Night shooting safety lights

Photog4Christ

I'm putting this under "Accessories" because, well, it is technically an "accessory"

Last night I was out doing some night shooting and I almost got run over!

Any recommendations on safety LEDs?

Which color is better? Amber or Red?

I saw this at L.L. Bean. I'm sure there are others out there.

Any recommendations for something to keep in the camera bag?

Thank you

ziggy53

Neal, first i'm glad you were not run over. (Always a good thing.)

Flashing red is a more effective connotation about safety, but yellow reaches farther in fog and blustery snow. I would use red for a normal night situation and yellow when visibility is an issue.

For a red beacon I have used a clip on designed for bicyclists.

For a yellow beacon in bad weather I have used a survival strobe with a yellow filter. (Well, I took it with me but never really needed to use it, yet.)

A red retro-reflector is also pretty good as are jackets and vests with the reflective stitching. Anything that gives you visibility is a good thing.

chuckinsocal

You should consider a traffic safety vest. Lime green with white reflective tape which can be seen from far away by on coming vehicles. Look for an ANSI Class II or III as they are the most visible. You can find them on line for less than $25. You can fold them up and carry them in your camera bag but I just leave mine in the car so it's there when I need it and it's not in the way when I don't.

Photog4Christ

Here's the shot
Thank you.

I may go that route (the vest).


Here's the shot:

time2smile

The Beltway, Use the vest and the red and amber lights.
Get a few dozen flares to.

nice shot, stay safe

Art Scott

chuckinsocal wrote:

You should consider a traffic safety vest. Lime green with white reflective tape which can be seen from far away by on coming vehicles. Look for an ANSI Class II or III as they are the most visible. You can find them on line for less than $25. You can fold them up and carry them in your camera bag but I just leave mine in the car so it's there when I need it and it's not in the way when I don't.

Reflective vests can be found at Walmart, Kmart, Gander Mountain, Farm and tractor supply stores - TSC, Orselans etc etc.....bicycle shops......also I wear hunters orange.....okay I do murder wildlife at times.....but any place that sells hunting cloths should have some orange vests, hats- ballcap style or pull over face mask type....
I also have orange t-shirts made like under armour material........I shoot landscapes and wildlife and like to be seen because there are times that the only shot is from the edge of a hiway............

Also any place that sells bicycles will have clip on blinking led lights.....they are real popular around here .....I prefer non battery operated safety products tho.....I also carry reflective triangles incase i am shoot from the right of way of a hiway or road of any kind...........

divamum

time2smile wrote:

The Beltway, Use the vest and the red and amber lights.
Get a few dozen flares to.

nice shot, stay safe

In that location I'd probably want the vest, red and amber lights, flares, sirens and somebody to ride backup :lol4

Btw, if you have a wide aperture lens, open it up, get right close to the fence and the chainlink will magically mostly-vanish while the distant object will still be sharp (unless of course you wanted the fence specifically in the shot for artistic reasons). You might need an nd filter or something to enable the long exposure for the trails then, I suppose....

Sorry - just rambling out loud... got caught in the snow last night and had a HORRENDOUS drive home after a gig.

Do be safe - DC and environs isn't necessarily the easeist place to be a photographer!

travischance

Photog4Christ wrote:

Thank you.

I may go that route (the vest).


Here's the shot:

I've contemplated taking this 495 shot for months and have been scared to do so!

Art Scott

uncletrav wrote:

I've contemplated taking this 495 shot for months and have been scared to do so!

This is an over walk correct.....up there no need for "safety vest or lights"....only need that stuff when shooting like I do right next to the traffic.....was told once to go play in the traffic and came back with some very cool shots from an old Argus box cam, no one every told me to do that again:D.....

you are above the traffic and as Diva said....poke that lens rite into the chain link and go for it....

time2smile

Art Scott wrote:

This is an over walk correct.....up there no need for "safety vest or lights"....only need that stuff when shooting like I do right next to the traffic.....was told once to go play in the traffic and came back with some very cool shots from an old Argus box cam, no one every told me to do that again:D.....

you are above the traffic and as Diva said....poke that lens rite into the chain link and go for it....

