the ID card is news to me, but since the late 80's there has been a movement towards restricting the use of cameras in many 'public' areas. the public areas i refer to are those that have been bought by property developers and who have then built communal shopping areas, relaxation areas, pathways through overlarge corporate environments - for example, i was stopped shooting in the Trocadero since this was private property, and was surrounded by numerous guards even though i had actually got prior permission (this revealed a sort of paranoia, and this was a long time before terrorism was on everybodies lips). Canary Wharf, the Barbican, the area around Liverpool St station, even parts of the river-side South Bank are all off-limits to the photographer without prior permission, even though most people see them as public spaces. This is just as devilish and should be brought to people's attention. Beware!
Photography and Filmmaking
Creative, conceptual and technical; contemporary and historicalPLEASE READ!
I would kindly ask that you sign this petition. It relates to your rights to photograph as you do now in public places. This could affect how and where you can photograph friends and relatives.
"There are a number of moves promoting the requirement of 'ID' cards to allow photographers to operate in a public place.
It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place, indeed there is no right to privacy when in a public place.
These moves have developed from paranoia and only promote suspicion towards genuine people following their hobby or profession."
Sign the petition here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/
Please pass this on as this affects everyone in the UK. I am unsure whether this has been posted before. Apologies if it has.
Many thanks,
Josh Baker
In reply to ashy:
It is important to know your rights. Photographing in public areas (including the tube!) is completely legal. No authority including the police can deter photography in these areas. It is inadvisable to use certain equipment in locations where it may present a danger to others (flash or tripods in the underground). Police or authorities can enforce this to an extent.
The areas you mentioned above are public areas, and as far as I know, can hold no limits on photographers, professional or otherwise. There a some areas that hold restrictions (Trafalgar/Parliament Square), however this does not affect non-commercial photographers.
No authority has the right to force you to delete or destory images taken in public areas. Doing so I a crime (assault) and is punishable! (This covers any photographer who is forced to delete or destroy their images against their will).
Does it have to do with the culture of paparazzi standing on the streets and snap famous people?
In reply to KaWai:
Hello Josh I had brought this up in the forum and was told that it was just a half harted idea mentined in whitehaasll and it did not go any further.
You have to be carefull with some pettitions as they come from exreamists with there own issues involved, make sure its the right chioce, sometimes its better to votye as an idiviual if possible.
In Plymouth there is total paranoia abpit photographing people especialy young people out doors at the moment, I weas told about a lady two days ago taking pictures thrtough glass at a locasl pool, a group of teenage lads shouted at her that she was not supposed to do that and could get in trouble.
Last year a guy with a 5x4 camera was taking pictures for his London based project and locals told him that he could get in trouble for taking pictures on Pluymouths water front by the pool,I feel that it has got to the stage in Britan where as a doco photyographer you have to explain to people who are ignorant to photo medffia what you are doing before you do it.
On the other hand young people are photographing them selves and others and donloading by the end of the same day to frends and websites like never before, last summer on Plymouth Hoe there was a teenage guy loooking at a topless femail sun bather from above he took her picture with out her knowing and said out loud to him self that he wanted to show his friends her saggy tits.
Another time there where a group odf French girls sunbathing in bakinis, whilst they where half asleep in the sun a young teenager strated to photograph there body parts close.
It is not an easy one this as I felt that he should have asked them first and so I tiold him so , he then called me a grass for telling him and him missding the shot, was I wrong to do so.
I9 dont mind people photographimng me as long as they ask first, but not happy if the take it otherwise. it curtesy.
I allways ask when possible.
I think as mentioned before to regulate photography with the new technology in public areas qwould definatly be impossible, and yet again it is an over reacting authrity and goverment on new media, the bpr4sent goverment have managed to mess up a lot of things including puvblic well beign. and morall.
Remeber when picture phones came out they went praniod on that for a while and then it went quiet, now yopung people are downloading thre lives to the publc websites transforming culture and lifestyle across the world with young people who now have some sort of self identity, on an international theme.
Follow Emo blogg.
In reply to Chris Summerfield:
Thank you for your comments.
All very good points and I agree the focus tends to lie on the photography of young persons or children. The petition however is to put a ban on the introduction of photographer ID cards, which would mean only card carriers can photograph in public. Every citizen in the UK has the same rights as everyone else, this is a foundation of our country. The idea of 'ID cards' is pointless and encourages false restriction. Personally I am against any introduction of legislation that ranks photographers in any way.
that's really disgusting. its equally disgusting here where i am too. some public places like metro stations doesn't allow for pictures to be shot.
I know in New York you cannot photograph in certain public places without a permit...because a lot of the so called 'public places' are property of large Corporations.....for example if you want to photograph in the Rockefeller Centre...you have to watch where the boundaries are placed...there’s a metal strip on the pavement demarking clearly the border line......but that was already in place before the nightmares began...........
If it's already legal in UK to take photos in public places, the more regulations to reinforce that might in the end add more limitations to it.
In reply to KaWai:
I agree with what you are all saying, I find it interesting that we are told that the powers that be ar fighting for a free world for everyone, whilst at the same time are taking away our basic human rights of freedom and expression.
Have a good day all in what you are doing and be creative.