I need phototips for shooting at night (i.e. downtown)

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Originally Posted by LORatliff

I'd be interested in getting something together as well.

Thanks for that post, raevyncent. I don't understand why everyone is so afraid of homeless people. I've worked in the Dallas shelters before and for the most part, they are just the same as everyone else, and totally harmless at that.

I'm not afraid of homeless people. I'm afraid of someone pulling a gun or knife on me and me spraying them and then killing them for invading my personal space and safety. I've dealt with homeless people in Washington DC and Houston...Dallas people are some of the most nicest of them all I think.

In any case, we should figure something out soon.

[Tapper]

There are a lot of misperceptions about homeless people.

First, the "average people downon their luck" typically avail themselves of shelters and programs and don't stay homeless long. They tend to stay out in the suburban resources.

The ones you see out on the street, usually fall into three broad categories - opportunists (successful beggars), substance abusers, and the mentally ill.

Schizophrenia, in particular, is a disease which frequently results in this situation. Schizophrenics can be extremely dangerous. Some, of course, are harmless. But many suffer from delusions that make everyone seem like the enemy, including you.

Opportunists can be dangerous, depending on circumstance. If they are working "their" area, then they are unlikely to commit a crime that will result in being forced out of the area by the police. But if they are out and about, well, they're opportunists.

The substance abusers, you just never know. The drunks seem harmless a lot of the time, since they're too polluted to really accomplish a robbery.

The most dangerous people, are the ones that set out intending to do a crime. They're trying hard not to be seen as such while they identify and isolate prey, so they're harder to avoid. And they don't give warnings, in general. You'll be presented with these folks at 2-3 feet distance, and they want to surprise you. Makes them hard to deal with, weapon or no.

It's worth considering obtaining a concealed handgun license. Even if you do not intend to carry, the required course itself is excellent. It has very little to do with shooting. It's focused mainly on two areas - legalities surrounding deadly force, and conflict avoidance (which is what we are talking about here). I took the course from a policeman, and would recommend it to anyone as a "this is reality and how you can deal with it" primer. And using a weapon is the very last thing - it's what happens when you fail to avoid conflict, and represents a failure on your part to be smart. The course is all about not using your weapon, and is just as applicable to those who don't carry as those who do.

I do carry at times. I've done the math, and this is what makes sense for me. But the act of carrying has some strange side effects. First, you can never ever forget that lump of metal. You're conscious of it every single second you have it on you. Some folks think it makes you feel like Rambo, but that's simply not true. On the contrary, it makes you worry about what will happen if you have to use it, and that makes you very sensitive to situations and other people. It forces a sort of hyperawareness of people and surroundings on you. It makes you exceedingly polite. It makes you friendly. It forces you to do anything reasonable, to avoid allowing any situation to escalate to the point that you must go for your hole card. All good things, but also a little stressful. It's definitely not for everyone.

Me? I'm just not going to go downtown with $2000 worth of camera gear in the middle of the night. It's pretty much the same thing as hanging a "hey rob me" sign around your neck. I don't want to be robbed, and I don't want to hurt anyone who might try to rob me, or who is just mentally ill. Again, my own math. Your mileage may vary.

[robh1920]

You could always take an off duty officer with you that likes to take photos I have been wanting to try some downtown shots and would be interested in getting together to go down there. Let me know.

[venchka]

Could we possibly agree to disagree about photographing the homeless? Like, please don't do it until y'all are friendly enough that you are asked to take someone's picture.

You're missing a good time right now. It's dark fairly early. Of course it's probably still pretty busy at dark.

Good luck!

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I'm not into photographing homeless people. I just want to stay safe and take pcis of cityscape. :)