Art, FYI this is the Washington DC Beltway, its an overpass with vehicles. Very dangerous location. Very fast moving cars, the trails are from a 1/1000 shutter speed just kidding, but I know you get the point.

Definitely get closer to the fence...

travischance

Art Scott wrote:

This is an over walk correct.....up there no need for "safety vest or lights"....only need that stuff when shooting like I do right next to the traffic.....was told once to go play in the traffic and came back with some very cool shots from an old Argus box cam, no one every told me to do that again:D.....

you are above the traffic and as Diva said....poke that lens rite into the chain link and go for it....

Yes this is on the capital beltway (I 495) here in DC (on the outerloop) between Georgia Ave & Conneticut Ave. I pass this overpass almost daily as we live a few miles from there.

WillCAD

In that location I'd go for the vest, strobes, flares, and a .45!

But seriously, in situations where you're near traffic, lime-green flourescent is the most visible color. I recommend the lime vests you can find in the men's department at WalMart; they're inexpensive, tough, and can be seen from orbit with the naked eye.

TexPhotog

Just my two cents... I'd get this here... and in the back, you can add PHOTOGRAPHER

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_6111_lakeland_ansi_207_2006_hi_vis_public_safety_vest_5_point_breakaway_fr_solid_polyester/

$35.99...

WillCAD

TexPhotog wrote:

Just my two cents... I'd get this here... and in the back, you can add PHOTOGRAPHER

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_6111_lakeland_ansi_207_2006_hi_vis_public_safety_vest_5_point_breakaway_fr_solid_polyester/

$35.99...

Those are great, but they need to add "WRITER" to the list of standard tags.

Yes, I watch Castle every week.

Photog4Christ

!

Thanks for the laughs guys!

FYI. This overpass is Linden Lane. I took the shot about 10:30 - 11 PM on a Tuesday night. There was hardly any traffic. Most of the traffic was going northbound over the bridge. Only a few cars came southbound (where I was standing). I wanted to shoot through the fence, but was afraid to! I just took a shot and retreated to the other side of the road (where there was a sidewalk) and then would come back and take another shot.

I ended up getting a vest on eBay for $10. I like those FireStore.com vests, but I don't have the $$$ for one of those!

My wife saw the vest I got from eBay and asked me where was my sign (for flagging... "STOP" "SLOW").

Next time I go out there, I'll have the vest on and also go with someone to watch my back. I've been wanting to take that shot for YEARS and finally got around to doing it the other night.


Good night everyone and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

TexPhotog

WillCAD wrote:

Those are great, but they need to add "WRITER" to the list of standard tags.

Yes, I watch Castle every week.

You can customize your tags...

Back when I was shooting TV News, one of the other TV stations had 2 bulletproof vests per vehicle "photog/talking head, I mean, reporter) and they had PRESS on the back of those...

And btw, Castle is great...

J.G.McClain

Brightest portable flashing lights I have found.

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3034_1.html


Multiple flash options, vis up over 1 mile. 2 AA, 1000+ hours of run time. Good for on stand, backpack, camera bag, or ever attached to your bumper to get their attention that there is a car parked beside the road.

We have 4 or so of them for multiple purpose, some bike, some walk, some photo.

Cant say enough good things about these.

Photog4Christ

J.G.McClain wrote:

Brightest portable flashing lights I have found.

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3034_1.html


Multiple flash options, vis up over 1 mile. 2 AA, 1000+ hours of run time. Good for on stand, backpack, camera bag, or ever attached to your bumper to get their attention that there is a car parked beside the road.

We have 4 or so of them for multiple purpose, some bike, some walk, some photo.

Cant say enough good things about these.

That would work! No one can say that didn't see me!

Photoskipper

get couple of reflective straps and mount it any where you like. The head band, arm, leg and camera bag. Buy a few China made red LED bicycle flash from one-dollar shop. Place one or two in a distance so that the drivers has sufficient time to react.

I use the camping head light with white and red LED to do the setting on the camera so that I can free both hands (in the pocket during the winter time)

digger2

Glo Sticks
Are what i use if I cannot park the truck just next to me with flashers on

Art Scott

Glo sticks are ok in a pinch but bright flashing light is more of an attention getter...........I used to use glo sticks on my fishing bobbers when night fishing............