What Equipment to use?

The right equipment for the right job.

Your equipment should be chosen based on the goal that you have for your photography. This means that you need to evaluate the medium you’re going to use to reach your audience. If your goal is to publish your photographs online than a camera capable of taking good resolution jpeg pictures should suffice (most modern phones can achieve that). Now if your goal is to print your pictures and specially if you plan on doing big prints then that changes matters a bit. As a minimum you’ll want to have a camera that is capable to capture raw files and preferable that is able to change lenses. This will ensure the maximum resolution possible as well as focal point flexibility.

Lights, tripods and more complex gadgets.

Unless you’re looking to achieve a particular effect or style when taking a picture you’ll only need a camera and your imagination. However there are certain situations that might demand extra tools to get the job done. Anything from needing a tripod to achieve a long exposure picture, artificial lighting due to low natural lighting or cases to protect your equipment from the weather. Best thing to do is to make a list of things you might need, based on terrain, weather, nature of the shoot, etc. at least a day before of the shoot.

 

Additional Equipment

Depending on your location you might need non-photography essential tools such as hard hats, first aid kits and more. If you’re planning on doing a photo shoot on unknown territory, such as a new urbex location, some basic safety equipment is needed. E.g. a whistle in case you can’t scream for help, flashlights, extra batteries for flashlights, gloves, water,etc.

 

Further information can be found in websites such as:

http://www.talkurbex.com/gear/

https://blog.mark17.net/urbex-gear/#.VyMeqbgrKhc

 

What equipment do you take on your photography adventures?

Things to consider before doing Urban Exploring photography

Urban Exploration as defined by Wikipedia:

Urban exploration (often shortened as Urbex or UE) is the exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned ruins or not usually seen components of the man-made environment. Photography and historical interest/documentation are heavily featured in the hobby and, although it may sometimes involve trespassing onto private property, this is not always the case.

UE has a unique approach to its photography as the risk to obtain photographs can be quite high and vary depending on location, time of day and/or weather. Before you attempt to do any UE consider these tips:

Is it legal?

For the most part UE involves entering a location that is off limits or not open to the general public however this does not mean breaking into the property. Vandalism or any damaged done to the property can mean harder charges if you get caught but it can also alert the powers that be that intruders have been to the property and repercussions from boarding up the place to complete demolition can occur. If the entering is done without causing any damage but permission was never obtained to enter the building the trespasser can still be charged with breaking and entering. So when possible ask permission prior to entering a location to avoid legal repercussions.

Safety

Safety should be your number one priority all at times which can be doing anything as simple as carrying a whistle, to call for help, to reconsidering entering a site even if you had to drive 4 hours to get to it. Remember that these are old abandoned places that have gone unsupervised for long periods of time. You can encounter anything from a weak infrastructure, to squatters, gang members, feral animals, chemicals, etc. Always do some research before going into the site you can check UE websites to see if anyone has entered the site before and if they have posted some info about it.

Hoe do you prepare for an exploration?

 

Cemetery Photography

The Law.

 

The rules and regulations to taking cemetery photography vary by area but there are some guidelines that you can follow to minimize a negative experience.

Most cemeteries, mostly big cemeteries with a service office, have there photography guidelines displayed within the property or provide a copy of them in their office or publish them on their website. These rules are most often than not regulated by the property owner(s) rather than the state and therefore apply to their specific property rather than the area where its located. Most cemeteries limit only the use of equipment rather than the act of photographing (E.G.tripod,lights, etc.).

