Hand luggage limits
I spent last week in Valencia, Spain for the first European congress of the Federation of European pro photographers. Most photographers prefer to keep their expensive gear at hand and try to transport incredible amounts of kit as hand luggage. I’m no different and was relieved that I could take everything with me on the plane.
I didn’t have to worry about getting the gear on board for the return flight as someone stole my camera bag on the last day of the congress. I’ll tell you the story, because it might be better to learn from my experiences than learning the hard way yourself.
We had a day off before returning home after the congress. I borrowed a friend’s IXUS so I could at least take some pics.
The good news is that I left my primary camery (1D mk III) and some of my best (and most expensive lenses) at home. The bad news is that there was still some pretty expensive stuff in the bag and it was NOT insured. When I bought my first good lenses etc, I checked out some insurance companies but found out that insurance was more expensive than being robbed every few years. I should (and WILL) look into it again, since I have a lot more expensive toys these days.
This was in the bag
- 30D body + extra battery
- brand new (2 weeks) 24-70 f/2.8 L
- 50mm 1.4
- Fisheye
- 580 EX
- ST-E2
- Nikon SB-24
- 12 GB in CF-cards
- 3 Pocketwizards
- circular polarisation filter
- Minidisk recorder + mic
- leatherman multitool
- superclamp
- color gels
- lots of batteries etc.
- Lowepro Minitrekker
Pretty painful to loose all that stuff. And also pretty hard to loose a lot of nice pictures, notes and audio recordings.
I am rather careful with my equipment but I bought it to make pictures so I don’t want to be too careful. My bag was stolen during lunch in the congress center. We were in the restaurant that was only for the organisation and the speakers and the bag was under my chair (didn’t get up during lunch). After lunch the bag was gone. I couldn’t believe it but after a couple of hours the sad reality sunk in.
I’m not really happy with the way the organisation dealed with the theft. I don’t blame them for it but I would have appreciate a bit more help and support. Luckily the many Belgian fellow photographers gave me lots of support and even managed to get me in the mood to have fun at the gala dinner. It really means a lot to me that so many people offered to help me out. My roomie Jean deserves a special mention as a fantastic new friend.
And now what? This event will not cause my business to go bankrupt but it still is painful. I spent the better part of the day figuring out what to buy, talking to the bank and getting the most important stuff so I can do a planned assignment tomorrow.
Now the negative part of my stay in Valencia is written down, I can soon give you a report of all the interesting stuff that went on there.
Hi Bert,
First off, I am a great fan of yours! Your work is simply wonderful. I love your video tutorials and look forward to seeing more of them.
I am very sorry to hear about the missing gear, I know how hard that can be. As you say, you are lucky that you left your primary gear at home.
This is a good reminder for us all to make sure we are covered by traveler’s insurance OR homeowner’s insurance.
By the way, how do you find the ST-E2? Do you use it quite often? More than the Pocketwizards?
Chat with you soon.
Regards,
Alim
I’m sad for the robbery you had. I’ve been following your posts, and you’re the kind of person that doesn’t deserve such a bad thing.
Being a Spaniard, I feel even worse. Sorry.
Hi Bert,
.
I’m sorry for what happened to you. I’ was recently in Ukraine to do a personal assignment, and I can’t even imagine what would it be if I was stolen
I would like to ask you a simple question, if you don’t mind, you’ve mentioned that you took your “leatherman multi tool”, how did you passed it on the metal detectors ? Is it legal to carry a leatherman on an airplane ? It’s because I’m addicted to my Leatherman Wave and every time I have to travel by plane I feel naked without him
…
Thank you for your attention.
ps: your videos are GREAT, and can’t wait to see more
…
Regards
Rechena
I´m sorry about the theft too. As other Spanish photographer is really unpleasant reading that it was happen in this part of the world where I live.
I hope you have better days soon to forget this experience.
Regards
Wow, that’s really sad to read about. For one, I’m really paranoid about keeping my gear in sight, or at least in site of a friend if I need to for a bit. Good luck in the future.
-Dez
thanks for your comments
@Enrique & Jose-Miguel: I really don’t blame the people from Spain, I only blame the thief. Don’t worry I had great fun and really enjoyed my stay in Valencia despite everything.
@Alim: For a lot of photojournalistic assignments the ST-E2 is often the better choice because it allows to work really fast. But the PW’s are far more reliable. As I’m not doing much fotojournalistic assignments anymore, I will probably not buy another ST-E2. I think I’ll rather buy 2 580EX II’s. If I want I can use that combination if I need wireless TTL.
