pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: European trip  (Read 15405 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« on: May 26, 2011, 11:59 »
0
I'm planning a European trip next month (3 weeks). Will be in Italy, France, Germany and Switzerland. Is it worth taking city scapes and "travel" style photos for microstock (wondering if I should bring my 5d Mark II along). My North American travel photos don't sell that well so I am considering just bringing a point and shoot for the memories...

Thanks,


« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2011, 14:14 »
0
Nah __ not worth lugging all that gear around and risking loss, theft, etc. Just chill out and enoy it and you'll be better company for whoever you are with too. Serious photography is a fairly lonely pursuit.

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2011, 18:05 »
0
travel photography in Europe is my core business

I agree return per image is very low, but if you take a lot of pictures - including unplanned shots while waiting at airports, stations, etc - it may be worth it

Why not UK as well while travelling in Europe?
 

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2011, 18:26 »
0
Why not UK as well while travelling in Europe?
Sssssssh - we don't need the competition; at least, that's what SuperSean says  ;)

« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2011, 19:03 »
0
I'd go nuts without my SLR on a overseas trip.
Photography hasn't yet turned into a work like chore for me and taking photos is one of the reasons I like to travel. 

Point and shoot annoy me

« Reply #5 on: May 26, 2011, 20:47 »
0
I have a blog post about travel photography and microstock, you may find it helpful:
http://blog.elenaphoto.com/?p=110

« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2011, 02:23 »
0
Looks like the perfect excuse for a new camera.  I wouldn't want to lug a 5d Mark II around all the time but you will be guaranteed to miss some great photos with a compact.  Why not get one of the micro 4/3 cameras or one of the more compact APS sensor cameras?  If you take lots of photos and put them on alamy, it might take a few years but you should see a profit.

« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2011, 03:25 »
0

Why not UK as well while travelling in Europe?
 

I would have thought four countries in three weeks is already way too many!

If you don't take a decent camera you will regret it - don't you enjoy photography?

« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2011, 11:35 »
0
"Why not UK as well while travelling in Europe?"

Some other time maybe. I would have liked to visit Greece as well. I'm of Italian decent and my family in Italy have never seen my kids. One of the three weeks will be spent visiting family. We'll be driving about 3000km in the 3 weeks.

My main concern for the camaera is theft. We will be staying at several small hotels where security probably isn't a big priority.  I suppose I could dust off the old Canon 300d, 6 mega pixel camera :-(

I heard that European photos fair better at some sites such as Fotolia and Alamy. My North American photos don't do so well although I do get some sales on Dreamstime.

I have a couple more weeks to decide - really excited about the trip though.

thanks for the replies.

fotorob

  • Professional stock content producer
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2011, 02:42 »
0
Let's put it this way: There are enough photographers living in every major European city who contribute to microstock sites. So it will be hard to find shoots that haven't been taken, but you sare can give it a try.

« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2011, 02:55 »
0
"Why not UK as well while travelling in Europe?"

Some other time maybe. I would have liked to visit Greece as well. I'm of Italian decent and my family in Italy have never seen my kids. One of the three weeks will be spent visiting family. We'll be driving about 3000km in the 3 weeks.

My main concern for the camaera is theft. We will be staying at several small hotels where security probably isn't a big priority.  I suppose I could dust off the old Canon 300d, 6 mega pixel camera :-(

I heard that European photos fair better at some sites such as Fotolia and Alamy. My North American photos don't do so well although I do get some sales on Dreamstime.

I have a couple more weeks to decide - really excited about the trip though.

thanks for the replies.

I'm Italian, I've been in many hotels in Italy, France, Greece etc. I was never stolen anything.
Please stop with those old platitudes, thank you.

« Reply #11 on: May 28, 2011, 04:57 »
0
Travel insurance is essential, not only for theft but if you get sick, injured etc.

My last trip to Europe was Spain, portugal and England there was only one time I was worried about theft. (Evening photos in Porto on my own, a guy after money for the train) I get more worried in my own city. (maybe because you hear what happens).

I'm still going through photos from that trip, I doubt it would ever turn a profit but it was a family holiday which I would have taken photos anyway.

I'd recommend a camera bag that doesn't look like a camera bag and don't let it out of your site for a second.

« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2011, 05:16 »
0
Yes, just use common sense and your gear should be as safe as at home - never had any problem in hotels anywhere, but take care in tourist areas and crowds, and don't leave anything visible in the car when parked.

I've even managed to forget my camera bag twice - on a vaporetto in Venice and a taxi in Budapest - both times it was returned intact.

I think though that if you're spending a week with family, you could easily take the other two weeks just exploring Italy... but whatever, have a good time.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2011, 07:32 »
0
One thing which is increasing throughout Europe is apparently theft of lenses from DSLR bodies. An iStock buddy had exactly that happen to him in ?St Petersburg? - first and until recently the only time I'd heard of this. Last month, I was contacted (in my capacity as camera club secretary) to see if our members would take part in a BBC Three programme ("The Real Hustle") highlighting just this issue, as it's becoming common.
I guess the people who do this aren't the ones who make me a bit nervous almost everywhere by obviously 'clocking' my camera and maybe muttering something like 'nice camera' in the passing.

« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2011, 08:00 »
0
I'm italian too and my husband works in an hotel, be sure that there aren't more thieves here than in any other place...I've travelled a lot in Europe and in in South America too...and I can tell that my country is one of the most beautiful country in the world.Two years ago I met an american photographer in my street, he was taking pictures from the roof of his car, so I invited him in my house beacause here there's a better landscape.
Spain is very very beautiful too...expecially Andalusia. I don't love Greece too much.
Well, if you come here you are welcome...without thieves  ;)

« Reply #15 on: May 29, 2011, 08:11 »
0
5D Mark II.... never leave home without it. 

