Boo. Security guards

welly

welly

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Alastair
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Should have stood my ground a bit more but we were done shooting anyway. Out taking some shots of these cooling towers (we were on a public road) only for a couple of renta-cops to pull up guns blazing and lights flashing saying "You can't take photos of cooling towers, it's against the law because of terrorism". To which I replied, "We're on public property, yes we can", to which he replied "No you can't, it's against terrorism laws. We've been watching you on CCTV".

We'd been shooting in the middle of the day with our big SLRs etc. you all know the deal.. it ****ed me off a bit and I really should have stood my ground more. As we were quite within our rights to take photos. I'm going to email British Energy to complain about them.
 
welly said:
Should have stood my ground a bit more but we were done shooting anyway. Out taking some shots of these cooling towers (we were on a public road) only for a couple of renta-cops to pull up guns blazing and lights flashing saying "You can't take photos of cooling towers, it's against the law because of terrorism". To which I replied, "We're on public property, yes we can", to which he replied "No you can't, it's against terrorism laws. We've been watching you on CCTV".

We'd been shooting in the middle of the day with our big SLRs etc. you all know the deal.. it ****ed me off a bit and I really should have stood my ground more. As we were quite within our rights to take photos. I'm going to email British Energy to complain about them.
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Can't blame em when they are letting all these terrorists into our country oooooooooooooooopppppss sorry LoL
Is it not illegal for them to video you on cctv? surely it works both ways? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........
 
you should have stood your ground, i work in security and 50% of my time is cctv, they are not allowed to film you on a public road, the cctv must not encroach on to a public highway from private property unless they are following a suspect/member of staff who has followed a suspect on to a public highway.
 
Thought so! I had same trouble at West Freugh airfield (Southwest Scotland) taking some shots of jets from a nearby beach, they sent a army chopper to check me out!
 
welly said:
Should have stood my ground a bit more but we were done shooting anyway. Out taking some shots of these cooling towers (we were on a public road) only for a couple of renta-cops to pull up guns blazing and lights flashing saying "You can't take photos of cooling towers, it's against the law because of terrorism". To which I replied, "We're on public property, yes we can", to which he replied "No you can't, it's against terrorism laws. We've been watching you on CCTV".

We'd been shooting in the middle of the day with our big SLRs etc. you all know the deal.. it ****ed me off a bit and I really should have stood my ground more. As we were quite within our rights to take photos. I'm going to email British Energy to complain about them.
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I didn't know the carrying of firearms by security guards was allowed in this country ;)
 
Give us location, and we'll organise a meet there!! :D
 
isnt it amazing that the 'security services' are all such experts on terrorism now.

Cos you know for a fact that the next al quaida threat will come from nikkor 70-300mm lens wielding fanatics...
 
In my experience, I just co-operate with security guards, tell them my name and what I'm taking pictures of, and that if on public ground I am fully and legally within my rights to take pictures of whatever I want.

I was once told by security guards that I couldn't take pictures of their building. I said, "Your building is ugly, I wouldn't want to take pictures of it. You're lucky though, I'd be within my rights to do so!"
 
foodpoison said:
In my experience, I just co-operate with security guards, tell them my name and what I'm taking pictures of,
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I might tell them what I am taking pictures of but they wouldn't get my name.

I would suggest they call the police if they have a problem.



Steve.
 
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I've emailed British Energy to complain about their staff and to inform them there was nothing illegal about taking photos of cooling towers but bit annoyed with myself for not being more firm with them about my rights. Oh well. I'll go back sometime and shoot it again/torment the security staff.

Here's the towers anyway :)

 
Here are some power lines to go with them. Also illegally photographed according to the subject of another thread!

power.jpg



Steve.
 
any pictures with their guns on? Next time you go I dare you to wear camo gear and rucksack LoL
 
When I say guns blazing, it was more like walkie-talkies blazing.
 
I too work in security, and unfortunally there's plenty of ex-army sorts working in this industry who think they can talk to people however they like without knowing the correct laws etc. I would have told them to jog on and get out of my shot!
 
Pity you cannot get hold of some talkie walkies on same waveband and give them some S*** over the airwaves? LoL that's a big 10.4 good buddy
 
Steve Smith said:
I might tell them what I am taking pictures of but they wouldn't get my name.

I would suggest they call the police if they have a problem.



