Five dangers of wildlife photography (and how to stay safe) (July 2019)

Summary

The video discusses the dangers of wildlife photography and provides safety tips for each risk. The first danger is getting too close to dangerous animals, highlighting the importance of understanding species behavior, respecting animals, and using deterrents like bear spray. The second danger is falling, emphasizing proper footwear, using traction aids, and securing gear. Drowning is the third risk, with advice on assessing water conditions and wearing appropriate gear. Getting lost is also a concern, with tips on navigation, communication devices, and carrying survival essentials. Lastly, the video addresses the risk of encountering dangerous people in remote areas, advising on caution and avoiding risky situations.

Takeaways

• 🐻 Wildlife photography can be dangerous, especially when dealing with large animals like bears or lions.
• 📷 Using long lenses helps photographers keep a safe distance from wildlife, minimizing the risk of close encounters.
• 🦁 Understanding animal behavior and body language is crucial for staying safe during wildlife photography.
• 🛡️ Having deterrents like bear spray or noise makers is important to ensure safety in case animals approach too closely.
• 👣 Falling while navigating terrain is a significant danger; wearing proper footwear and using walking aids like tripods can prevent accidents.
• 🌊 Photographing animals in water can be risky; always assess water conditions, use proper wading gear, and avoid deep or fast-flowing water.
• 🗺️ Getting lost is a real danger in remote areas; always let someone know your plans and use tools like GPS or satellite devices for navigation and emergency communication.
• 💡 Carrying light sources like headlamps is essential, as losing daylight can lead to dangerous situations while returning from shoots.
• ⚠️ Wildlife photographers may encounter sketchy people or dangerous situations in remote areas, so it’s important to stay alert and protect expensive gear without drawing attention.
• 🦺 During hunting season, it’s vital to wear bright colors and make your presence known to avoid accidental harm from hunters.

Q & A

What is the most obvious danger in wildlife photography according to the speaker?

The most obvious danger in wildlife photography is getting too close to dangerous animals, such as bears or lions, though the photographer may appear closer than they actually are due to the use of long lenses.

How can photographers ensure they remain safe when photographing dangerous animals?

Photographers can ensure safety by knowing the species they are photographing, understanding their behavior, going with someone who knows the area, maintaining an appropriate distance, minimizing movement and noise, and carrying deterrents like bear spray or noise makers.

Why is it important to respect the animals during wildlife photography?

Respecting animals is important to avoid causing them stress or fear, which can result in aggressive behavior. It also ensures better photos since the animals will act naturally when they are calm.

What precautions should be taken if an animal, like a bear, is not respecting distance cues?

If an animal does not respect distance cues, it is essential to have deterrents such as bear spray, air horns, or noise makers. In extreme situations, a last-resort plan, like using a firearm or having an escape route, may be necessary.

Why is falling down considered a danger in wildlife photography, and how can it be avoided?

Falling down can lead to injury or damaged equipment. To avoid this, photographers should watch where they're going, wear appropriate footwear, use traction aids like cleats, and consider using their tripod as a walking aid.

What equipment can help maintain stability when shooting in water?

To maintain stability in water, photographers can use a tripod or a walking stick to test water depth and support themselves. Wearing knee-high boots, hip waders, or chest waders with a safety belt is also crucial.

How can photographers avoid getting lost in remote locations?

Photographers can avoid getting lost by informing someone of their location and return time, understanding tidal patterns if near water, avoiding over-reliance on GPS, marking landmarks, carrying survival gear, and having communication tools like the Garmin inReach.

Why is it essential to carry a light source when out in remote areas?

It is important to carry a light source like a headlamp in case it becomes dark before returning. Backup light sources ensure that photographers can safely navigate back even when visibility is poor.

What risks do other people pose in remote wildlife photography settings?

In remote areas, encounters with potentially dangerous or suspicious people are possible. Additionally, the photographer’s expensive gear could attract unwanted attention, so it is important to avoid risky situations and remain discreet with equipment.

