South Africa with a Leica

[Lauffray]

No pictures yet, but thinking about a trip 🙂

If anyone's been there, I'd appreciate some cultural tips with regards to photography to avoid being "tourist with a camera" and also to what extent I can do the type of exploring I usually do, that is walking around streets and neighbourhoods to photograph (website link in my sig for examples). I generally travel solo

Don't know how reliable it is but the Canadian travel advisory to SA isn't too optimistic

 

[Daniel Teoli Jr.]

OP...bring used Fuji's. They are disposable, Leica's are not.

That is the prob with the only digital manual rangefinder on the market. You are not free to use em in tough and dangerous conditions unless you are a very rich person that considers them disposables.

 

[Lauffray]

Yeah I was looking into getting a small expendable Nikon F if/when that should happen, did the same before going to Argentina

White man walking around taking photos with a fine camera over there is asking to get raped, stabbed and raped again. That's what insiders have told me and I believe them.

Don't forget small and skinny 😀
I was hoping it wouldn't be as bad though 🙁

 

[sevo]

Robberies tend to be of the violent kind, so your camera will be your least concern - you will want to avoid being robbed/murdered. If you succeed (that entirely depends on where you go), you'll be fine with any camera, if not, you may want to consider whether your heirs can stomach that material loss, and whether they'd discard that filthy old camera even if it had been left at home...

 

[Lauffray]

That bad huh ?

 

[sevo]

That bad huh ?

Not all that bad - it can be a very pleasant and safe country. Unless you stumble into the danger zones - but there, possession of a pair of sneakers is enough to get you stabbed or shot. So Leica or not is not really the issue - you'd either be fine with it, or in danger regardless of it.

 

[tonyc]

Some rather over reactions here !

I have been to Cape town and Joberg for work in the last couple of
years, and I think if you are streetwise and stay in central areas
you will be ok.

Joberg used to be very dodgy, but these days much less so.
The central area is actually becoming more tarted up.
There are a even a few streets of gentrification, with lomo shops
terrace restuarants and cafes etc.

There is a famous amazing multistory carpark, which has been "taken over" and has become a kind of living city, but for saftey I wouldnt advise going there . . .

Between the two, Joberg is way more interesting in a street-photo
kind of way.
The acrhitecuture is ace, lots of grand US style bank and office buildsings, a lot of which are now mostly empty.

People go to capetown for the beach, and climbing a large rock.
The town is less photo-genic or interesting than Joberg, but there
is a great camera and drug shop that has quite a few Leicas !

I had more hassel in cape-twon than Joberg.

I think a Leica without a red-dot is less obviouslystealable, than a camera that looks like Canikon SLR.

I took a Zeiss Ikon !

-TC

 

[Scheelings]

No pictures yet, but thinking about a trip 🙂

If anyone's been there, I'd appreciate some cultural tips with regards to photography to avoid being "tourist with a camera" and also to what extent I can do the type of exploring I usually do, that is walking around streets and neighbourhoods to photograph (website link in my sig for examples). I generally travel solo

Don't know how reliable it is but the Canadian travel advisory to SA isn't too optimistic

I had my Leica over there with no problems. Ignore anyone spouting 2nd hand knowledge as many South Africans who now live overseas exaggerate the countries woes and pass on all the worst stories (I've heard lots of them). Although that said it is one of the world's more dangerous places.

The best bet is to have local contacts who understand where it's safe and where it is not. You can't just walk around anywhere and even in the good suburbs of Joburg, I didn't walk anywhere at night.

It is a fantastic country and the people are really great. I highly recommend you to go, but don't do anything the locals wouldn't do.

 

[Pherdinand]

The best bet is to have local contacts who understand where it's safe and where it is not. You can't just walk around anywhere and even in the good suburbs of Joburg, I didn't walk anywhere at night.