@Rechene: I had a Wave too and never left home without it. I allways put in in the checked luggage and put in in my fotobag as soon as it rolls of the luggage thing.
Duh, thats bad luck! Probably won’t happen again since next time you’ll keep a connection to your bag, still, this kind of stuff is expensive.
It’s incredible how sneaky and fast these thieves are – once a bag from some table in front of me had been stolen in plain sight, and it happened so fast, even though I looked there I did not really see or recognise what happened. I just knew something fast had happened, and three seconds later the table was after the thief (they noticed more than me).
That was when I knew what had happened.
This reminded me to always to connect to my bag, keep a foot in a handle, or lean on my bag or both.
Nonetheless I had my primary camera bag stolen half a year ago due to a break-in into my home. And my insurance has so far only paid part of the damage.
Bert,
Sorry to hear about the theft, its a shame what people do these days (as opposed to just biting the bullet and getting a freaking job). Its a good thing you were amongst such great people though, to help you through. On a recent trip to Ireland, thieves tried to steal my friend’s D50 no less than three times (twice in the same day!). luckily he had it tightly enough around his neck/in his hand that he didn’t lose it.
I always feel nervous carrying around my camera equipment in crowded places (I carry and use luggage locks in particularly crowded spots) – mostly because I’m not yet a fortunate enough photographer to be able to replace my equipment on the spot (college will do that to you
).
Best of luck to you Bert, I hope the rest of your trip goes much, much better!
Bert,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. That’s really horrible that it happened at the conference in a conference related venue. Hopefully you will be able to recover replacements for the equipment in a timely fashion.
It’s great to hear that you were able to have a little fun after the incident.
All the best!
Dear Bert,
wish you get better equipment soon, and forget about the sad accident.
To globally protest the thiefs – is there any global site to enter stolen equipment serial numbers?
I seen some messages like “my camera was stolen. s/n: xxxxxx” in various communities in livejournal and local photo blogs, but still it is too limited. I also try to mark my equipment with short “call tel. xxx-xxxx if you find this for reward” perm markers labels just in case.
Hi Bert!!
First of all i read all your posts and its very interesting for me your fantastics tutorials. Im very sorry to hear about the stolen. I live in Valencia and for that its even worse.
It is a pity that you have taken a bad experience of my city.
Regards.
Bert, sorry for the theft of your equipment.
I hope this ‘dent’ will not be too big in your near future.
All the best!
Thanks for your support guys. The thing that pisses me off the most is that our society constantly adapts to the criminals and not the other way around. Here in Belgium you can get a fine if the police finds your car unlocked. That’s just madness. Nobody should open my car, locked or not.
My condolences on your loss…
For what it’s worth I had a bag stolen last year, I had walked about 50 yards away from it to ensure I got a shot and it was taken. My insurance company then refused to pay out as it was in their view an “unattended theft”.
Personally I think we need a group of enforcers to track down and apply some Bogen super clamps to the sensitive areas of these gear theives…
Ah, bert. that’s terrible! I have been waiting to find insurance for my gear, i should probably look into it quickly, and more passionately. I wouldn’t be able to afford new gear if mine was stolen.
Hey Bert,
Sorry to hear about your loss. I use a German company called Aktivas.de for my gear insurance, and they have a pretty good package, which includes gear insurance for cameras, studio gear, and computer equipment. It also allows you to split the gear into stuff that you take outside, and stuff that stays at home, for which you pay a lower premium
I think I pay around €500 per year for 20k+ of gear…..
Drop me a mail if you need any more info…..
Bert,
It makes me very angry that thieves can get even the best of people. I know the feeling of having personal property stolen from my own home so I can relate. I hope you recover quickly from this minor setback and I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Sorry to ear. To bad for the event organization.
Horrible, only to think about it.
At the moment Spain is not a very secure place… and I’m a Spanish living in the UK.
My best regards
Bert,
Like everyone I’m very sorry for what happened to you which is like a stab in the heart when you are a photographer.
Just unbelievable the way it happened.
Bonne chance !
Ghislain
Thanks for your support. I look into insurance options at the moment.
@Paul: love the superclamp idea!
Bert: Sorry for your bad experience.
Have you ever tried to claim the Hotel’s Insurance?. It was under their resort where the robbery took place. I have a friend photographer who was pinched in a Hotel in Germany and the hotel’s insurance covered almost it. And I think it included a 500 AFS f/4. He was at the reception desk booking in when someone came by and took the bag.