What should photographers do if they find themselves in a hunting area while tracking wildlife?

If in a hunting area, photographers should wear bright orange for visibility and make their presence known to avoid accidents, especially since they may be mistaken for animals by hunters.

Outlines

00:00

📷 The Dangers of Wildlife Photography and How to Stay Safe

In this introduction, the presenter sets the stage for discussing the dangers of wildlife photography and how to stay safe. They introduce the concept of 'Five for Friday' and explain that while it might seem like wildlife photographers get close to dangerous animals, the reality often involves using long lenses and maintaining a safe distance. Knowing the species, understanding animal behavior, and respecting animals’ boundaries are essential for safety. The importance of being aware, having a guide, and carrying bear spray or other deterrents is emphasized.

05:01

🦁 Managing Dangerous Encounters with Animals

This paragraph delves into the specific dangers posed by getting too close to wild animals, especially curious or aggressive species like sub-adult bears. The speaker advises carrying deterrents like bear bangers, air horns, or bear spray to manage close encounters. In the rare case of a life-threatening situation, having a last-resort option such as a firearm or escape plan is recommended. The presenter highlights the necessity of preparing for worst-case scenarios, even though they are unlikely.

10:02

⚠️ The Risk of Falling and How to Avoid It

Falling, whether while tracking animals or navigating rough terrain, is another significant risk in wildlife photography. The presenter emphasizes the importance of being mindful of your surroundings and wearing appropriate footwear. They also suggest using traction aids such as cleats for icy or slippery environments. Additionally, using a tripod or other walking aid as support, especially in challenging conditions, can prevent accidents. The presenter shares personal experiences of falling due to improper footwear and lack of attention, underlining the importance of these precautions.

15:02

📸 Protecting Camera Gear and Avoiding Accidents

This section focuses on the dangers of handling camera gear in challenging conditions. Wildlife photographers often move between locations with gear in hand, which can lead to accidents. The speaker advises storing equipment safely when relocating, as falls can damage expensive gear. The presenter recounts a personal experience of falling on ice, where only part of the camera was damaged, but emphasizes that accidents can be costly. Safeguarding equipment and minimizing risk is essential when navigating treacherous terrain.

20:03

🌊 Dangers of Being in Water: How to Stay Safe

The dangers of photographing in water are highlighted, with a focus on the risks of drowning. While photographing wildlife in water can provide excellent shots, the presenter warns about the hazards of currents and deep water. Proper gear, like waders and belts, is crucial to avoid accidents. They also recommend assessing water conditions before entering and suggest using a tripod or stick for stability. Teamwork, such as linking arms with others, can further increase safety when navigating water. The presenter shares personal experiences to illustrate the importance of caution in these situations.

🧭 Avoiding Getting Lost in Remote Areas

Getting lost is a real danger, especially when wildlife photographers venture into remote areas. The speaker advises always informing someone of your plans and understanding local conditions like tides. Relying solely on GPS can be risky, so learning traditional navigation skills and noting landmarks is crucial. The presenter stresses the importance of carrying survival essentials, like a first-aid kit and communication devices such as a Garmin inReach Mini, which can send SOS messages via satellite. This allows for communication in areas without cell coverage, ensuring help can be reached in case of emergency.

🔦 The Importance of Light and Preparation for Emergencies

This section emphasizes the importance of having reliable sources of light when venturing into nature. The presenter notes that while trips may begin in daylight, they can end in darkness due to unforeseen delays. Carrying a headlamp and backup lighting is essential for navigating safely in low light. They caution against equipment failure and encourage always being prepared for longer-than-expected stays in remote areas. Good planning and adequate supplies can prevent minor inconveniences from turning into dangerous situations.