Moonb007

  • Architect, Photographer, Dreamer
« Reply #16 on: May 29, 2011, 11:55 »
0
Travel photography is a huge chunk of my sales too.  I would bring it for sure, most hotels now of days are safe and even if you are worried a lot have a in room safe to store things.


grp_photo

« Reply #17 on: May 29, 2011, 12:01 »
0
Let's put it this way: There are enough photographers living in every major European city who contribute to microstock sites. So it will be hard to find shoots that haven't been taken, but you sare can give it a try.
+1 enjoy your vacations and do some great conceptual shots at home. The work you have afterwards isn't it worth the return you have from travel-images nowadays. To make travel-photography serious you have to go alone and work very hard on every day then it may work but is not something you can do aside nowadays.
Your equipment can be stolen everywhere but I have had my brand new DSLR stolen in Italy in a Hotel five years ago, platitudes aside.

« Reply #18 on: May 29, 2011, 12:10 »
0
millions travel, a few have trouble with theft.

we left a camera in a taxi in istanbul when we left near the Suleymanie - 2 hrs later, after visting several mosques, the driver tracked us down to return it

travel is a tough field, but most of my images are from travels; it's harder to take pictures on a hectic schedule. but definitely worth doing

steve

« Reply #19 on: May 29, 2011, 12:11 »
0
+2.  Enjoy the trip, take pics for fun.  Plenty of people live there taking pics.

« Reply #20 on: May 29, 2011, 13:53 »
0
I think the greatest danger in southern Europe is bag theft in crowded places rather than from hotels. A few years ago I was in a tourist information office in Nice when a couple of young lads breezed in and, without even breaking stride, grabbed my day-sack from the floor and walked out with it. Fortunately my girlfriend saw them and when I gave chase they quickly dropped it and ran off. They probably weren't in the office for more than 2-3 seconds in total.

A friend was on a business trip and was waiting at Barcelona airport. He had his luggage on a trolley in front of him whilst he viewed the Departures board where a number of flights had been delayed. A bloke tapped him on his left shoulder and started speaking loudly in Spanish whilst gesticuating wildly at the board. When my friend turned towards him to explain he didn't speak Spanish ... someone nipped in from the right and stole his laptop from on top of his luggage. It was a couple of minutes before he realised what had happened by which time the thieves were well away.

Crime usually happens when you least expect it.

« Reply #21 on: May 29, 2011, 14:09 »
0
I think the greatest danger in southern Europe is bag theft in crowded places rather than from hotels. A few years ago I was in a tourist information office in Nice when a couple of young lads breezed in and, without even breaking stride, grabbed my day-sack from the floor and walked out with it. Fortunately my girlfriend saw them and when I gave chase they quickly dropped it and ran off. They probably weren't in the office for more than 2-3 seconds in total.

A friend was on a business trip and was waiting at Barcelona airport. He had his luggage on a trolley in front of him whilst he viewed the Departures board where a number of flights had been delayed. A bloke tapped him on his left shoulder and started speaking loudly in Spanish whilst gesticuating wildly at the board. When my friend turned towards him to explain he didn't speak Spanish ... someone nipped in from the right and stole his laptop from on top of his luggage. It was a couple of minutes before he realised what had happened by which time the thieves were well away.

Crime usually happens when you least expect it.

Do you really think that in southern europe there is more crime that in USA? When we watch tv everybody tell us about USA crime, you can belive in it or not. I belive only in my experience. I'm 34 years old, italian, and I have never been robben (Oh, really, one time when I was a child, in Sicily ). I went in Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, South Italy (I live in North East) and never, never I had a theft.
So, I think that something bad can happen everywhere if you are unlucky but usually don't happen anything and you see wonderful places...safely.
But...do you know that we don't live in caves?  ;D :D :D :D

p.s UK is a great place too, wonderful country.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2011, 14:13 by Ellerslie »

« Reply #22 on: May 29, 2011, 15:15 »
0
not taking the camera because of possible theft is ABSURD! if we think of that we wouldnt leave home and even went to supermarket or other place, you can get robbed everywhere, it is life guys.. as we know there are many people travelling the world and are safe, it is LIFE!

« Reply #23 on: May 29, 2011, 15:22 »
0
Do you really think that in southern europe there is more crime that in USA? When we watch tv everybody tell us about USA crime, you can belive in it or not. I belive only in my experience.

Yes. Having spent a lot of time in southern Europe (I lived in Monaco for 5 months for example) and also many times touring the US I do think there is far more tourist-related petty crime in certain southern European hot-spots. Barcelona is virtually the European capital of street crime against tourists __ try Googling it if you want to know more.

« Reply #24 on: May 29, 2011, 15:33 »
0
not taking the camera because of possible theft is ABSURD! if we think of that we wouldnt leave home and even went to supermarket or other place, you can get robbed everywhere, it is life guys.. as we know there are many people travelling the world and are safe, it is LIFE!

+1

@ Gost, I belive in your words and when I speak I'm ironic (of course, I don't belive that you think that we live in caves  ;)). I'm really interested in your opinion about my country and about Europe. ...It so fun for me this thread. I think exactly like Luissantos: if we think at worst we don't leave home, in every part of the world  :D ;) :)
« Last Edit: May 29, 2011, 15:36 by Ellerslie »


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
13 Replies
4848 Views
Last post December 09, 2011, 00:35
by mtkang
19 Replies
7630 Views
Last post March 11, 2016, 12:16
by SpaceStockFootage
12 Replies
4470 Views
Last post June 24, 2018, 11:15
by Video-StockOrg
1 Replies
3556 Views
Last post February 26, 2019, 04:29
by dpimborough
0 Replies
2156 Views
Last post October 25, 2020, 07:37
by Brightontl

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors