Ethiopia - any advice?
Discussion
I am flying out to Ethiopia in the middle of May to photograph a new school project.
While I have shot in quite a few places worldwide (including South America) this will be my first time in sub-saharan Africa. Apart from the usual advice about being generally street smart and covering up logos, what should I keep in mind?
The main issues I can think of are customs going in and out. Theft, voltage, heat and dust.
While I have shot in quite a few places worldwide (including South America) this will be my first time in sub-saharan Africa. Apart from the usual advice about being generally street smart and covering up logos, what should I keep in mind?
The main issues I can think of are customs going in and out. Theft, voltage, heat and dust.
You are keeping an eye on the Foreign Johnnies Advice page, aren't you?
(I remember when t'was Abyssinia .....)
(I remember when t'was Abyssinia .....)
Produce a camera in Ethiopia and you will instantly be surounded by children
all wanting to pose for your camera and then demanding money or anything they can trade.
It can then get quite ugly as they fight and argue amongst themselves as to who might have been in more shots and hence deserves more money.
I didn't begrudge the money (it's a tiny tiny amount to us) but it made it very hard to get the photos I wanted.
I never felt threatened or vulnerable in the streets but my wife felt
uncomfortable in the tribal villages in the south.
I went with a DSLR but if I went back I would take something smaller
(micro 4/3rds) and although I hate using LCD screens for taking photographs,
an articulated screen would have been useful for circumstances where I didn't want to be seen pointing a camera in a certain direction.
all wanting to pose for your camera and then demanding money or anything they can trade.
It can then get quite ugly as they fight and argue amongst themselves as to who might have been in more shots and hence deserves more money.
I didn't begrudge the money (it's a tiny tiny amount to us) but it made it very hard to get the photos I wanted.
I never felt threatened or vulnerable in the streets but my wife felt
uncomfortable in the tribal villages in the south.
I went with a DSLR but if I went back I would take something smaller
(micro 4/3rds) and although I hate using LCD screens for taking photographs,
an articulated screen would have been useful for circumstances where I didn't want to be seen pointing a camera in a certain direction.
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