Street shooting in St. Petersburg - advise needed

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Waterman100

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I am looking to spend about 10 days in St. Petersburg, Russia, sightseeing and taking photographs from Sept 2 to 12. I have done some research and understand that St. Pete is just as safe/risky as other major cities, tourists need to be mindful of pickpockets, and be extra vigilant at night / in dark areas, etc...

My questions are on street shooting in St. Pete: I am American of Chinese descent, and so I will stand out in the crowd and will be more noticed than in my natural environment (NYC) when raising my M7 or RD-1. Are locals hostile, resistant, or indifferent to being photograhed on the street (ie outside of touristy areas)? I am asking bec of personal experience of shooting in some conservative countries.

Also, for personal and equipment safety reasons, are there subjects taboo to photography which I should be sensitive of?

I plan to bring a M7 (or Epson RD-1) as my main camera, and a CL or Canonet QL17 as back-up. Will my Leica draw too much criminal attention?

Lastly - Are there used camera shops in the city?

Many thanks for the help.
 
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St. Petersburgers tend to pride themselves on being cosmopolitan and broad minded, especially as compared with Muscovites. As one of them once said to me, "Moskva! Hah! Is big village!"

Cheers,

R.
 
I frequently shoot in Saint-Petersburg. My opinion might be biased cause I'm Russian, but I live in Norway currently so I suppose I can look at it from the foreign perspective.

I don't think you will draw a lot of attention in a tourist areas (Nevsky prospect, Hermitage etc). There are many tourists and folk are used to it. I don't know what kind of street photography you are after but for "general" you will get enough material just walking back and forth Nevsky prospect and surroundings.

Outside tourist areas it's all relative. There are certain districts where I won't recommend a foreigner going at all mind photographing. It depends on your shooting style and personality of course.

Be mindful of pickpockets in the city center. Especially in the subway. Personally I never had any problems (I shoot M6), but there are a lot of reports on stolen DSLR gear.

I think the way people will respond to you when you're photographing them will mostly depends on you. Younger generation (<30 years) is quite open and friendly. In general I wouldn't recommend shooting any criminal-like people and activities.

Comparing to the west (Europe mostly) I would say people are more mindful(?) when somebody photographs them, but the reaction is usually positive.

There are some used equipment shops in Saint-Petersburg, but the prices are higher than in the US.

Hope this helps. Don't hesitate to ask more specific questions.
 
At first, I thought about St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, since it is just a few hours driving from where I live. :)
 
ljosha - thanks for the detail advice.

I will be with my girlfriend during the first half of the trip doing mostly touristy stuff, but I'm largely on my own in the second half. And if I judge it's OK, I would love to roam to outside of strictly touristy areas to shoot street scenes. So, I should have some time to feel the temperature of the ppl before going off the beaten path.

ljosha said:
Outside tourist areas it's all relative. There are certain districts where I won't recommend a foreigner going at all mind photographing. It depends on your shooting style and personality of course.
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Other than "travel photography", I like to bring the perspective of a documentary photog / photojournalist when shooting to record ppl lives. In that sense, I should need to go outside of touristy areas and visit more "domestic" (I could not think of a better word) neighborhoods of St. Pete to see Russian life.

ljosha - what areas do you think I should avoid?

And similarly, what non-touristy neighborhoods should be OK for me to stroll around with a camera?

Should I avoid shooting Orthodox Church life? Is it better if I'm accompanied by a tour guide as "fixer"?

Be mindful of pickpockets in the city center. Especially in the subway. Personally I never had any problems (I shoot M6), but there are a lot of reports on stolen DSLR gear.
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During the bad days in the 80s, it was possible in some bad neighborhoods in NYC to have someone come right up and simply demand your camera (this doesn't happen anymore). Should I have any credible concern for robbery for my M7?

I think the way people will respond to you when you're photographing them will mostly depends on you. Younger generation (<30 years) is quite open and friendly. In general I wouldn't recommend shooting any criminal-like people and activities.

