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

[mobilezen]

I'm planning a couple downtown shots at night of the cityscape and was just wondering, how do you guys prepare for such shots? The biggest thing I'm worried about is getting mugged. I have been robbed at gunpoint in my own home (thank goodness not this one), so I have already been through the motions from the time it happened all the way to leading up to the arrest and news of apparent suicide of said attacker in jail. (ack, too much info ha). Anyway, I just want to be safe. I was thinking about getting some pepper spray and bringing a friend or two with me...I figured that would be the best. Anything else to keep in mind?

[Davidtxs]

its ashamed the methodist hosp site is out of the question now it seemed really safe but im sure the best is safety in NUMBERS so be careful

[Paulo]

Not familiar with your location Alex. Only driven through but 'safety in numbers' suggestion is a good one. Be aware of your surroundings and if possible, scout the location you're planning to shoot from ahead of time. Know what type of crowd tends to hang around there. If you're considering a chemical agent type defense, try to find the fogger type with both OC(pepper)/CS (tear gas). Just pay attention to wind condition to avoid blow back. I tend to stick with the Sabre brand because of their proven history on the field and you can find them at most Gander Mountain or outdoor/hunting type stores.

[mobilezen]

Originally Posted by pm-image

Not familiar with your location Alex. Only driven through but 'safety in numbers' suggestion is a good one. Be aware of your surroundings and if possible, scout the location you're planning to shoot from ahead of time. Know what type of crowd tends to hang around there. If you're considering a chemical agent type defense, try to find the fogger type with both OC(pepper)/CS (tear gas). Just pay attention to wind condition to avoid blow back. I tend to stick with the Sabre brand because of their proven history on the field and you can find them at most Gander Mountain or outdoor/hunting type stores.

I was planning on buying bear spray...if that thing can shoot 30 ft, I think I'd be safe. Thanks for the tips!

[STP Images]

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[LORatliff]

I can understand your concern and I'm certainly not going to tell you NOT to be concerned, but I'm an 18-year-old female who lives within five minutes of downtown and have been down there, alone, with camera equipment, at all hours of the night. It's really not as bad as you think.

So, yeah, forget about the pepper spray and what not (it can be used against you way too easily) and just take a buddy or two.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

OK you have not talked about WHAT PART OF DOWNTOWN that you plan to be in and at what times.
First rule is that when you go into an area LOOK the area over completely!
Second rule is USE YOUR EARS!
Third is that if you get a fealing that something ain't right- get out, don't try to get that last shot just get out as fast as possible.
Fourth is don't put yourself in a spot to where there is only one way to get out!!!

Good idea on bringing some friends along-extra eyes/ears and a couple extra bodies is always good.

Why not schedule a nightime shoot of Downtown with fellow TPF'ers?

I have been all over downtown in the early evening with no problems and have been in certain parts past 2 am with just a couple hecklers giving me lip about my cameras but that is all they were. (I did leave and go to my car no reason to enbolden them).

Also try to not get too far from your car.

There is a great spot on the walkway of the I-35 bridge that a sunset shot of downtown and early evening shot would be great but I would not do it without at least 3 other photographers because it breaks the rule about not having a way out-if a group wanted to jump you your screwed there since you are stuck on the bridge walkway for up to 1/4 mile + if you go towards town and they are on the OakCliff side and you sure don't want to jump into 65+mph traffic on I-35 to get away. Been on the bridge during the day shooting and still didn't feal the safest but did know that if someone wanted to jump me they would have to go into town then come back and then park and then come down the walkway-I kept glancing down the walkway towards my car every minute or so to keep an eye out for anyone coming my way-actually had a couple people go across the bridge while I was shooting.

As to the Pepper Spray or gun I wouldn't mess with either because they will give you a false sense of safety.

BTW the panhandlers who stay in the shelters usually have to be in by 8pm to spend the night and the ones that are in their own hobocamps are usually well bedded down by 11 on cold nights with whatever they bed down with to stay warm inside. Seldom see panhandlers after 11pm in the downtown area other than a few that hang around the outdoor drinking area of Curtain Club who try to steal a drink from people who are at the edges of the drinking area-Club Bouncers have a known group recognized that they try to keep away for doing this.

So just remember that 99% of the time you can get the same shot on another night (yeah some sunsets are special but usually the muggers are not out then).