🧍 The Hidden Danger of Other People

The final danger discussed is the threat posed by encountering people in remote areas. The presenter warns that while rare, meeting dangerous individuals in isolated places can happen. They advise avoiding sketchy areas and people when possible. Since photographers often carry expensive equipment, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not drawing attention to the gear. In case of a dangerous confrontation, the presenter advises prioritizing personal safety over protecting equipment. When photographing in areas where hunting is common, wearing bright colors for visibility is critical to avoid accidents.

Keywords

💡Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography is the practice of capturing images of animals in their natural habitats. In the video, the speaker discusses the risks involved in this field, including being near dangerous animals, navigating challenging environments, and how to mitigate these dangers while still achieving stunning images of wildlife.

💡Dangerous Animals

Dangerous animals refer to species that could potentially harm humans, such as bears, lions, and elephants. The video emphasizes the importance of keeping a safe distance and understanding animal behavior to avoid close encounters that could lead to injury or worse. The speaker also advises using long lenses to photograph these animals from afar.

💡Safety Measures

Safety measures are the actions or precautions taken to prevent injury while photographing wildlife. The video outlines several safety strategies, including using bear spray, staying in vehicles or hides, minimizing noise, and respecting the animals' space. These measures help photographers stay safe in potentially dangerous situations.

💡Understanding Animal Behavior

Understanding animal behavior means being aware of how animals act in various situations and what signals they give off when they're stressed or agitated. In the video, the speaker highlights how essential this knowledge is for wildlife photographers, such as recognizing when an animal is about to charge or feeling threatened.

💡Deterrents

Deterrents refer to tools or actions used to prevent dangerous animals from approaching too closely. The video mentions items like bear bangers, air horns, and bear spray as effective ways to communicate boundaries to wildlife when verbal cues and body language fail.

💡Falling Hazards

Falling hazards are risks associated with tripping or slipping while navigating difficult terrain during wildlife photography. The video stresses that photographers must be cautious of where they step, especially when focused on animals. Proper footwear and using tools like tripods as walking aids can help avoid falls.

💡Water Safety

Water safety refers to precautions taken when photographing in or near bodies of water. The speaker talks about the risk of drowning when entering rivers or lakes to capture shots of wildlife. Techniques like reading water currents, using wading boots or chest waders, and employing tripods for stability are critical safety tips shared in the video.

💡Getting Lost

Getting lost is a potential danger for wildlife photographers who often explore remote areas in search of animals. The video advises letting someone know your location, understanding tidal patterns, and carrying navigation tools like a GPS or a Garmin inReach device to avoid disorientation and find safe routes back.

💡Injury by People

Injury by people highlights the risk of encountering dangerous individuals in remote locations or sketchy areas. The speaker explains how wildlife photographers can protect themselves by avoiding bad situations, staying incognito with their expensive gear, and ensuring personal safety over equipment in threatening encounters.

💡Tide Knowledge

Tide knowledge refers to understanding the behavior of tides in areas where photographers may be near bodies of water. The video mentions that photographers need to be aware of tidal shifts to avoid getting trapped or stranded when tracking wildlife in coastal or river regions.

Highlights

Introduction to the five dangers of wildlife photography and ways to stay safe.

The most obvious danger is getting too close to dangerous animals, but photographers usually use long lenses to maintain a safe distance.

Understanding animal behavior, body language, and species is key to staying safe while photographing dangerous wildlife.

Going with an experienced guide or partner is important for safety, especially if unfamiliar with the species or area.

Always respect wildlife by maintaining a safe distance and using deterrents like noise makers or bear spray when necessary.

The importance of having a last resort plan, such as a firearm or an escape route, in case of animal attacks.

Another danger in wildlife photography is falling down, which can be mitigated by wearing appropriate footwear and using traction aids like cleats.

Tripods can double as walking aids to maintain stability on rough terrain or in water.

The danger of damaging camera gear during falls, making it crucial to store equipment properly when moving.

