Advice on Photography in Philippines

Jim

Hey guys,

I'm heading to Manila soon for just over a week and wanted to use the opportunity to take some street photography. Does anyone have experience wit this in terms of safety (for Manila or similar cities)? Am I absolutely mad to bring my €1000+ equipment around with me in busy urban areas?

Never been outside Europe so I'm awful ignorant. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Cheers,
Jim.

feet of flame

hi jim, i'm married to a filipina and been to manila many times. Yes you are mad to flash around expensive equipment on the streets. Dont get me wrong, the people of the Philippines are the nicest most accomodating people you could meet but its a very poor country and poverty makes some people desperate. If you were in the business area of Manila like say Makati you should be ok but theres parts of Manila my wife wont bring me because she knows i'd be robbed. Anyway i'd advise you to get away from Manila as soon as possible, the countryside is beautiful, head north to Baguio, nice and cool, nice scenery, nice people.

blorg

FWIW, I haven't been to Manila specifically but I have been to a lot of other countries in the region- India, Nepal, China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. I am in Asia relatively long-term, 18 months so far, so my experience of these places is not just a two week holiday. Some of these countries are as poor or poorer. I wouldn't say anywhere I have been you would be likely to be straight up mugged for a camera, certainly not during the day at least, and not during the night either unless you were very unlucky or went somewhere extremely dodgy. Frankly I would be more worried in the United States or even parts of some European cities, includng Dublin.

You would want to take a little care though, I *have* had cameras and phones stolen- but in every case it was due to my inattention and could have been prevented if I was paying more attention. Never direct or violent; they were swiped when I wasn't looking. But in any of these countries you would be fine if you were careful. But maybe Manila is far more dangerous than Hanoi or Mumbai, that I don't know.

pete4130

Just buy an old Canon QL 17 for €50 and shoot film over there. Great light, great camera, great results. It's small, discreet, easy to use and yo own't have to worry about it.

Jim

I'm buying a 5D MII soon enough so I think I'll use my 40D with 35mm, wrap it around myself and take my chances.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

unattendedbag

Try get down to boracay for a few days and you'll get the tropical beach experience. I've been around Cebu, Bohol, ormoc and tacloban which are great for photos. There will be loads of oppirtunities for street shots in Manila but you have to know where to go and where not to go. Have you a guide there? For the best shots go to the countryside. Mt Pinatubo for instance.

Zillah

Street smarts apply anywhere. I used my DSLR with no problems all around South America, including La Paz, which is not a very safe city. Be discrete. You can't hide the fact that you have a camera, but you can do a hell of a lot to not draw attention to it. Wrap the strap around your wrist and keep it low if you're not shooting. Carry a jacket with the same arm to help cover it up. Take the shot, move on. Don't hang around waiting for potential problems to get their courage up or call their friends. For the love of God don't put the strap around your neck.

Basically the key to safe tourism is to not look or act like a tourist.

CabanSail

Your gear is there to be used. Get out and use it. There are risks of it being stolen anywhere so you just have to be careful. Make sure your travel insurance covers you for theft of cameras and remember to check out the value limits (Some will include Camera/Lens as one item)

I have not been to the Phillipines but have been to quite a few places where there is poverty etc. A good P&S is probably makes you as much of a target as they are items which are more easily sold on quickly.

tl/dr Good Insurance & Common Sense will see you through.