What to take to a drug raid

DouglasUrner · #8 06-23-2006, 09:31 PM

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I've been invited to go along with one of our local law enforcement agencies to a drug raid as a photojournalist, strictly for the enforcement agency and not for the media.

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Someday you'll tell us what happened, right? Please.

Doug

Mike_St · #9 06-25-2006, 12:05 PM

Well, two months since your original post so this may be a little late. Visible identification indicating that you are with the law enforcement team, body armour, and have your notebook as, depending upon what happens, you may become a witness at some later legal hearing. In some cases you may not be able to go in with the initial team due to health hazards (meth labs) or where the occupants set up some traps for unauthorized entries (especially for rip-offs). In those cases, your longer lenses may be ideal.

Mark_Milstein · #10 01-13-2007, 04:37 AM

Ditto on going lite. I'd carry two bodies. One, my primary, with the widest lens you might have. The second body would have a longer lens. Maybe a 70-200mm.

I would not use a flash until I got an OK from whoever is organizing your ride-a-long. I've always found that unless you're working in complete darkness, that a flash isn't that necessary. You can make do with higher ISO speeds.

Otherwise, enjoy the experience. The best pictures might come out of situations where you least expect them.