It is a fantastic country and the people are really great. I highly recommend you to go, but don't do anything the locals wouldn't do.

i agree with that absolutely.
I've been there - it was some 5 years ago) for 3 weeks with two friends (that's 3 white guys) one of them grew up in Johannesburg. His mom and brother were still there.
Do not follow guide books or internet rumors. You need - NEED - someone who is from there and knows the places and latest trends.
We've been in Pretoria in very nice neighborhood with bars and cool people, without our friend "guide" (he was busy) following the advice of a random guy in downtown Pretoria who was very cool. He started chatting us up on the street saying "what on earth are you lookin for here". Yes we were on the wrong spot at dusk. We had no trouble once we followed up his advice.
Similar in Johannesburg (three of us had no trouble but we did NOT go to dodgy neighborhoods, and business district Jo'burg was definitely dodgy that time) looking for adventure.
It's not a place where in big cities you can hang around shootin pics, it just isn't. You are in a nice spot, it might be you cross the road and "take a wrong turn" and in 2 minutes you are in the middle of gangland.
If you see a lot of white people, all ages, walking around you doin their business, you are probably fine. If they suddenly "disappear", you better catch up with them.

Capetown was much less hostile. Very relaxed downtown compared to busy Jo'burg. Tho it still has its nasty neighborhoods. But there's much more to do than just "climbing that rock" (which is nice, by the way). A lot of good party places, too. Same holds for Stellenbosch.
Anyway, going all the way to SA and missing out on nature is a sin.
We went around for 2 weeks from drakensberg to the kalahari and down to cape of good hope, it's a wonderful country. You can drive around quite efficiently, too. And cheaply.

PS as written above, whether you carry a leica a canonet or nothing at all visibly, if you're in the wrong spot you get mugged for what they think you might have and not for what you visibly carry with you. You ain't really safe in a car neither, especially if you stop for something.

 

[Freakscene]

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Africa+2009/South+Africa/

Be careful, look confident, make sure you and your camera are insured.

Marty

 

[Pete B]

Take Olympus OM1 and a couple of lenses. Change your film regularly so fewer images get stolen.
Pete

 

[jarski]

took Leica M8 with me when I did bus trip from Namibia to Cape Town back in 2010. am tall white guy, nothing happened to me. but certainly didn't feel safe everywhere. was careful also where to move during night time. that said, will definitely go back if I get a chance!

here's few landscapes from my trip. nature is really awesome in Cape.

Robben Island seen from distance.

 

[leicapixie]

Go with extreme caution.
There is no way to walk around and get shots!
Find locals that live there and follow their advice.
Crime is real, the amount of attacks almost unbelievable!

That is the BAD.
The GOOD a fabulous beautiful place..
Cape Town "Fairest Cape in the World".
Stunning beaches, Clifton, Muizenberg, St.James, latter 2 near warm water.. Indian Ocean warm, Atlantic super cold!
Johannesburg-Pretoria, a vast metropolis but very dangerous..
I spend time in Shopping Malls(need permission to take photos, easily got!) Sandton City, Melrose Arches simply lovely.
Durban and North and South Coast.
The Indian Ocean. Swim only where there are Lifeguards.
Also Beach Patrols with Automatic weapons...
There are shark nets at these points.
It's a real danger.
No swim if sea is muddy after storms.
DO not swim in any river headed east.
Cholera and a water disease.

No large camera.
It ought to be disposable.
I carry 4 but only one at a time, small point and shoot digitals.
I usually go to South Coast with family.
No wanderings..
Quite safe with a Tourist Group.
The nature parks need long lenses, DSLR.
It's OK there.
The people are all friendly.
Sadness is the danger.
One day I had enough and quit.
Cry the beloved country.
Nairobi and Kenya similar.

 

[Texsport]

I made many trips there in the past and think it is possibly the most beautiful place on earth - but I would never go back.

I still have many friends there - those that couldn't leave - and they all tell tales of crime and danger to white people.

If you can't resist, I'd pick the months when the Jacaranda trees are in bloom in Joburg - January as I recall.

The entire coast between Durban and Cape Town is my choice for absolutely unique beauty. Durban to Port Elisabeth is devine.

In Durban, surfers are active early in the morning, before going to work in the summer. Don't surf yourself, as I have been there when many shark attacks were reported. I have also watched the morning surf patrol boat pull numerous sharks out of the inside of the beach shark nets.

Cape of Good Hope is interesting as the tip of Africa, but requires a steep climb.

Wine country at Stellenbosch is charming.

Kruger National Park is unforgettable.

Golf is great.

My cameras of choice would be XPan and Widelux.

Would love to visit again, but won't.