BigD Loc: The LEFT Coast

A fellow pro shooter friend of mine was at the Giants Vs. Dodgers game last night in San Francisco (Dodgers lost darn it). While he was in covering the game someone broke into his car and stole some of his gear. He lost a couple of 7D bodies, three "L" series lenses and a bunch of other accessories like some Ipads, Laptop, etc. Luckily his higher end stuff was with him or it would all be gone. All told he figured he lost about $20K worth of gear. He has insurance but still it sucks to have to go and order all new equipment and wait for it to arrive and all that. What got me thinking was that the stuff "still in the car" was more than what most people own all together. It makes you look at your equipment and think about how lucky you are to have such nice gear and also what would happen if you lost it all especially if you make your living with it. I have a dozen shoots in the next month and if I lost all my equipment I would go broke before I could replace it. Honestly I could call buddies and borrow my way through it but the thought of loosing it all sure gets you to thinking. Now we are both considering building an armored box that bolts down in the back of the vehicle that would be hard to get into. I have seen some out there but a custom version that all the camera bags fit into seems very James Bond to us. Any ideas out there fellas? Anyone already built something to stash your gear into? Remember were talking about Pro Shooters who carry a ton of big buck stuff so this box is gonna be pretty big. :wink:

Carioca

How about not leaving valuables in the car?

BigD Loc: The LEFT Coast

Sometimes when your running from one venue to another you have no choice. Your at a Presser shooting Mitt Romney then you have to race over to cover a game and you just have to leave stuff in the car or try and carry it all which isn't always doable. Or if your not a pro and are out shooting and decide to stop for dinner on the way home, same problem.

Carioca

In a situation like that, I can certainly see needing a couple of bodies and a laptop. Multiple iPads and additional bodies, too?

If you can't carry it, you can't use it. Leave it at home.

BigD Loc: The LEFT Coast

Um, you need certain things for one shoot and other things for other shoots. Leaving it at home means getting fired because you cannot upload the images of old Mitt and then buzz over to the stadium for the game where you can upload in the morning. I'm talking about working photographers who need to carry a lot of stuff but it could apply to anyone who carries a lot of expensive gear.

Carioca

Um, a laptop AND multiple iPads? Sorry, that's just bad planning on your friend's part. I hope he was at least smart enough to stow all that stuff in the trunk, instead of up front where it's easily spotted thru the windows. It's nonsense like that that costs the rest of us to pay higher premiums on our stuff.

If having all that stuff handy just in case is the only option, then keep good insurance and be prepared for the consequences.

BigD Loc: The LEFT Coast

You don't use remote cameras do you friend? See I can tell because you don't understand why he might have more than one Ipad, and the Laptop is used for uploading, something an Ipad is not as good for. He has good insurance, having all that stuff IS being prepared for the job he / we do which you clearly do not understand. I carry WAY more than that to get the things done I do. Everything was in a Range Rover under a cover in the back so no he is not totally stupid thanks. We were talking about a way to protect what we carry not justifying what we carry to you.

Fifty-Fifty Loc: Arkansas

(((((I have seen some out there but a custom version that all the camera bags fit into seems very James Bond to us. Any ideas out there fellas? Anyone already built something to stash your gear into? Remember were talking about Pro Shooters who carry a ton of big buck stuff so this box is gonna be pretty big)))).......

Heres a idea depending on the size of his vehicle go down to your local walmart or farm store or even check online for a truck toolbox they come in diamond plate aluminum some have hasps others have built in locks,,,you should be able to find one reasonably close to the size you need..hint allways buy the biggest box you have room for ..in my case I use them for tools and never have enough room..same would go for camera equipment ..then you and your friend can get some foam rubber to glue to the bottom and sides, make dividers and whatnot...srry to your friend about loseing his valuables.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Sounds like an excellent idea and I understand his dilema, being an former press photog myself. Be interested to hear comments. In my day we always went back to the darkoom at the end of the day to process film. I understand the shooters today only go back to the office to remind the bosses what they look like.

BigD Loc: The LEFT Coast

I was thinking the same thing but they are all kinda tall and narrow (front to back). We were envisioning something that was kinda flat like maybe 12 inches tall, a few feet deep, and as wide as the vehicle would allow. Bolt it down and cover it with carpet to match the vehicles and line it like you say. Could be pretty cool and you could still put cargo on top of it.

BigD Loc: The LEFT Coast

I have only meet one of the several dozen Editors I work for. Its a highly mobile business for sure so keeping a lot of equipment is necessary. I am always worried about it when I have to leave stuff in my car so this box would be really cool.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Are you a staff photog or freelance?
One of the things I enjoyed was a (very) late dinner with the other photogs after shooting foot-base-basketball games.

Carioca

Why he might have fourteen iPads is irrelevant. Why he had them IN AN INSECURE LOCATION is the question.

Cars get broken into all the time. Especially in large parking lots, and especially in big expensive cars. "Being prepared" doesn't mean pretending that bad things never happen.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

My extended cab pick-up has a diamond-plate tool box stretched across the front of the cargo bed, but it is not alarmed.
Unfortunately, the locks can be defeated with liquid nitrogen and a hammer.

When forced to leave camera gear in any vehicle, I have used a cheap Styrofoam "cooler" on the backseat, along with a few empty Pepsi cans. Camouflage trumps "diamond plate" security every time. And my truck door alarms work great.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Sorry for your friend's loss, BigD. When I was contracting, I could not easily replace thousands of dollars worth of electric and pneumatic tools I always had in my van. I used a 2 X 2 X 4 foot steel job box that could be bolted down and damn near impossible to break into. Do a Google search for "job box" or "jobsite box". They come in much smaller sizes and can be found for $100 - $200, less than the cost to custom fabricate.