Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/09/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tina, I was in Beijing for a week last November, a week last July, and am going back again in about six weeks. I carried two Nikon digital slr's and a number of lenses. On most days I carried one camera with a 12-24mm lens and the other with the rather sizeable 70-200mm. I never had any problems of any kind. In fact, I never felt that anything was any different than it would be in any other large Asian city. I visited most of the main tourist attractions and spent a lot of time just wandering around various neighborhoods and markets shooting whatever I felt like. I found the people very warm, cooperative and curious. I hired a driver to visit the Great Wall, but otherwise made my way by myself without a guide. Every morning I would have the hotel write out the places I'd decided to go in Chinese characters that I could show to taxi drivers (you wont find any who speak English). At the end of a day's wanderings, I'd flag down a taxi and give them the hotel's business card. The subway isn't very hard to figure out and can get you to quite a few places cheaply and easily. I can't speak for the countryside, but I don't think you need to treat Beijing any differently than anywhere else, despite what you may have heard. Feel free to send me an email if you'd like some specific recommendations. Bryan Caldwell -----Original Message----- From: Tina Manley <images@InfoAve.Net> Sent: Sep 23, 2005 3:24 PM To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> Subject: [Leica] China Photography LUG: I need your expert advice again. They called today from the Chinese embassy about my visa application. I had put on the application that I was a photographer - evidently a no, no. I had to agree to either write a letter saying that I would not be taking photos professionally while I am in China or change my profession on the application to Housewife. That's a no-brainer. I changed the profession to Housewife (my husband is still laughing). What I want to know is, will I run into problems trying to take photos with professional-looking equipment? Do I leave my business cards at home? Do I not ask people to sign model releases? What kind of trouble can I get into? I'm definitely planning on taking photos to sell as stock but should I try to keep a low profile? No photo vest? No camera bags? I had asked the family that we are renting an apartment from to make arrangements for me to stay with a family in the country for a few nights to take photographs, since that is what I do in most countries. They said that would not be a problem. Will it? Thanks in advance! Tina Tina Manley, ASMP www.tinamanley.com _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information