trc Loc: Logan, OH

Allen,

I was in Amsterdam with my wife and my youngest son who is in the Army at a post in Germany. I had taken several pictures while walking around the city with a couple looking down the Red Light District. The shot I am posting was taken December 26, 2015, at 10:11 am local time while standing on a bridge over a canal looking straight down the Red Light District. There was a group of 4 young boys (men) walking on the street camera right that caught a lady's attention when she was standing in the doorway of her business. The guys still had a little ways to walk before where the lady was standing. I did not get her in the picture because I was too busy concentrating on my shot, so my wife informed me later!

As you can see in the photo, there are numerous red lights lit at that earlier hour on both sides of the canal. I believe you can also see several signs in the windows which probably say something about photographs and privacy? We stopped long enough on that bridge for me to snap a few shots and then moved on to see many other places in Amsterdam as I captured many other photos. I can't say I loved that city, but was glad I had the chance to visit and see what was there. We were there for about a total of 7-8 hours with my wife going into two museums while my son & I walked around a bit to see some more of the city.

Be careful when walking around and keep your eyes open at all times. It is amazing that more people walking don't get hit/injured since there are many, many bicycles, scooters, cars, delivery vehicles, trams, and other pedestrians. We actually saw many people walking down a main street chanting something in a foreign language holding banners and playing drums demonstrating about something. There were police leading the whole succession of people and some at the end as well, with others walking along the way. It was interesting seeing that, the one time I was in Amsterdam.

By the way, it was grey and cloudy and 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit the entire time we were there, but never rained. That was actually a little different for being that late in December.

I did not specifically take a picture of separate people, but I did get many, many people in my shots, not once even thinking about any danger or violation of privacy or whatever. And yes, most Europeans shy away from cameras and picture taking, but I have taken some candid shots of some people that caught my attention and I liked. I was using my D800 and my 24-70 mm lens with a sun shade most the time, so it did look like and was a professional camera. In other words, it wasn't just a P&S or a small inconspicuous camera. Also, we walked around after it got dark and I was just carrying my camera in my hand along my side and not in a camera bag, and never felt threatened or fearful of it being stolen. However, I did wrap my camera strap around my hand several times so it would be difficult to snatch and run. An evening picture is included to show the numerous people on the street and some traffic.

Have a lot of fun and enjoy your visit. I liked some of the architecture and the canals and the boats (house boats) on the many canals.

Best Regards,
Tom

Looking Down The Red Light District 12-26-15 at 10:11 am

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Evening Photo Showing Many People

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martyr2013 Loc: Massachusetts

I was just in Amsterdam this past April & May. We had a guide from the area who told us not to take photographs and not to stop and stare at the women. The women don't like it and they will call the police if it looks like you are hanging around and taking photos. It' best just to walk through the area streets and alleys and observe as you go. Almost all the women are immigrants and not native Dutch.

Clemens Loc: Maryland

Don't photograph the girls at work. Shooting the street scenery is fine. If all possible use a point and shoot camera or smartphone. It is not a good idea to show up with a Nikon 800 or other big camera in the red light district.
Not only the girls work but thieves are working on the clock as well so be alert. It is just like any other big city.
Holland is very liberal and as long you don't bother anybody you will do just fine. I am a 6'7" Dutch boy and I wouldn't feel comfortable walking around with a big camera at night in the district.
In the seventies and eighties it was fine especially during the day but things has changed a lot.
If you are within a tour group you should be safe but still be alert because tour groups are soft targets for thieves.
I am from Holland and lived in the capital for 11 years. If you disagree with my comments than that is fine with me as well.

Morry Loc: Palm Springs, CA

I was in Dayton, Ohio this past Friday for a Navy ship reunion and had the pleasure of visiting the outstanding Air Force Museum. It is fabulous. I believe it has only military planes including a few WW2 German planes as well as WW2 Japanese planes. I saw a B26 plane there that may be the only one in existence (most of them were scrapped). This museum is huge so wear your comfortable walking shoes. The museum cost is FREE. The Seattle Boeing Air Museum is also very good although considerably smaller (I spent most of my life in the Seattle area and saw it several times). While in Dayton I would also highly recommend the Carillon Historical Park where you will see a lot of interesting Dayton history (this was far more interesting than I thought it would be) located in close in Dayton. And don't miss the Packard Car Museum if you have the time. ENJOY

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Err. TILT! Is your GPS malfunctioning or are you trying to change the subject for some reason? Ohio and Amsterdam and red light districts seem to be quite geographically and culturally distinct unless it is the naval connection that is a tenuous link.

Hello Sailor! Wink, Wink!

Pkfish Loc: Wilson Wy

My whole family is from Holland. When my dad was going to college my mom and him lived above a brothel. My wife and i went with them to visit a while ago and toured the red light district with them. My dad gave us the very basic rules. NO photographs! Look but don't stare, if you do expect the gal or someone to come outside and talk to you about purchasing some time or about your poor manners. I would expect if you want a shoot of a gal in one of those lovely chairs you could offer to pay her, they are working girls after all. Have fun, lots of cool stuff in Holland.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

That is a very good perspective. Once the moral judgment is taken out of the equation, sex work is just another service industry staffed by 'professionals' of varying style and ability who want to get paid for their efforts. It is important to remember that professionals whether they be lawyers, photographers, politicians or sex workers are people too, and should be treated with appropriate levels of respect. If you want a 'lady' to model for you, be respectful and perhaps offer something for her time. Afterall, she'd probably rather pose for you than have sex with you. Asking her (or him) to model for you with appropriate compensation recognizes value as a human being instead of just some kind of object.

Allen Loc: Plainfield, IN

Thanks to all who have responded with numerous suggestions. My wife and I are taking a Rhine River cruise, ending in Amsterdam. "Can Buy Me Love" is one of the optional tours that we (wife and I) will be taking. It is the Red Light District at night. I just wanted to get some perspective on IF photography is allowed, and what NOT to photograph. We will (hopefully with others from our cruise) be together for this tour, so yes I would expect that our tour guide would explain what can and cannot be photographed. However, on some tours we have been on, the tour guide was laid back and did not do a good job in their profession as a tour guide. Since UHH has a very wide audience and knowledge base, I wanted to be prepared either with or without my camera, if that was the consensus. Thank you.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Allen,

I hope you and your wife have a good, congenial, fun, and educational time during your entire trip. As I had said earlier that I had been there just this past December around Christmas time, I had taken pictures while walking on many streets of Amsterdam and never had any problems with people or authorities carrying my D800 with my 24-70 f/2.8 lens during the day and after it got dark as well. I did take a shot of the Red Light District and there was a woman standing in her doorway soliciting business, but never got real close or had taken any photos directly in front of, or, into her establishment.

I believe if you are careful, and most of all respectful, as during any photo shoot and use common sense, you should be OK. I liked the comment someone made about merely asking one of the women if you could just take her photo and offer some money for the shoot, then you may get the opportunity and both you & she will be happy (with her clothes on most likely), but I'm not too sure about your wife! They are there to make money for their services and their anonymity, but just a clothed shot for money might be OK, depending upon how bad you want the shot and/or memory(ies). Have fun and enjoy whatever you decide, and however it all turns out!

Best Regards,
Tom

joeg0836

I have been there they all do business in a window you can go window shopping when they r working the curtains will be closed I have taken pic when they where not working just tempting you to come in and they all speak English

fantom Loc: Colorado

Protect your gear and beware of pickpockets.