Drowning is a risk when photographing in water; precautions include using chest waders, a belt, and never wading too deep.

Assess water risks carefully before entering, especially if there are currents or unclear depths.

Getting lost is a potential danger, especially in remote areas, making it essential to inform someone of your plans and understand the local environment.

Carry basic survival gear, a first-aid kit, and reliable communication tools like the Garmin inReach Mini in case of emergencies.

Be cautious of potential dangers from other people, especially in remote or unfamiliar areas. Avoid displaying expensive camera gear to reduce risk.

The video concludes with a reminder to stay safe, be aware of surroundings, and use the proper equipment and precautions when doing wildlife photography.

Transcripts

in this video I'm going to tell you

about the dangers of wildlife

photography this is five for Friday ok

it's Friday and this is five for Friday

unfortunately missed the last two five

for Friday's I was away traveling but

I'm very excited about this one so often

people ask me about the dangers of

wildlife photography and I thought it

would be great to make a video about

that so in this video I'm going to talk

about five dangers of wildlife

photography as well as for each one of

those dangers five ways to stay safe so

let's get started let's talk about the

most obvious danger at least in most

people's minds of wildlife photography

and that is getting too close to

dangerous animals often people see my

photos and they see bears or lions or

some dangerous animal and it appears

that I'm quite close to the animal and

they often will ask me how close were

you the reality is that you're often not

that close to your using a long lens and

in fact if you're using a prime lens

that doesn't allow you to zoom out you

don't want to be too close because you

then end up with a framing for the shot

that is too tight and in some cases if

the animal is very close so you won't

even be out of focus at all because all

the lenses have a minimum focusing

distance so generally you do want to be

some distance away from the animals

however sometimes you end up in a

situation where the animal is a lot

closer than you expect it to be so one

of the ways in which we can ensure that

we're safe with regards to two animals

that can be dangerous to us if we're too

close one of the first things is it's

really important to know your species

obviously if I'm photographing Chipmunks

it's far less of a concern then if I'm

photographing bears or lions or

elephants

understanding their behavior

understanding their body language and

other languages is really important the

other thing is that if you're new to a

particular species or a particular area

going with someone who knows the species

and/or knows the area can be invaluable

sometimes there are cases where someone

has actually spent some time with the

particular specific animals that you are

photographing they know that say you

know this animal is very tolerant of

being photographed and other animal

perhaps may be charged them in the past

when they try to get get near them that

is invaluable information even if you

can't go with someone who has that kind

of information going with someone else

is also very helpful even if they're not

a photographer but they're just

interested perhaps in coming along and

seeing the animals it's just great to

have someone else who can watch for

what's happening while you have your

eyes through the viewfinder

photographing because the reality is

when you are photographing it's very

hard to keep track of everything else

that's going on when I was in Alaska

recently I was in the water sometimes

with the bears there was no one else

around no other people in one case I had

about ten bears in the water with me at

various distances from me and I wasn't

concerned at all I understood the

situation and I was constantly reading

the situation I had bear spray on me

just in case and I wasn't concerned but

it was definitely hard to keep track of

everything that was going on and still

be able to get the shots that I wanted

and having someone else there would have

been helpful another thing is that

obviously it's very important always to

respect the animals including

maintaining an appropriate distance from

them and we don't want to surprise them

in any way or cause them any stress if

you are there and the the best way to to

get the shots is to be in

vehicle or to be in a hide then you

should stay in those places generally

you want to minimize any movement and

any noise and generally giving the

animals space will make for better

photos and the behavior of the animals

is something that you just want to watch

for things like you know ears going back

or teeth bearing those are things that

obvious signals and you don't want those

things in photos anyway so respecting

the animals is very important it's also

very important to take appropriate

deterrence with you if you're talking

about animals that can be dangerous we

generally do everything that we can to

communicate with the animals to ensure

that they also understand that there is

a respectful distance and that they

don't come too close sometimes you have

animals especially younger animals

