be hand-inspected at security checkpoints. Manual inspection policies in other countries
will vary.
Sa F E t y
Security and safety for both people and equipment is a constant consideration. At the risk
of pointing out the obvious, when faced with the choice of losing equipment or risking
injury remember that equipment can always be replaced. Some tips to traveling safely:
- Whenever possible, do not travel alone.
- Always keep a low profile when moving about a city or in transportation centers, such
as airports and train stations. Keep equipment packed and inconspicuous. - Avoid storing equipment in cases with obvious logos that suggest valuable contents.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Thieves may wait to steal equipment or money after
a shoot, so it is a good idea to take a cab directly from the site back to the hotel and
store all gear safely before going out again.
For tips on traveling safely, refer to the Savvy Traveler web site, The Washington Post
Travel Section, and The New York Times Travel section. Since many national and regional
newspapers are available on the web, it may also be worthwhile to read the local news
when making travel plans (Newslink.org has links to papers all over the world) and to
consult the U.S. State Department about travel considerations for the area.
Some regions of the world are simply too dangerous to visit. In these cases it may be
possible to hire local photographers. If necessary, it may be possible to arrange a training
session in a neutral country.
in S u r a n cE
Get proper travel health insurance and equipment insurance and be sure to read the
fine print: many policies do not cover equipment "in transit" (while it is traveling on an
airplane or being shipped). And many policies that claim to cover equipment in transit in
fact only cover catastrophic events, such as floods and fires. In that case, if boxes disappear
or equipment breaks, tough luck. One of the best options is to ship equipment with
FedEx and to declare the value of the packages. This is similar to insurance, but they will
replace the equipment (rather than issue a claim check). However, be aware that when
the declared value of the equipment will be used when calculating duties. Many film
photographers develop their negatives at a trusted local developer before returning home
in order to avoid problems with x-ray scanners at airports. The Large Format Photography
Forum has a section on Location and Travel (see Web References for URL), including
discussions on traveling with film. When entering a country it may be a good idea to
avoiding mentioning travel for work or study unless you have a work or student visa.
Immigration customs, police, and other border officials can be unpredictable in some
countries and it may be difficult to gain entry. While not sanctioned by the writers or