry a lot of small change.
- Get a long lens (200+) - this means that in a majority of cases you can get shots without people realising - learn to shoot quick!
- Definitely watch out for any sort of official building and DO NOT photograph it. However tourist attractions are fine and they are usually proud of them.
- Don't photograph any govt. officials - police, Army etc.
- It goes without saying that you should have a neck strap on your camera - but wrapped around your wrist - stops the camera being snatched so easily.
- Don't dress like a tourist or in expensive clothes, you are just asking to be ripped off. Scruffy is good.
The majority of people are more than happy to have their picture taken.
Imagine if you went wandering about London taking pictures of people in the street, I am sure a large majority would get suspicious!! Remember they are not a tourist attraction in themselves - have some respect.
>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 9th March 05:00
- DEFINITELY do not photograph women without asking. They really don't like it. Best just to not bother.
- A friendly smile goes a LONG way and has got me out of trouble before.
- Be prepared to PAY: In some places if they think you are a tourist they will want money off you for having their picture taken. Learn the words 'journalist' and 'photographer' in the local language and you will find that some (though not all) of them then respect that you are working and may rescind their request for money. Just resign yourself to the fact that you may have to pay a couple of quid (or local equivalent) for a shot or two. A snakecharmer in marrakech got upset when I tried to take some photos until I bunged a fiver's worth of cash in his direction then he put on a whole big show for me and was more than happy. Carry a lot of small change.
- Get a long lens (200+) - this means that in a majority of cases you can get shots without people realising - learn to shoot quick!
- Definitely watch out for any sort of official building and DO NOT photograph it. However tourist attractions are fine and they are usually proud of them.
- Don't photograph any govt. officials - police, Army etc.
- It goes without saying that you should have a neck strap on your camera - but wrapped around your wrist - stops the camera being snatched so easily.
- Don't dress like a tourist or in expensive clothes, you are just asking to be ripped off. Scruffy is good.
The majority of people are more than happy to have their picture taken.
Imagine if you went wandering about London taking pictures of people in the street, I am sure a large majority would get suspicious!! Remember they are not a tourist attraction in themselves - have some respect.
>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 9th March 05:00
simpo two said:
Learn the words 'journalist' and 'photographer' in the local language
How about 'Me with BBC' - or will that get you chained to a radiator in a basement even quicker?
I suppose a caveat to that statement is DO NOT USE THE WORD "JOURNALIST" IN A COMMUNIST COUNTRY (e.g. China) !!!!
Just use your head.
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