sub-adult bears for example that are

just curious or sometimes they want to

push things a little bit even when

they're told no they still try to come

to come close having deterrents such as

noise makers such as bear bangers

airhorn sirens or bear spray those

things are important to have because if

you get into a situation where the

animal doesn't really is not taking the

signals that you're giving verbally or

through body language you may have to

resort to something like that and if you

get charged for example by a bear you

really going to want to have a bear

spray with you and then the last thing

is that you really should have some kind

of last resort plan for some people

that's having a firearm

and we're talking about a situation

obviously no one goes into a wildlife

photography situation thinking that they

might have to shoot an animal we're

talking about a situation where

something really bad happens and someone

is getting attacked by an animal and

there's no other way to stop it if you

don't have a firearm you may have some

other plan in place some other escape

route or something that you're going to

do to get out of there

if if something really bad happens

another danger of wildlife photography

is falling down this might not seem like

such an obvious one but I've seen many

cases where people fell down and they

hurt themselves or they broke equipment

and I've also done it unfortunately so

let's talk about some of the ways in

which you can avoid this the first thing

is to watch where you're going

seems pretty obvious but when you get

fixated on an animal especially if

you're following an animal you may not

be fully aware of where you're going or

where you're stepping so that's

important to keep in mind another thing

is and again this seems obvious but

where appropriate Footwear I've seen

people wear some really silly things

that don't make sense

boots are often what is called for if

you're you know out in the backcountry

for example especially if you're you

know in a cold situation in the winter

if you're in snow you know you need to

have appropriate winter boots another

thing to think about and this is sort of

number three is in a pro in in along

with footwear is having traction aids so

for example if you're wearing wading

boots if you're in the water do you need

studs on the wading boots because the

rocks may be slippery in the water or

perhaps you might use felt sold wading

boots if they're allowed and they're

appropriate in the area another thing is

if you're on ice for example cleats are

invaluable I've been in a situation

actually where I had cleats in my

backpack and I did not have them on and

guess what I fell over so have cleats

and used them just to give you an idea

of what I'm talking about

I've got two examples here so these are

some very small cleats that fit into

this little package here it's really

very portable and inside are these

cleats that you know that they're

they're not super aggressive in terms of

the spikes right they're very small but

they definitely make a difference and

you just put these on your boots they're

very quick to put on

and take off and then this is another

example of cleats but these ones are

much more aggressive that they sort of

fit in this small pouch here and this is

what they they look like for they're

basically much more sturdy they go

around the boot they've got you know

quite aggressive spikes on them back and

front and these will really make a huge

difference so traction aids really could

save your life in some cases another

thing to think about is using walking

aids such as your tripod you often have

your tripod out and rather than in fact

you put it back on your backpack or on

your back or wherever you're carrying it

all the time you could actually leave it

out and use it as a walking aid so if

the if the legs are folded up you can

use it as a walking stick it's

invaluable if you're walking downhill

for example or if you have the legs

deployed the tripod can be used as a

walker that can be especially effective

if you're in the water and I'll talk

about that later on and then the last

thing to think about when you're walking

around is the dangers of having your

camera gear out so it's easy when you're

in one location and you think okay I

just need to go over there and I've got

everything in hand my camera is out I

don't need to put it back in my backpack

I'll just walk from here to there and in

many cases that can be an easy thing but

some cases it may be a little precarious

to go over there and you may end up in a

situation where you fall down and I've

seen it happen and it happened to me too

so when I mentioned that time that I

fell down on the ice I didn't have my

cleats on well I had my camera out and

fortunately I didn't break the camera

everything was still working although I

did break part of the camera I had a

remote plugged into it because I was

taking shots with the remote shutter

control and the plastic flap was open

the plastic flap ripped off and

I did get a few dents in some things but

fortune everything was was still working

so where possible try to put stuff back

in your backpack so that everything is

well protected well when you move

locations another danger is drowning yes