How terrible, I’m really sorry to hear about the theft Bert…
Hi Bert,
I’m very sorry to hear of the theft. Such kind of stuff shouldn’t happen to someone who shares (ie the opposite of stealing) so much of his experience and knowledge with fellow photographers.
This will help you: First thing I do when I sit down in a public place, is I put the handle of my bag around my leg. It’s a bit paranoid, but it helps.
All the best and don’t let the incident affect your optimism & generosity!
Jarek
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sorry to hear this! Keep up you brilliant work anyway! Is there no investigation going on by the police or is it hopeless?
Hey Bert. Have a talk with KBC bank. They have quite an acceptable price to insure your gear. It is not only insured at home, but also when your on the road. Even when it is in your car and not in sight.
Dear Bert,
sorry to hear about what happened to your equipment.
Anyway, at least now I know I’m not paranoid since whenever I get to put my equipmentbag away of my sight for a longer time(e.g. lunch)- I connect the small cord of my keys to the bag. Won’t save my equip if someone grabs it and runs the hell away but at least I get to know it, if it happens- immediately.
Wish you all the best,
Dan
Hay mucho chorizo suelto. Pero nada que ver con los auténticos valencianos. Basura hay en todas partes. Seguro que el que te ha robado nunca le sacará tan buen partido al material como tú.
Visit us in Fallas 2008 (15-19 March)
Pero cuidado que te dejan en gallumbos!!!
que en Fallas toda la delincuencia de España acaba en mi ciudad. De todas formas es una oportunidad para afotar.
Un saludo
Vixca València!
I always put my bag betwen my feet and hook the strap over one knee when I’m at a restaurant. A little more difficult to get to that way. I have a lot of the same gear and I know how I’d feel if it were lifted…..
Bert I am terribly sorry of what happened to you, I really hope the thief gets caught
!!
Get your primary and new gear insured to avoid being bleed by those thieves! also ask Canon if there is a way to report the Serial Numbers of your gear so they can alert authorized centers if your equipment appears there.
It is sad this kind of stuff happens to someone who is so talented and shares so much with everybody!!
And if you find the thief someday I will go with my super clamps too!
Wishing you the best
Eduar
sorry to hear a out your loss. i just got my equipment insured through the APA as a (photo assistant) and my insurance is $225 a year with a 250 deductible and that covers up to $15,000. I just did this because i am off to thailand to take photos. anyways it may be something to look into.
cheers
kyle
Very sorry to hear about the theft. You have been so generous with photo knowledge, so it is troubling that you were the target. On the other hand, things tend to happen for a reason. It is likely that the thief will eventually pay a price of sorts; and it is likely that your experience will prove to be useful in some way – maybe when you travel you will start employing DIY methods that will fascinate us even more than before! I know they are selling Holgas very cheaply now, and I tried my cheap ebay triggers on one with a hotshoe. It worked, and I would be curious to see what someone with your skills could produce with a cheap camera, cheap wireless trigger and cheap flash. Pro results for under $100?
Just trying to make light of a grim situation. Best of luck to you and thanks for your inspiring photography!
If you handle me the serial numbers of the equipment i cpould post it on the largest spanish photography forum, it may be of no use, but you never know, it may ring a bell too! if you can manage to write spanish, you can go to http://www.ojodigital.com
really nice people…
sorry for the loss and thanks for everything you have given us.
My deepest sympathies go out to you. It’s something that has really been on my mind as am preparing to travel back to America from Tokyo. I can’t deny that I’m more than a little nervous. Perhaps this is a message to me to get some travelers insurance. Again, I’m really sorry you lost your gear. I hope that karma will return this loss to you in a big gain of work or some other thing.
i only have a d80 but i think i would cry if this happened to me. don’t worry, the thief will get nothing but bad karma for what they’ve done! love your work.
Thanks
Op onze vakantie in Frankrijk vorig jaar zijn mijn vriendin en ik de fototas met fotokaartje waar onze vakantiefoto’s opstonden van onze hele vakantie verloren.
We zijn direct teruggekeerd toen we het vastgesteld hadden maar helaas, zak en kaartje waren al weg.
Ik kan je wel zeggen dat het een beetje een domper gezet heeft op onze vakantie. Gelukkig was het op het einde maar toch.
Ik weet dus hoe je je voelt.
Hi Bert,
Sorry to hear your were the victim of theft.
Please contact me as I think you might be interested in a proposal I have.
Thanks
Sean
[...] who is recovering from getting his camera bag stolen in Spain, decided to riff a little on the meetup group shot theme. For this shot, they used no [...]
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