(This post first appeared August 30, 2010)

At around 9:30 pm on an April evening in downtown Chicago I returned to my hotel from a solo night photography session with tripod and camera. I was thirsty so I went into a hallway that led to some shops and a Starbucks to get a bottle of water. A short way down the hall it was dark and it became evident that all of the shops, including Starbucks, were closed. As I turned to exit the hallway I noticed a man who clearly seemed to be following me. When I exited the hall way I walked through the hotel bar and went to the elevator. I got in and pushed the number for my floor. The same man then entered the elevator and did not push any buttons for a floor. Some other people entered the elevator after this man and pushed a button for the floor below mine.

When we arrived at my floor I gestured for the man to exit first. He did so and he turned down the hallway in the opposite direction from my room. I exited and turned in the direction of my room. When I arrived at my door I turned around and the man was quietly approaching me from behind. He stopped when I turned, at which time he stood less than two feet from me. He was apparently surprised that I had turned in his direction. I had a folded tripod in one hand and was prepared to use it as a club when I said to the man, “what are you doing?” He froze in place and stared at me. He had one hand in his jacket pocket. I said again, “what are you doing?” He just stood there and did not move and did not say a word in response to my question. I kept watching him while I opened my door with my other hand and entered my room.

I’m certain this man had noticed and marked me for some purpose while I was busy with my photography. He had followed me into the hotel from the street. I was completely unaware that I was being followed until I turned to exit the Starbuck’s hallway.

Photographing at night with a tripod requires considerable attention to the technical process and details necessary to make photographs. As such, the normal vigilance that one is accustomed to in a large city at night is challenging to maintain, particularly if the photographer is alone.

If you are a night photographer, have you had a similar experience? How do you deal with the issue of appropriate vigilance and precaution while photographing with or without a tripod in large cities at night? Do your precautions differ in lonely and isolated circumstances versus bustling and crowded circumstances?