drowning in water now this may not be a

issue for you if you never get in the

water

but it can be invaluable to get into the

water to get certain kinds of shots

especially if the wildlife is in the

water and in fact I love doing it I love

being in the water with animals

especially when they are in the water

recently when I was in Alaska I spent a

bunch of time in the water with bears

that were in the water when they were

fishing and it really allowed me to get

some some great shots but you really

have to take a lot of precautions when

you do this so one of the first things

to think about is can you get the shots

that you want without even getting in

the water at all because even though

it's it can be enjoyable sometimes do it

and and very productive it's a lot of

hassle right you have to take a lot of

precautions so perhaps you can get the

shots by being say near the water and

just you know leaning over the water and

putting your camera down fairly low to

the water's surface the other thing to

think about is if you are going to go in

the water you really need to read the

water and assess the risks don't take

any chances especially where there's

current involved or where the water is

quite deep you really need to think

about things and you really need to test

things out because sometimes you can't

see the the water is not very clear you

really need to and then don't rush

things go go slowly and and fear things

that are out figure out a plan

another thing to think about is and I

mentioned this before with the tripod is

using a tripod or something else like a

water like a walking stick to help

maintain stability and also to test the

depth of the water as you make your way

through the water another thing that you

can do is if you're with other people is

to link arms or otherwise assist each

other so that you are maintaining as

much stability as as possible

the other thing is that you obviously

need to have the right gear you can't go

in the water unless you have for example

and knee-high boots or hip waders or

chest waders and so it's important to

obviously have the right equipment one

of the things that is is if you have

waders there is a danger that if you go

too deep water will go into the waders

and then you can be in a really bad

situation so generally with chest waders

for example you want a belt on around

the waders on the outside that cinches

the waders close to you and that

minimizes the possibility of water

getting and getting in there the other

thing is that you simply should not go

where it's too deep right if I have

chest waders on which is what I normally

do I never generally go where it's

deeper than my waist so even though I

could technically go up to you know

where the water comes up to my armpits I

always leave some kind of a buffer in

place the other thing is that if you are

going into flowing water whether it's

current you really need to think about

as I said before assessing the situation

planning your entry and planning your

exit because sometimes they're not the

same thing another danger of wildlife

photography is getting lost obviously

this can happen with other activities

the thing is with wildlife photography

sometimes we go out in remote places and

sometimes we go to places where we're

not exactly sure where we're going we

know that there are animals in the area

we explore around sometimes we then find

an animal and we track an animal and we

end up going someplace that we didn't

expect to go so there is a real

possibility sometimes of getting lost

some of the things to think about

firstly obviously as much as possible to

let someone know where you're going

being as specific as you can possibly be

and let them know when you plan to

return another thing to think about is

especially if you're going out where

there's water and there's tides is

understanding and knowing the tide

title behavior because especially where

there's if you're in an area where

there's a big difference in the tides

you can end up in a situation where you

go in somewhere and you can't get out

later on you end up trapped and possibly

for a very long time another thing is in

terms of navigating and finding our way

around it's very easy to rely on

technology we have GPS and all these

fancy devices now but things can fail

equipment can fail and if you're totally

reliant on on that equipment you can end

up in a very bad situation so as much as

possible you should learn how to

navigate without relying on such devices

and that can be as simple as just even

recording landmarks as you go through an

area taking note either mentally or

writing down somewhere the the landmarks

so that you can retrace your steps back

out of there the other thing that you

should always do is you should always

have basic means of survival because

sometimes you know the unexpected

happens and you go into someplace and

you plan to get out of there by a

certain time but that doesn't happen or

you fall down or something so having a

first-aid kit is very important also

having ways to communicate and call for

help is very important I've heard of so

many situations where people went out

and they were relying on their cell

phone and they did not have cell phone