Steve.
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Tbh, what's a name?
They can't get anything with it.

If it sets their pitiful minds at rest then so be it!

Generally if you are pleasant then they don't have a problem and leave you to it, but being the power hungry muppets that they are, if they get a hint that you're being rude, obnoxious or aware of your rights, they'll do all they can to make your life hell.
I'd rather give them a name and a subject matter and let them have their moment of what they think is them being in control and carry on with my shoot than have them call the police and spend 20 minutes talking to them and filling out a C12.
 
foodpoison said:
Generally if you are pleasant then they don't have a problem and leave you to it, but being the power hungry muppets that they are, if they get a hint that you're being rude, obnoxious or aware of your rights, they'll do all they can to make your life hell.
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They can't really do anything to make your life hell as you can walk away at any time. If they try to stop you, call the police.

foodpoison said:
I'd rather give them a name and a subject matter and let them have their moment of what they think is them being in control.
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That's exactly the problem. You comply with their requests, they like the feeling of power and it reinforces their thinking that what they are doing is correct.


Steve.
 
I quite agree with this, although I wouldn't give my name. So far my experience of the private security guards that have confronted me is that they are uninformed, thinking they have the powers of the police and security services, rude and the only training they appear to have had is how to get your back up in five seconds. I'm a great believer in politely standing your ground when you know you are right.

foodpoison said:
In my experience, I just co-operate with security guards, tell them my name and what I'm taking pictures of, and that if on public ground I am fully and legally within my rights to take pictures of whatever I want.

I was once told by security guards that I couldn't take pictures of their building. I said, "Your building is ugly, I wouldn't want to take pictures of it. You're lucky though, I'd be within my rights to do so!"
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Steve Smith said:
They can't really do anything to make your life hell as you can walk away at any time. If they try to stop you, call the police.

That's exactly the problem. You comply with their requests, they like the feeling of power and it reinforces their thinking that what they are doing is correct.

Steve.
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I know they can't but from my experience (trust me, being a teenage boy means I've had plenty of run ins from the police just for being 18) if the police are called they'll automatically assume you're in the wrong. I would rather tell them, as I said, my name and subject matter and go off on my way than have another 'street encounter' form filled out, or potentially have Team America blasting down the street thinking I'm a terrorist.

I know my rights, unlike them, and so I make them fully aware of that. I don't comply with their requests, they just ask what I'm doing, and I say "I'm sean taylor, I'm a photographer and I'm currently doing cityscape work"

They're like "you can't take photos of the buildings, they're private"
So I say, "Is the road I'm standing on public property?"
They radio, a minute later, "Uh.. yes"
I say, "Sorry mate but I can take photos of whatever I want if I'm on public property"
They radio, minute later, "Oh... but you can't take photos of our building"
I say, "Actually, I can, but don't worry, I don't want to. Have a good evening mate."
and walk off!
 
Hi Welly I like the shot, Are they Ferrybridge by any chance
 
foodpoison said:
trust me, being a teenage boy means I've had plenty of run ins from the police just for being 18
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Obviously being 18 is a serious affront to those of us at least twice that age and I'm thinking about starting a petition to make it illegal.

I like your method of dealing with security as you described it and if you have the patience to use it then it should be fine.

I would add "... I don't want to photograph your building.... but I will anyway" then take a quick shot as you leave.

Might as well get a shot of the guards too!


Steve.
 
Welly,

I am astounded you have the effrontery to publish these photographs of sensitive and possibly classified buildings.

And on the internet of all places!

Think of all those terrorists who (as I type) will be thanking their deity that they have such detailed, sharp and well composed photographs of these prime targets and drawing up their evil plans to commit some sort of savagery against them.

Or perhaps not? :lol:
 
Where abouts was it. One in Bridgewater, with a nature reserve, may pop down one day....
 
Steve Smith said:
Obviously being 18 is a serious affront to those of us at least twice that age and I'm thinking about starting a petition to make it illegal.

I like your method of dealing with security as you described it and if you have the patience to use it then it should be fine.

I would add "... I don't want to photograph your building.... but I will anyway" then take a quick shot as you leave.

Might as well get a shot of the guards too!


Steve.
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:lol: pmsl!

Could just imagine that in a cartoon!
 
Chuffin' security guards didn't catch us at this angle, did they?!



Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, security!
 
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