The problem with being a woman photographer in today's not so safe society......

<p>Lil, nothing is safe in life, but crime is at it's lowest point in almost fifty years in California according to the Public Policy Institute of Calfornia:</p>

<p>http://www.ppic.org/main/publication_show.asp?i=1036</p>

<p>"California’s violent crime rate is at its lowest level since 1967. After increasing slightly in 2012, California’s violent crime rate dropped by 6.5% in 2013, to a 46-year low of 397 per 100,000 residents. From 1960 to 1980, the state’s violent crime rate increased from 239 to 894 violent crimes per 100,000 residents—a staggering 274% rise. After declining in the early 1980s, the rate rose to a peak of 1,120 in 1992. Since then, violent crime has declined substantially. Nonetheless, in the most recent national data (from 2012), California’s violent crime rate of 422 per 100,000 residents was higher than the national rate of 387 and ranked 16th among all states. In 2013, 59% of violent crimes in California were aggravated assaults, 35% were robberies, 5% were rapes, and 1% were homicides."</p>

<p>You hire babysitters (maybe), so maybe you can find someone who is interested in learning nature photography to accompany you and be your bodyguard at the same time as they learn the tricks of your trade. You're much more likely to get assaulted at an ATM or injured driving to and from where you would like to shoot some pics. </p>

<p>You might even start your own photo class and have your own group for safety.</p>

<p><<Every time I read Norbert's post, I feel like I am reading some poem; no, the content doesn't sound like a poem, but the short lines and where lines are broken, the format looks like a poem>></p>

<p>Maybe it's the Wein interpretation of a haiku.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>Lil, I don’t specialize in any particular genre of photos - I grab what I can, when I can. Sometimes they might be considered snapshots, but I keep a camera with me at all times, just so I don’t miss an opportunity. If I am going out to shoot, I bring my primary kit & tripod. At all times, I have my older DSLR & 2 lenses in my car. And when I’m, not in my car, I have my cell phone (camera of last resort - and it doesn’t attract a lot of attention). During the past couple of weeks, I have posted images to FB from all three, and nobody has spotted the difference. The point is this - don’t sit around and wish.</p>

<p>Lil--I am SO sorry to hear about Naboo....animals become family members. Their loss is very painful. Please know we are with you and that your new family member will be super!<br>

Paul</p>

<p>I will suggest joining a camera club with a lot of active members organizing field trips, or joining a metope group. Some, here in the SF Bay Area, are very active.</p>

<p>Sorry for not finishing this yesterday, but I'll continue to thank people for being kind enough to reply now...<br>

<strong>David Manzi</strong> - - thank you for the link :) Might be helpful.<br>

<strong>Jay Hector</strong> - - that's nice to know, but still.... knowing that other photographers have been in danger, and them being men..... As a woman I feel more in danger for that reason. I don't know if I believe I'm qualified to start a photo class. But what do I know ;) Thank you for your suggestions<br>

<strong>Stanley</strong> - you've seen my photos for many many years. You know I do a lot of different types of photography. At this time I don't seem to be going out all that often. Might have to do with the fact that I've been at home since our daughter was born and now that she's grown, maybe because of my headaches..... But I always have my cell phone with me & though I've rarely happy with the result of those photos, I do post a lot of them on FB. And when I travel around I always bring at least one camera. I will take your advice, no sitting around wishing - - get out & go shooting :)<br>

<strong>Paul Beavin</strong> - thank you for your kind words. The loss has been hard, but as with all loss, time will heal those wounds. Young Jamestown is a wonderful horse we all just love. The fact that we keep them at home, like all our pet family, makes them very close to us. And the relationship in between a horse & rider is a very deep & special one. Naboo, like other pet family, will forever remain in our hearts....<br>

Here's a photo of Naboo (the large horse) and our little American Shetland Pony stallion Colie a few years before we lost Naboo<br>