Comparing to the west (Europe mostly) I would say people are more mindful(?) when somebody photographs them, but the reaction is usually positive.
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I can imagine that. And I guess it also depends on how locals feel whether they have been respected by foreign tourists -- in some places where tourists been photographing locals so much as exotic objects that the locals really feel being pointed at by a camera a total nuisance. So I am also trying to gauge what the local's attitude is on this.

Again, many thanks for the help.
 
Waterman100 said:
ljosha - thanks for the detail advice.

I will be with my girlfriend during the first half of the trip doing mostly touristy stuff, but I'm largely on my own in the second half. And if I judge it's OK, I would love to roam to outside of strictly touristy areas to shoot street scenes. So, I should have some time to feel the temperature of the ppl before going off the beaten path.



Other than "travel photography", I like to bring the perspective of a documentary photog / photojournalist when shooting to record ppl lives. In that sense, I should need to go outside of touristy areas and visit more "domestic" (I could not think of a better word) neighborhoods of St. Pete to see Russian life.

ljosha - what areas do you think I should avoid?
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Avoid going to the near-end-of-the-line subway stations and surroundings during the evening/night.

And similarly, what non-touristy neighborhoods should be OK for me to stroll around with a camera?
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There are two big islands on the Neva: Vasilievsky (m. Vasileostrovskaya) and Petrovsky (m. Petrogradskaya, m. Chkalovskaya). Near m. Vasileostrovskaya you can walk on Sredny prospect and Bolshoi prospect. Being close to the center this area nevertheless represents ordinary SPb life. The same goes with Petrovsky, you can walk Bol'shoy prospect from m. Sportivnaya to m. Petrogradskaya and dive into surrounding streets.

The city center becomes non-touristy of soon as you step out of the main streets. You can try walking along Griboedov channel and Fontanka river embankment from Nevsky.

For the more "domestic" places you can just go the almost any subway station and wander around it. I wouldn't recommend going much further from the stations. You can try m. Prospekt Prosvescheniya (for more dormitory suburb (?) feel), m. Ploshad' Lenina (walk Lesnoy prospect to m. Vyborgskaya), m. Moskovskaya (walk along Moskovsky prospect), m. Akademicheskaya (walk to m. Politeknicheskaya).

I don't know whether it is on your sightseeing list, but Petrodvorets with its fountains, parks and palaces is worth visiting (with your girlfriend).

Should I avoid shooting Orthodox Church life? Is it better if I'm accompanied by a tour guide as "fixer"?
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To be honest I don't know. It should be OK to shoot in main cathedrals. Last time I've been told not to shoot inside a small church though. Try to fire a couple of shots and see the reaction of the staff, they would tell you politely if it's not OK. Remember to keep silence inside the churches.

During the bad days in the 80s, it was possible in some bad neighborhoods in NYC to have someone come right up and simply demand your camera (this doesn't happen anymore). Should I have any credible concern for robbery for my M7?
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Don't think so. (almost) Nobody in SPb would notice that you're using expensive camera. Maybe couple of fellow photographers. I don't think you could be a target for professional robbers.

I can imagine that. And I guess it also depends on how locals feel whether they have been respected by foreign tourists -- in some places where tourists been photographing locals so much as exotic objects that the locals really feel being pointed at by a camera a total nuisance. So I am also trying to gauge what the local's attitude is on this.
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In the "domestic" places you would certainly draw attention. First, you're foreigner. Second, you're photographing them. Former will excuse you for the latter I suppose =)

Again, many thanks for the help.
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You're welcome. Let me know if you need more information.
 
ljosha - this is really good stuff. Many many thanks for such detail comments to help me get started. I love the community here :)

Do you mind sharing your SPb pictures with me? Many thanks again.
 
img_383_18.jpg
 
I don't know whether it is on your sightseeing list, but Petrodvorets with its fountains, parks and palaces is worth visiting (with your girlfriend).
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Isn't there where Peterhof is? Yes, it is on my list, as my girlfriend is having a conference at the St. Petersburg Uni, and I will tag along to see that city, the palace, and the university.

