Something came to my attention again today - the increasing panic surrounding people innocently taking pictures of in public places. It could be our spectacular public buildings, urban landscapes or just the kind of pictures that you see on postcards, but apparently we are now seen as dangerous. There is even a government advert suggesting that anyone with a camera could be a terrorist. Is it me or is this the nanny state gone mad?
Speaking from personal experience I was recently photographing an empty children's playground. It was a beautiful evening, low sunlight through the climbing frame and not a child in sight. In all honesty I planned to crop the photo to the shape of a Playstation controller - some kind of comment on childhood today; I was having an arty moment! Anyway, an irate woman approached me to let me know that she thought it was "disgusting" and "creepy" that I was photographing the playground. Just to confirm, the playground was EMPTY. Apparently taking this picture labeled me some kind of creep. I was flabbergasted. What is the world coming to where our nation is whipped up in a frenzy of fear about everything?
Personally I will be signing up to the petition for clarification on photography laws - at the moment it is legal to photograph in public places, but that hasn't stopped over-zealous police and security guards stopping legitimate press photographers from working. I know it happens in China and Zimbabwe but London? If anyone else out there agrees the petition is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/photographylaw/
Comments always welcome.
Mickie
Speaking from personal experience I was recently photographing an empty children's playground. It was a beautiful evening, low sunlight through the climbing frame and not a child in sight. In all honesty I planned to crop the photo to the shape of a Playstation controller - some kind of comment on childhood today; I was having an arty moment! Anyway, an irate woman approached me to let me know that she thought it was "disgusting" and "creepy" that I was photographing the playground. Just to confirm, the playground was EMPTY. Apparently taking this picture labeled me some kind of creep. I was flabbergasted. What is the world coming to where our nation is whipped up in a frenzy of fear about everything?
Personally I will be signing up to the petition for clarification on photography laws - at the moment it is legal to photograph in public places, but that hasn't stopped over-zealous police and security guards stopping legitimate press photographers from working. I know it happens in China and Zimbabwe but London? If anyone else out there agrees the petition is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/photographylaw/
Comments always welcome.
Mickie
PR, Commercial and Wedding Photography.
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