The above comments can not be held against me if you get jumped, it is advice only!

[dlbdata]

I would be interested in getting a few TPF members together to go and shoot with a group.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Good luck, tried to get a group together right before christmas and no luck, had many things going on that night.

If you are trying to catch night life on the streets then try Friday nights.

[Stephen H]

Consider just NOT going to take that picture as an option, as well. Consider going when it's cold and rainy.

I remember hearing of a welding crew getting robbed at gunpoint in Houston on a jobsite- in broad daylight- and they are not normally the guys you'd want to mess with- so there's never any guarantee.

[mobilezen]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

OK you have not talked about WHAT PART OF DOWNTOWN that you plan to be in and at what times.

I was thinking of doing one night at the West End when there are a ton of people, then another night when there is not many. Also, the edge of Deep Ellum where all you see are buildings and alleys... maybe shots of Clearview, Curtain club and lizard lounge on a wednesday night...shouldn't be too bad. I've been out there but not with equipment and yes I did see a couple homeless people. I would like to get a few suggestions as well...maybe PM me? Thanks for the insight.

Originally Posted by dlbdata

I would be interested in getting a few TPF members together to go and shoot with a group.

Well I guess I don't need to call any of my friends to tag along with me. Yeah, let's organize something. that'd be cool!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Originally Posted by mobilezen

I was thinking of doing one night at the West End when there are a ton of people, then another night when there is not many. Also, the edge of Deep Ellum where all you see are buildings and alleys... maybe shots of Clearview, Curtain club and lizard lounge on a wednesday night...shouldn't be too bad. I've been out there but not with equipment and yes I did see a couple homeless people. I would like to get a few suggestions as well...maybe PM me? Thanks for the insight.



Well I guess I don't need to call any of my friends to tag along with me. Yeah, let's organize something. that'd be cool!

Guess you have not been in Ellum for a while, Clearview is shut down as is Blind Lemon and Art Bar. Trees is down now but a guy is trying to put something into the space right now-as of yesterday it is still a possibility.

Wed night is pretty darn near dead down there right now if you want people in the shots.

Shooting in the alleys is a no no in my book! You can't get a good feal for what is going on and you can easily be trapped with no way out-now if you have 5 or 6 people or more with a person posted at each end of the alley *each way to get out at the next cross street, then maybe but that is a lot of work for pics that won't necessarily be that great.

Don't know when you can find the West End Crowded nowdays with all of the businesses/restaraunts that have shut down-Next Texas OU night? Yeah you may find a few people out and about but no big crowds on 90% of the weekend nights down there.

[mobilezen]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

Guess you have not been in Ellum for a while, Clearview is shut down as is Blind Lemon and Art Bar. Trees is down now but a guy is trying to put something into the space right now-as of yesterday it is still a possibility.

Wed night is pretty darn near dead down there right now if you want people in the shots.

Shooting in the alleys is a no no in my book! You can't get a good feal for what is going on and you can easily be trapped with no way out-now if you have 5 or 6 people or more with a person posted at each end of the alley *each way to get out at the next cross street, then maybe but that is a lot of work for pics that won't necessarily be that great.

Don't know when you can find the West End Crowded nowdays with all of the businesses/restaraunts that have shut down-Next Texas OU night? Yeah you may find a few people out and about but no big crowds on 90% of the weekend nights down there.

Yeah its definitely been awhile since I've been down there. Too bad those places closed down. I guess everything is centering on these new "village" type places like Legacy Village, Austin Ranch and Addison Circle. Even though these places would be great to capture pics, i would like a little more edge, like Deep Ellum...

[raevyncent]

Wouldn't mind doing some night exploration with a TPF group sometime... I prefer Fort Worth, not nearly as likely to get in a scrape there, I've been downtown all hours til 3am without a problem. I did take the family downtown Dallas one time, and we wandered about from the Bank of America plaza all the way to the Cattle Drive and back,between 8-11 pm, and only had a couple of encounters with a few "street entrepeneurs" peddling junk. Homeless people generally don't bother me, but then I have alot of respect for them, knowing that for the most part they are people no different from me or you, just down on luck. I would bet most of us aren't more than a few paychecks away from living on the street, anyways.

Let me know if we get anything planned. PM me.

[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.