Seeking information and advice about safety on trains and platforms while a new camera to take photos.
By way of introduction I am a born and raised NYer, and commuted by (bus and) subway to high school in The Bronx and then college in Manhattan, plus summer jobs in Manhattan. At the time, I carried around an old 35 mm Kodak Signet and shot lots of bulk-loaded black and white. I regularly rode Lo-Vs, Standards, D Types, R1-9s, plus post WW II R types. I rode all over the system for the hobby.
If it matters, I have been a member of the ERA for many years now. I still do monthly zoom meetings with two high school buddies who are also fans.
After college graduation I moved away from NY for job reasons. I have been to NY a whole bunch of times in recent years, a lot of business trips, and rode the subway in Manhattan with some trips out to Queens, but carrying a laptop in a bag, rather than camera gear. On some of these trips, I managed to attend ERA meetings, when they were still in the Roosevelt Hotel. Now I attend most of the meetings via Zoom.
We expect to be in NY probably in January, and I want to really do a lot of NYCT riding and photography. I have this new "mirrorless" camera from a well-known brand. My wife is concerned that me being older and looking my age, that I will be a target for thieves in a way that a younger person might not. In any case, I am completely out of touch with questions like, "are there any times of day (not just midnight hours) that I should not ride around of photograph with my new camera?" And, "are there any neighborhoods or lines that are relatively high-crime?" Any other advice or pointers?
I just discovered this site, and I hope to visit often.
Phil