coverage and in fact it's pretty easy in

some places to go not too far from home

and still have no cell phone coverage

one of the things that I have that I

rely on a lot is this little device here

it's called a Garmin inReach mini this

is the the smallest model in the range

there are some other different models as

well this one is really small but needs

to be paired really to get the most out

of it with a a cell phone through

bluetooth and using the cell phone then

you can use the display on the phone as

well as the the keyboard on the phone as

a means

of importing and controlling the device

so what you can do with this device is a

few things one is that you can it has

GPS in it so you can see your location

on a map and you can plot routes and you

can track a route the other thing is

that you can get very localized weather

reports and the thing that's most

important is that you can communicate

with it you can communicate with anyone

on the Garmin inReach Network and this

uses the Iridium satellite network so

you can generally get communication

through this anywhere on the planet as

long as you can see the satellites as

long as you're outdoors and you have

line of sight to the satellites so you

can communicate with anyone who is on

the Garmin inReach Network but you can

also text anyone on a cell phone I used

it to keep in touch with family and

friends I also use it to contact the

insurance companies that I have

evacuation insurance with so even in

fact as a good practice when I go to a

new location especially a remote

location I always send them a message

just to let them know where I am but if

I end up in a bad situation where I fall

down and I hurt myself and I need help

or something happens I'm in an area and

war breaks out or there's a natural

disaster I can text them through this

device and call phelp and in the worst

case they'll come and evacuate me out of

there now even if you don't have a

service like that the service that you

use with the inReach device for the

messaging also has an SOS capability

there's a chair near source button on

the device so you just flip open this

little flap here and press the the SOS

button and that will send a message to

the Garmin inReach help desk and they

will then contact local authorities

based on your location to let them know

that you are in need of help the other

thing to think about to help avoid

getting lost is making sure that you

have sources of light so sometimes it's

you go no place and there's plenty of

light but

you're coming back there's less light or

no light at all and sometimes we also

plan to go in somewhere and get out with

plenty of light but it doesn't work out

that way so having sources of light like

having a headlamp as well as backup

sources of light is very important I

always have a headlamp with me as well

as one or two other backup sources

because you never know sometimes

equipment may fail or you just forget to

charge something and even if you sort of

know where you're going if you can't see

where you're going that could be a big

problem and the last thing I wanted to

talk to you about in terms of danger is

getting hurt by people this is something

we perhaps might not think about but as

wildlife photographers sometimes we go

out in remote areas where we just don't

see anyone and then perhaps we come

across someone and you're in the middle

of nowhere with some strange person that

person might not be a nice person the

other possibility is that you do go

through towns but sometimes those towns

are sketchy for some reason so the first

thing is simply try to avoid bad

situations try to avoid suspicious or

bad people where possible that seems

pretty obvious and the other thing is

that you're carrying generally a lot of

expensive camera gear and this is where

the potential trouble comes in so as

much as possible do not advertise that

you're carrying all that gear and

obviously we worry as photographers we

worry a lot about our gear I often have

many trips planned and I know you know

all my stuff is insured but it's quite

hard to replace it and so you know I

worry about it a lot I take it

everywhere with me even when I'm in some

town I generally don't leave it in a

hotel room I'd always take it with me

but you know by having it on me that

also presents a possible risk to me so

as much as possible I want to be

incognito with my gear the other thing

to think about of course is if the gear

is replaceable you only have one life so

if you end up in some situation where

it's either

gear or you then you know by all means

give up the gear the other thing to

think about is if you are tracking

animals if you're in an area where there

might be hunting that can be a real

problem and you know you might get hurt

by accidents so try to avoid those areas

by all means if you can't avoid those

areas then by all means take precautions

wear bright orange for visibility you

know let people know that you're in the

area and and so forth I hope you enjoyed

this video about some of the dangers of

wildlife photography and some of the

ways to stay safe if you like this video

please give it a thumbs up don't forget

to subscribe and I'll see you in the

next video bye

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