PicBack wrote:
While I have shot in quite a few places worldwide (including South America) this will be my first time in sub-saharan Africa. Apart from the usual advice about being generally street smart and covering up logos, what should I keep in mind?

The main issues I can think of are customs going in and out. Theft, voltage, heat and dust.

It's called common sense use it. Drink tons of water and wear sunscreen.

Margaret Hope wrote:
Drink as much coffee as you can and eat the injera. Eat with your hands. Eating with utensils is a "no-no". Part of my family is from Ethiopia and they tell me they have the best coffee.

I am a huge coffee fan (and snob) so that is very much on the list!

Lots of time in Morocco, so no problem with eating the right way.

Giacomo Cirrincioni wrote:
I've shot quite a bit in the region, but most of my time was spent in Senegal and Mauritania. 

Your biggest hurdles will be getting your gear through customs.  If you are going to be working with an NGO, have a representative meet you at the airport.  Make sure you have some cash in case you have to pay any extra "fees" to collect your gear.

Locals are very used to foreigners coming and taking their picture.  Often these photos make their way back and they are not pleased with them - at all.  As a result, street photography can be rough.  Your best bet is to be very kind, exceptionally polite and always ask permission.  If you must shoot candids, wear a camera strap and run a cable release to a pocket.  Focus to infinity and hope.

Try not to take the same old garbage stereotypical photos.  Get to know the people you are photographing - work with them, cook with them, eat with them, make tea with them.  Then you will have good subjects.

You're going to need a bunch of vaccinations.  Don't wait until the last minute to get them, some can have you out of sorts for a few days after you get them.

Malaria pills (if the prescribe them to you) are an odd lot.  They make you almost as sick as having malaria.  Most expats who live there go without.  I took them, due to where I was going to be and the time of year.  I also slept under mosquito netting when possible.  Sometimes it wasn't possible.  Do what you will with this.

Lastly, enjoy the experience.  You will come back a changed person and that's probably a good thing.

Thanks for all the information, much appreciated. Love the photo and agree with your approach to shooting.

Can I take you out for lunch sometime and pick your brains? I am down in the Meatpacking district!

PicBack wrote:

Thanks for all the information, much appreciated. Love the photo and agree with your approach to shooting.

Can I take you out for lunch sometime and pick your brains? I am down in the Meatpacking district!

Sure!  I'm slammed till after Easter, but the following week should see things easing up a tad.  Just send me a PM and we'll work something out before you go.

PicBack wrote:
I am flying out to Ethiopia in the middle of May to photograph a new school project.

While I have shot in quite a few places worldwide (including South America) this will be my first time in sub-saharan Africa. Apart from the usual advice about being generally street smart and covering up logos, what should I keep in mind?

The main issues I can think of are customs going in and out. Theft, voltage, heat and dust.

Okay, it's been a VERY long time since I was to Ethiopia and the circumstances were very different.  So let me offer some advice with the initial caveat that it may be outdated--don't accept anything I'm saying on face value but confirm it.

1.  Shots.  Get some.  You used to be required to get a yellow fever vaccine--not sure if that's still true.  But for US travelers there are a bunch of vaccines that aren't required but are still smart to get.  I would think that Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and Hep-A for starters would all make sense.  Cholera for that part of the world used to make sense, I had a cholera vaccine.  VERY IMPORTANT:  don't just look at vaccines that are required for people coming from the US, but see if it matters where you're arriving from.  For instance, if you take an excursion to a neighboring country or don't fly in directly to AA from a Western Country (but instead get a flight from say...Nairobi), do the shot requirements change?  And bring your shot record.

2.  You'll probably still need a visa.  I think you can get it at Bole.

3.  Malaria is an issue for all locations in Ethiopia except the higher altitudes so get your pills.

4.  Some parts of Ethiopia (like AA) are at altitude.  If you're not in good shape or haven't had recent experience at altitude, you may suffer some altitude sickness.  It's not fun for those who have trouble adjusting.

5.  Safety:  kidnapping of Westerners is more of an issue now than it was when I was there.  Stay away from the border areas.  Visible camera equipment will make you a target on the streets.  And there's enough jihadi influence in East Africa that typical tips for safe travel (hanging around tourist areas or with other westerners) actually won't make you safer.  I"m not trying to make you paranoid, just be clear that some governments are recommending that their citizens not travel to Ethiopia.  It's a lot safer than some other East African countries but East Africa still sees a lot of turmoil in many places and it isn't confined to countries.  I don't know this firsthand but heard from a friend that there's a real pickpocket problem.   Not so much someone reaching in to your pocket but rather someone slashing open a backpack or purse, grabbing stuff and running.

6.  I was always able to use US dollars, everywhere.  Not sure if that's still true but dollars were a universal currency, even in the boonies.

7.  Confirm airline departure times.  The local airlines tends to change departure times abruptly (and without warning) so you could arrive at the airport to discover they moved up your flight time by 6 hours and your plane is gone.

8.  The other thing I remember from Ethiopia is that all the locals I dealt with handled time very different.  The time was referenced by sunrise or sunset.  So 2 o'clock is actually 8 o'clock...it's 2 hours past sunrise.  Our noon would be 6 o'clock to many locals.  Not sure if that's universal but it was true with the locals I dealt with.

Also, a few comments about other posts.  Yep, expect to get hit with some surprise and unannounced "fees".  Being a westerner it's assumed that you're rich so almost everything costs more--try to get a local to negotiate rides and tours for you.  If you're in AA, it actually gets cold at times b/c of the altitude so you'll want a coat.

Best of luck,

Ed

PicBack wrote:
Thank you everyone for your wise words.

I have traveled quite widely (from Antartica to the Sahara, Albania to Brooklyn) so most of the general things you do are covered. Having said that there are always useful tips from those in the field.

I am trying to work out what to take strobe wise. Profoto are far too big but am thinking about the Quantum Ranger kit.

Also, what International Insurance do you all like?

Im covered through work with Cigna and work also covers me through another thingamajiggy for personal travel.

Im not up to speed on insurance but what I do know is it pays to check the medical providers in your destination to see what insurance is the least hassel.

Also something like International SOS might be of use.

Seniorbrucio wrote:

Im covered through work with Cigna and work also covers me through another thingamajiggy for personal travel.

Im not up to speed on insurance but what I do know is it pays to check the medical providers in your destination to see what insurance is the least hassel.

Also something like International SOS might be of use.

I will go and check them both out.

I have a policy with Columbus but am guessing has a couple of loopholes for what I really need to be covered for.