<img src="http://lilknytt.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v18/p1419488988-5.jpg" alt="" /><br>

And here's a photo of our you Jamestown, James the JazMan we got about six months ago...<br>

<img src="http://lilknytt.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v131/p346472864-5.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<strong>George Pelpel</strong> - thank you for your suggestion. I will look into that as well. :)</p>

<p>I wish to thank everyone for your suggestions. I am actively looking into all the suggestions to see what I can find :) Thank you all for your help :)</p>

<p> </p>

<p> Not only do I fail to see how this thread is gender specific, I also fail to see how it is Nikon specific. :-) Nonetheless, it is an interesting and relevant question you ask.</p>

<p>I would also stay away from getting a gun to feel safe. But what about an baseball cap with a big NRA logo on it?</p>

<p>I think you have gotten excellent advice on where to find people to take with you. Since you mentioned that your husband is retired, it made me think about retired people in general. Why not find a local pensioner club? I believe you can find several individuals that would love to take up photography now that time allows for it. Perhaps you could teach if there are beginners?</p>

<p>So, Sweden is part of this years itinerary - welcome!</p>

<p>Bird watchers area great idea. You could also hire an assistant. Perhaps a HS or college student wouldn't mind hauling equipment around for you and keeping things safe. 'Shouldn't cost too much and the help would be nice. Good luck with your photography.</p>

<p>Hejsan/Hi <strong>Andreas Heimbrandt</strong> - I realize this thread now has 31 comments, but if you had taken the time out to read them you would have seen that I have addressed your issue about it being, or rather not being Nikon specific. My main reason for posting it here is that I've been part of this forum for close to 10 years & I have Internet "friends" in here. I therefore felt more comfortable posting it in here & I'm more used to posting in this forum. It would seem neither Shun nor Lex had a problem with me doing so. Either way, I don't claim this to be a Nikon specific nor in the long run a gender specific issue. Though if a thief has an option on a woman or a man I bet the woman will be to easier target. But that might be wrong. Still, on the average a woman is less strong than a man. <br /> I look horrible in caps and can't stand the NRA. I think I'll try for a spray instead ;)<br /> I also believe I've gotten a lot of great suggestions & am at present checking on the choices available to me. YOu give me a suggestion that's interesting & I will see if that's doable.<br /> Yes, my native Sweden is on this years itinerary. Stockholm, Visby, & Marieholm are stops. The idea is for us to take the ferry from Visby to Oskarshamn. There rent a car & drive down to Kristianstad & on to Marieholm. We'll probably drive around Skåne a little for the days we're there so my American husband gets to see some of that part of the country. Then on to Paris France & London England. This should give me many photo ops.<br /> After all, I'm still a Swedish citizen, so all I'm doing is going back home to see family & friends. <br /> Thanks for taking time out to comment.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hi LIL,<br>

Digital image making is a private affair for me these days. There was a time when I enjoyed camera clubs and other associations, but these days, I tend not to talk to fellow photographers. I’d rather chat to artists instead.<br>

Mateship is a great thing, but when it comes to the creative process, one must learn to be alone with their ideas and thoughts.<br>

Just my opinion,<br>

Cheers,<br>

Clive.</p>

<p>Hi <strong>John R. Fulton Jr.</strong> - hire an assistant. That's a good idea. That way I wouldn't have to drag all the equipment. I will contact some local H.S. & see what I can figure out....</p>

<p>Hi <strong>Clive Rapier - </strong>sure it's a private affair. Creating the files as in editing etc, but not in the shooting of them for me. I enjoy the company of friends while out photographing birds. Often we used to be out all day and with the hours it takes to get the shots it's nice to have someone to hang out with. It's actually interesting to see how 5 photographers standing close to each other can get so different shots based upon what one sees which someone else doesn't. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.....</p>

<p>What Jon said. Try meetup.com. I found several local photo groups through this source that had interests similar to mine. It really is a nice resource. Obviously not limited to photography, either.</p>