Do factories near SBb give factory tours, like some do in the US? I know that the watchmaker Raketa is in Petrodvorets, and I am very tempted to visit the town and the factory if possible or just its surrounding, buy a vintage Russian watch :cool: and to see and shoot soviet-style buildings and communal society there... unless that's not advisable. What do you think?

I also read that the metro are often interior design showcases. Are they lit enough for handheld ISO400 shooting? I am thinking of spending sometime just taking the metro, and shooting the commuters, platform, and such.

Oh, this is so exciting.
 
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Oh, these are wonderful photographs.

Kak po-russki: "Excuse me, may I take a photography of you"? :)

Spasibo!

Alex Krasotkin said:
I shoot in St-Pete ona regular basis. Never experienced any problems so far.
Here are some pics from this greatest city:
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=878
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=910
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=713
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=583
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=580
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=581
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=558
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=557
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=415
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=356
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=355
http://www.krasotkin.com/stories/?all=66&lang=2
http://www.krasotkin.com/stories/?all=65
http://www.krasotkin.com/stories/?all=59
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Waterman100 said:
Isn't there where Peterhof is? Yes, it is on my list, as my girlfriend is having a conference at the St. Petersburg Uni, and I will tag along to see that city, the palace, and the university.
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It is.

Do factories near SBb give factory tours, like some do in the US? I know that the watchmaker Raketa is in Petrodvorets, and I am very tempted to visit the town and the factory if possible or just its surrounding, buy a vintage Russian watch :cool: and to see and shoot soviet-style buildings and communal society there... unless that's not advisable. What do you think?
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I don't think so. Raketa had a small shop when I was living at the University campus in Peterhof about 7 years ago. I don't know the current state of the factory.

Petrodvorets itself is a nice place. There is also a big church just near the park with palaces.

You can mail me ljosha@ljosha.org sometime close to your visit so I can show you possible route to wander on the map.

I also read that the metro are often interior design showcases. Are they lit enough for handheld ISO400 shooting? I am thinking of spending sometime just taking the metro, and shooting the commuters, platform, and such.
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It is illegal to shoot in the subway unless you have a permission. However many people do. I wouldn't shoot at 400, better take some TMAX 3200 for this kind of shooting.
 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/freakscene/Russia/

ljosha said:
It is illegal to shoot in the subway unless you have a permission. However many people do. I wouldn't shoot at 400, better take some TMAX 3200 for this kind of shooting.
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It's not illegal anymore:
http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/166447/
http://www.fontanka.ru/2009/08/19/041/print.html
http://www.kadis.ru/texts/index.phtml?id=38981&PrintVersion=1
but you can't use a flash. I spent almost all my time in St petersburg working with an M7 and a notctilux, and never had a problem, but you do need to be careful.

Hermitage_XXII.jpg


Kitchen.jpg


Kizhi_XII.jpg


St_P_I.jpg


Marty
 
Fantastic city! Great for photography! Have a wonderful trip and try to see the ballet! Breathtaking!
 
Waterman - I'll be there 8-10.
I am in the same dilemma, but the focus for photos is probably one evening, and I think I might get a guide.
Let me know if you want to sync up.

I see now I am 2 years late... But still going.
Any thing to be gleaned?
The thieves look to be organised there...
 
A friend of mine had his 28-70 neatly removed from his Nikon by a smiling man who opened the door for him to enter The Hermitage. I don't think the same crews will be after a Dual Range Summicron or even a new Nokton 1.5, but beware of someone smiling close. I carry my rangefinders in the hand with the neck strap around my wrist. Under such attack this is a more flexible arrangement.
 
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