Staying Safe Abroad

7/29/2019 Staying Safe Abroad

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@photoshelter

#pswebinar


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MEET AMI VITALE & ELIZABETH DALZIELAmi- Worked in over 85 countries as

freelance photographer

Contract photographer withNational Geographic and Nikon

Ambassador Published inNational Geographic,

Geo, Newsweek, Time, Smithsonian

Has won multiple awards fromWorld Press Photo, NPPA, theLowell Thomas Award for Travel

Journalism, Lucie Awards, POYi,among others

Elizabeth- Freelance photojournalist based in

London

Has photographed news, portraitand documentary reports in Latin

America, Europe, The Middle East,South and Central Asia and the FarEast. Including the coverage ofconflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistanand Iraq.

Awarded the John S. Knight

Fellowship, the Overseas Press Clubof America award, Human RightsPhotography award, awards fromthe NPPA and POY contest, andmore


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3

Photo by Ami Vitale


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Photo by Ami Vitale


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Photo by Ami Vitale


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6Photo by Elizabeth Dalziel


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Photo by Elizabeth Dalziel


8/178Photo by Elizabeth Dalziel


9/17

ATTACKS ON THE PRESSPhotographer interning for a lifestyle magazine in India was raped byfive men while photographing an old textile mill (August 2013):

News reports said the assailants approached the photographer and

told her to get permission from the mill's supervisor to takephotographs. The men then tied up and beat an unidentifiedindividual who had accompanied the journalist on herassignment. The assailants took turns raping the photographer ina secluded part of the mill.


10/17

Gunman fatally shot a freelance photographer in the Philippines (August2013):

Sy, a freelance photographer, regularly contributed to the local Sapol

News Bulletin newspaper. John Paul Jubelag, publisher of the paper,said Sy's murder could have been related to his contribution to aphoto report on local drug trafficking earlier this year.

Multiple photographers attacked in South Africa over two week span(June 2013):

Mofokeng, working with a reporter, was outside in a public place,covering a public issue. All seemed fine at first, until Mofokengphotographed security personnel chasing people. A guard turned hisattention to Mofokeng, striking him and threatening to break hiscamera


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ASSESSING RISK Research your destination and prepare a security

assessment

Identify contact people and how to communicate with them: localNGOs, churches, charities

Make contact with journalists and people who know the region:lightstalkers.org, Vulture Club on Facebook

Find a known or recommended driver/and or fixer

Understand the local laws and customs; dress appropriately

Understand hazards and potential conflicts

Research common crime incidents

Health risk


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BASIC PREPAREDNESS Proper accreditation and permission

Medical care/vaccinations

Insurance

Emergency bag and first aid kit

Trustworthy guide (local)

Have numbers and locations of local hospitals and police

Communicate regularly with someone outside

Send itinerary of your plans to trusted contact

Know your exit strategy


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WHAT TO DO IF Someone is following you

Someone asks to see your identification

Someone gropes or touches your without consent

Someone rips you off

You or someone you know gets seriously injured

You are taken into custody


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EXAMPLE SITUATIONS Taxi driver has a friend in car:

Demand they leave

Hotel management asks for passport at night:

Say you will bring it down in the morning and do not open thedoor

Groped while shooting an assignment:

Act assertively and look for a better location

Travelling alone:

Look for allies


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PERSONAL INFORMATION Back up your data: research notes, contact info, itinerary, image files

Use a prepaid mobile phone, not attached to your name

Be aware of what information you give out when in public space

Dont disclose any information that is not critical (even to people you

trust) Behave very modestly and never drink, smoke or disclose that you

even do this at home

Never have an intimate relationship with anyone when you areworking


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THE COST OF STAYING SAFE You have to invest in your safety - no photo is worth risking your life

As freelancer you may feel hiring a guide or fixer is too expensive, butnot hiring someone to look out for you can be more expensive in thelong run

Most important things are: Follow your intuition

Remain confident and in control

Do your research

Have allies in the field

Be aware of what you say, even to people you think are harmless

Do not reveal any uncessary personal information

Know what to do when things start going wrong


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NEXT WEBINAR: Tuesday, Sept. 17th at 4pm ET

17http://bit.ly/weddingphotogcheck
http://bit.ly/weddingphotogcheckhttp://bit.ly/weddingphotogcheck

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Staying Safe Abroad