                                                                                                                                                                       

Some cemeteries will even limit the photographs based on their use (commercial use or private use).  Judy G. Russell provides a list of examples of regulations, in her article Cemetery photos: permission required?, from different cemeteries in different states like the following one from the Glenwood Cemetery in Houston Texas:

 

Photography for private (not commercial) use is permitted so long as it does not interfere with the quiet enjoyment of the cemetery by other visitors. Photography in available light is preferred, although flash cameras may be used. External light sources not integral to the camera may not be used. Photography of burials is permitted only with the express permission of the person authorizing the burial, and such permission should be made known to the Glenwood office in advance of the burial. Photography for commercial use is prohibited, except with the written permission of the Executive Director. Requests should be submitted to the Glenwood office.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Remember to always be respectful and avoid taking photographs of people mourning their loved ones. In some instances if you ask them permission, depending on the situation, they might be okay with you taking their picture. Respect extends not only to the the visitors but also to the residents. Avoid stepping on flowers, leaning on gravestones, resist temptation to take anything back with you and try to avoid names since this might be consider invasion of privacy.  
How would you react if someone wanted to take a picture of a loved one’s grave?

Is Your Photography Illegal?

 

One of the many questions that most photographers will encounter is at what point or under what circumstance is it illegal to take a photograph? The answer can vary depending on the subject or the circumstances the photograph is being taken.

The Photographer’s Rights.

Written by Bert Krages, The Photographer’s Rights, is an amazing guide that breaks your rights as a photographer and also gives you pointers as to what to do when confronted about photographing. The guide, like this article, focuses on U.S. laws so research local laws if you plan on visiting a foreign country.

According to Krages the general rule in the United States is that if you’re in a public space you’re able take a photograph of anything. Public places that are generally considered public are streets, sidewalks and public parks. Some exception to the rule are military facilities, nuclear facilities and the like. Photographing members of the public in areas where a level of privacy is expected is considered an exemption to the rule such as dressing rooms, restrooms, medical facilities and inside private homes.

Confrontation

Both Krages and Thorin Klosowski, in his article Know Your Rights: Photography in Public, provide the same piece of advice: if there are signs clearly stating you’re in private property or that photography is not permitted you should stop and leave immediately. If there no signs stating the above it is up to you to decide whether the photographs are worth the confrontation. But regardless of the situation no one can take your camera or SD card without a court order.

Snap, Edit, Upload.

Publishing or uploading a photograph has its owns set of guidelines. Klosowski provides a good explanation on the subject: “You can’t use someone’s likeness for commercial purposes without their express permission. This means you can’t take a picture in a public place with recognizable faces and then sell it to Coca-Cola or a stock company (you can, however sell them to news organizations or use them for art). The same goes for many famous landmarks and some National Parks. ”

Have you ever been asked to stop taking photographs? If so how did you handle it?

How’s my photography affecting my environment?

You can’t photoshop your morals.

When discussing photography few people bring up the subject of how photographers can have a major impact on their subject’s location. Whether is visual, cultural or even economical the method that photographers use to achieve their work can have a serious impact in the area.

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Look but don’t touch.

“Take only pictures, leave only footprints” Is the motto coined by Ninjalicious a well known urban explorer that published the do’s and don’ts of the movement in his book Access all areas: A user’s guide to the art of urban exploration (2005). Which conveys the feeling that many urban explorers have when it comes to accessing abandoned areas. Because explorers understand that Urban Exploration has negative connotations explorers abstain from leaving a permanent physical imprint on the location that is being explored.

Deadly snaps.

Dl Cade, in his article The Dark Side of Photography: When Getting the ‘Best’ Shot is Just Plain Wrong,  provides a glimpse to the consequences that occur when photographers damage their work space. Cade breaks down the different aspects in which photography can turn dark that include photographers deliberately harming the scenery or injuring their subject, potentially, to death just so that their pictures can achieve a better look.

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Recently a photograph of a diver touching a great white shark has cause furor throughout the internet. According to Brian Clark Howard,in his National Geographic article, Moscow-based diver Dmitry Vasyanovich, 47, posted the pictures to Facebook. “Whether they get the bait or not, if you are providing them with scent or bait you are altering their natural system.”

Whether a selfie, a group pic, a snapchat or serious photo session every photographer amateur and professional alike have a moral duty to cause no harm to the ecosystem in which they shoot.

Next time you grab your phone to snap some quick pics think twice of how you could be impacting your environment.

How you ever witnessed a photographer acting morally wrong?