Protect Your Expensive Strobist kit from thieves

Hi everyone,

Ok now this subject is a very real threat, and the threat translates into all countries and languages across the globe.

Lets say your setup for a shoot at an education building sports event, lets say your shooting gymnasts or a basketball game something like that.

You may have set up lighting gear on clamps in bleaches or on railings, they are securely clamped and not gonna fall........

BUT..........

They are gonna be near the general public when they arrive to watch the event.

Any one of these people might be a potential thief. Im not suggesting that all or any mothers watching their young daughter compete in a gymnastic event are thieves, but somebody might see this expensive equipment, SEEMINGLY just sitting there unattended and think to themselves......

"Hmm I bet thats worth a buck or 2 on Ebay...."

Or maybe they scope you out and plan to get the rest of your kit after the game by following you back to your car to jump you and steal your stuff.

PHOTOGS OF THE WORLD .............. WE ARE NOT DEFENSLESS!!!!!!!

OK so maybe not lightsabers the thought is there, and the threat is certainly feasible.

David "Strobist" Hobby has posted a blog post about this very subject, and suggests ways to protect yourself in these situations.

This post is summarised here also by a YouTube contributor called "Art of the Image"



Now I have also taken this a step further and produced sheets of stickers to warn against potential thieves.

These can be purchased directly from my zazzle page by clicking the image.

Using these stickers on or around your flash and clamp is just another seed of fear to unsuspecting potential thieves.

By occasionally manually popping these flashes will help remind people these are constantly being used and will be noticed if removed immediately.

Hopefully if you ever do this kind of shoot, you will not need to use the "Strobist - Self Defence 101" technique but should you need to here it is in simple 3 step form.

For this defence method you will need 2 items.

1) A powerful flash (i suggest a Nikon SB900) set to FULL POWER (turned on and charged) and hold it with your thumb on the TEST button

2) In your other hand a heavy MonoPod, strapped to your hand, and held at the handle

"Basic strategy: 

1. ***POP***

2. Whoppity, whoppity, whoppity, whoppity...

3. Rinse and repeat as needed."

Although the post was originally written in a tongue in cheek and humorous way, it is a real and present danger.

DONT RISK A £300 Flash unit for lack of not having the correct warning stickers!!!

DONT DELAY BUY TODAY!!!!