Rio de Janeiro...shooting advice?

Interesting thread as I've been thinking of putting Rio and Brazil on my map lately, but have heard similar stories. I guess I just don't know how much I actually stand out in the street.

On another note apparently tropical light and Brazilian light in particular is very different than what we're used to further north, I don't know about slides, I'd take something with more margin for exposure errors
 
mday said:
Spent 1.5 weeks in Buenos Aires and another week in Santiago with my 5D2, walking the streets and shooting. No real problems.
Click to expand...

Pablito said:
That's not Rio.
Click to expand...

I am from Buenos Aires, and for sure Rio it's not Buenos Aires. One it's located in Argentina and the other in Brasil (with S please). Among that, no big difference.
I spent my vacations last year in Rio, wonderful city with similar level of safety in comparison with another big cities around world.

Dallas, TX scares me by far much more than Rio!
 
The last time I was in Rio I was robbed at gun point on Copa and had a camera lifted. It was at the tail end of a 5 week trip spanning 3 or 4 states, starting and ending in Rio. First time I stayed in Barra da Tijuca with some friends and would go to praia barra instead of copa/ipanema when I went to the beach. When I went towards Copa I'd take the Cidade de Deus Ônibus, went to copa one day on the bus, took it back at night, zero room to even get past the turnstile. Had zero problems the first part of the trip.

Went back for the last 3 or 4 days of the trip, stayed in a hotel with my then girlfriend as to not impose on my friends and their family. Went to a Flu/Fla game, almost got robbed due to flu jersey, didn't. Everything was fine until about 3 hours before our flight, we were on the beach, had about 800 R$ on us, my girlfriend was taking a picture of Pão de Açúcar from the beach, guy walks up, pulled a small caliber gun out of his shorts, looked like one of those cheap italian .32's, tells us he's robbing us, takes the camera, we give him R$20 and he's on his way. This all happened within 10 yards of a little league soccer team practicing, and about 30 yards from the tourist police.

A couple days before a kid on a bike rode by and snagged the same camera from my girlfriend's hand while we were walking in Ipanema, luckily she had a hair tie on the strap and it popped back into her hand, kinda pissing off the kid.

I think you'll be fine, we got robbed because my ex was an idiot. I didn't hassled once the whole time. I'd take whatever camera you think would be best for the situation, but keep it bagged until you need it. Time of year also changes things. I was there last during their fall/winter (May) so the beaches were pretty empty making it arguably less secure.

Also I'd pick up portuguese before going, it's a pretty simple language and the people generally are very friendly. I'm from New Orleans and the people of Rio mirror my locals in so many ways. If you are able to talk in Portuguese you'll make friends. I hired a cab during my trip and spoke with the cabby during the drive, he practiced his english, reverting to portuguese when he couldn't figure out how to say something. The next day he brought me to maracana for the Flu/Fra game, found me lower tickets for well below face, and then FOUND me after the game amidst tens of thousands of people, turning down fares left and right. He also ended up driving us to the airport after the robbery and was so upset and embarrassed for his city that he spent the next day filing the police report for us and making sure the crime didn't go unreported.

Sorry if this has been a little off topic, I hope that it helps you in your trip. I had a great time.

One thing to think about, I had a buddy who was in Brazil the same time as I and he ended up selling his dslr in nordeste, maybe Fortalezza?, and ended up making a nice profit even though he had had and used his camera for a good year and a half prior. He was scared of it being stolen in Rio and decided to capitalize on Brazil's crazy import tax.
 
Do you not take out travel insurance in the US? my stuff is insured under the household policy at home and under my travel insurance abroad.
 
Atto said:
Among that, no big difference.
I spent my vacations last year in Rio, wonderful city with similar level of safety in comparison with another big cities around world.

Dallas, TX scares me by far much more than Rio!
Click to expand...

I've never been to Dallas, TX, but I can tell you that I have seen neighbourhoods in some European towns that scared the hell out of me... A good example that comes to mind is Naples (and I loved visiting the place!)...
As for Buenos Aires, I didn't felt it to be a dangerous town, at least not in the random way Rio is. But of course, there are much more dangerous towns in Brazil (in English, the country's name is actually spelt with a "z"), like Belém do Pará...
 
My experience was good despite carrying a pretty conspicuous Nikon F4 with me almost all the time (incidentally that was the trip that literally broke the camel's back and pushed me to lighter RFs!).

However, my Brasilian relatives --from outside Rio -- all thought I was crazy and I would get robbed upon arrival.

Either I got lucky, or I played it smart enough :)

In any case, I second the advice of taking more than the T3. It's a great camera, but Rio is an amazing place where a more capable camera could come in handy.
 
Hi, just catching up on this thread...
I leave here in Rio and never walked the streets with a camera on my neck. Keep it inside in a canvas bag & with black tape on the shiny labels. Touristic spots (Copacabana, Ipanema) attract thieves and most of them kids , so keep an eye on them and you'll spot them quickly.
Do take your X100 along , it's not as ostentatious as a 5D (and its EOS strap).
There are enough great places where it's safe to snap about, just don't dress up too much and you'll be fine.
It's more about attitude as commented in the previous answers.
And always carry some change with you :)
You can PM me if you wish !
Cheers
JM
 
Not meaning to hijack the thread, but...

How's the light in Rio during their winter (June–July)? I'm thinking of going next year to document the favelas that will be undergoing changes in preparation for the 2016 Olympics.

I'd like to shoot a little bit of ISO 100 film there, but I'm not sure how late into the evening it'll last.
 
Jared, I guess I'll find out shortly...I'm leaving for Rio tomorrow.

I still have a day to obsess over it, but it looks like my X100 and my Contax T3 are my go-to cameras for the trip.
 
jaredangle said:
Not meaning to hijack the thread, but...

How's the light in Rio during their winter (June–July)? I'm thinking of going next year to document the favelas that will be undergoing changes in preparation for the 2016 Olympics.

I'd like to shoot a little bit of ISO 100 film there, but I'm not sure how late into the evening it'll last.
Click to expand...

I don't remember how late the light lasts - and i don't often visit during this time of the year.... But, re: visiting the favelas - i'd recommend you have a local arrange a personal tour by a resident. When i went, my Brazilian friend who is a driver took us to the foot of the favela where we hired two motorcycle guides to take us up. It's a bit hairy on the back of a little motorcycle, winding around the narrow streets with buses coming down at you.... But, it was pretty cool.

I was hoping/expecting to see the storied 'kids with AK-47s,' but found none at that time.... I shot with an M7 and Mamiya 6 at the time.

BTW: In the favelas, i'm told there is a particular 'honor code,' in that there is no real crime within those borders. If you're inside, you're supposed to be protected, as part of the community - or something like that.

Back to David -
I still recommend, if you have the luggage space, that you take another/additional camera. Yes, the stories may be daunting, but once you're there, you may feel more confident and might want something else. The thing is, you can use ANY camera down there. So long as you do it smartly.

And, if you visit Sugar Loaf and Corcovado and such, there are scads of tourists around, and no real threat. Just be careful on the mosaic walkway in Copa, and on the non-beachfront streets. Don't walk around with a camera on a strap around your neck or on your shoulder. Keep it in a cheap, worn bag/nylon backpack, and no one will think you have anything more than a sandwich or gym clothes in there. Buy the bag once you get there - just get whatever kind you see most often, and cushion it with a small hotel towel.
 
I'll let everyone know how it goes. I'm here in Rio now...just arrived this morning. Great shooting conditions..moderate sun (high thin overcast) and only about 78F (26C).

I just brought the X100. And an iPhone 4S :D
 
Leaving for the U.S. tonight. What an interesting experience. Thanks to RFF'r jmanivelle and a second Flickr contact, had tour guides-translators-security-co-shooters-meal companions the whole time. I saw both sides of Rio. I'll post some shots Thursday night. I'm flying home to Texas all night tonight...time to get a nap.

BTW...the X100 excelled at all situations...landscapes, candids, and low-light in the favelas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom