How to Shoot London Underground

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Carlm90

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Carl
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Hi all, I know it's not allowed really to shoot the London Underground and so on but I asked a member of staff. What they don't see, they obviously don't sort out. :gag:

I am not doing anything maliciously, just trying to get shots so I am wondering whether you can help me. I am off out soon to do some shots so quick responses pleases ;)

I obviously can't use flash because the train driver would go mental so on the discrete, what's the best way to shoot trains approaching when it's dark? I will be on the move but should find a resting point to get somethig ok. I want to shoot stations, trains and so on but I'm wondering what's the best thing to shoot?

I am new to this but it's a good adventure and something I'm looking forward to. Go on, tell me what I can and can't do and how to :thumbs:
 
I think I'll be fine shooting. I'm doing no harm, so how do I actually take good photos? Best settings and so on? Thanks :)
 
Depends what you want to soot. If you want to get a train pulling in, a slowish shutter speed will et the platform and surrounding in sharp focus but a sense of movement with the train.

As for other settings best to play and see what works for you. Stick it in manual, play with the exposure and see what you get. Most of all, have fun with it. Don't forget to check your white balance, especially if you shoot in jpeg.
 
not sure but i think the no flash bit is because of the fire detection systems ,,,,
 
i did some with a minox 35mm....before the bombs went off
i used 400 iso film and jammed the camera against the walls etc

now i would do the same but shoot b>w and make it grainy in pp
 
Carlm90 said:
... but I'm wondering what's the best thing to shoot?...
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The 'best' thing to shoot would be whatever makes a good picture at the time.

That probably doesn't include; 'mind the gap' signs, loooong exposures of trains going by, or 'really cool' lead-in line photos by sticking your camera on the floor by the painted yellow lines. ;)
 
Bean bag to rest cam on, floor, legs, seating ect, self timer and highish ISO 800?
 
fabs said:
It's allowed to shoot on the London Underground as long as you don't use flash or a tripod or cause any sort of obstruction. You don't need a pass.
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I disagree

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.u...ckdown_on_London_Underground_news_280480.html

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/media/lufilmoffice/permit-request.aspx

Restrictions
Equipment

Flash photography or additional lighting is not permitted on any platform. In some cases they may be used elsewhere, and the LU Film Office and station supervisor can advise you on this.

Tripods are only authorised at the station supervisor's discretion and are not allowed on platforms for safety reasons.
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Flash is prohibited at all times and tripod is only allowed at their discretion even with a permit.
 
Carlm90 said:
I think I'll be fine shooting. I'm doing no harm, so how do I actually take good photos? Best settings and so on? Thanks :)
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but your on privet land and you have to do as told get a pass and noone will stop you
 
Raymond Lin said:
I disagree

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.u...ckdown_on_London_Underground_news_280480.html

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/media/lufilmoffice/permit-request.aspx



Flash is prohibited at all times and tripod is only allowed at their discretion even with a permit.
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The rules are there for commercial photography, they won't stop someone who is just taking amateur snaps, Never been stopped, don't know anyone who's been stopped. I have a friend who works for tfl who has confirmed this. If you turn up with studio lighting and a couple of models, different story. ;)
 
Luke was shooting there recently he did get a pass and some fantastic shots too have a look at his post Link
 
fabs said:
The rules are there for commercial photography, they won't stop someone who is just taking amateur snaps, Never been stopped, don't know anyone who's been stopped. I have a friend who works for tfl who has confirmed this. If you turn up with studio lighting and a couple of models, different story. ;)
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so why do it say I quote
LU Film Office Permit Rates
This rate card outlines the costs for commercial filming or photography on London Underground

Please select the permit you wish to apply for below. Please note that all requests are subject to a script or layout check.

* Student/Non-professional permit
un quote
Non- professional permit has noting to do with commercial so I read the above as commercial filming AND OR Photography and it is this last bit that has no ref to commercial work.
 
Chaz Photos said:
so why do it say I quote
LU Film Office Permit Rates
This rate card outlines the costs for commercial filming or photography on London Underground

Please select the permit you wish to apply for below. Please note that all requests are subject to a script or layout check.

* Student/Non-professional permit
un quote
Non- professional permit has noting to do with commercial so I read the above as commercial filming AND OR Photography and it is this last bit that has no ref to commercial work.
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But the part at the head if the section does. That whole section is with regard to commercial filming or photography. There is no need to repeat the word commercial before photography.
 
fabs said:
But the part at the head if the section does. That whole section is with regard to commercial filming or photography. There is no need to repeat the word commercial before photography.
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So what is with the non-professional then?
It means that they can, if they want to, apply it at any time.
 
Chaz Photos said:
So what is with the non-professional then?
It means that they can, if they want to, apply it at any time.
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It is with regard to groups (crews) doing set set up shoots not individuals taking personal shots and it still comes under the umbrella of commercial photography
 
fabs said:
The rules are there for commercial photography, they won't stop someone who is just taking amateur snaps, Never been stopped, don't know anyone who's been stopped. I have a friend who works for tfl who has confirmed this. If you turn up with studio lighting and a couple of models, different story. ;)
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Student/Non-professional permit

* Crew size: Five or less
* Lightweight, handheld equipment only
* Permit cost: £30 inc VAT
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I think that applies too amateur does it not?
 
Raymond Lin said:
I think that applies too amateur does it not?
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The regulations refer to Commercial not amateur/professional. You'll have to ask them how the define them. As for my original post that you disagreed with, I said that you are allowed to take photographs on the underground, you are. I said that you don't need a permit, you don't. I said that you aren't allowed to use fllash or a tripod, you stated this yourself. So what exactly is it that you disagree with?
 
fabs said:
The regulations refer to Commercial not amateur/professional. You'll have to ask them how the define them. As for my original post that you disagreed with, I said that you are allowed to take photographs on the underground, you are. I said that you don't need a permit, you don't. I said that you aren't allowed to use fllash or a tripod, you stated this yourself. So what exactly is it that you disagree with?
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I said you are not allowed to take photos in the LU without a permit, period. Commercial or otherwise.

I have yet to see anything in writing that says you can, only hearsay.

fabs said:
The regulations refer to Commercial not amateur/professional.
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I am sorry but i have highlighted in bold and underline

Student/Non-professional permit

* Crew size: Five or less
* Lightweight, handheld equipment only
* Permit cost: £30 inc VAT
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I don't need to ask him how they define them as that is pretty black and white to me, unless i am mistaken. If so, I would be obliged if you could point me to where.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I said you are not allowed to take photos in the LU without a permit, period. Commercial or otherwise.

I have yet to see anything in writing that says you can, only hearsay.
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The regulations state that a permit is required for Commercial photography. That alone says that one is not required for non commercial photography. Someone taking photos on the underground for their own pleasure is non commercial photography. As I have already said, I have a friend who works for TFL and he has confirmed this.
 
fabs said:
The regulations state that a permit is required for Commercial photography. That alone says that one is not required for non commercial photography. Someone taking photos on the underground for their own pleasure is non commercial photography. As I have already said, I have a friend who works for TFL and he has confirmed this.
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Your friend does not make the rules in the LU, unless he is the spokes person or in management, i can't take your friend's word on it. I have a habit of needing to read it in Black and White, hearsay gets people in trouble far too often.

You can say that the permit states its for commercial photography, the fact it doesn't have the words "non commericial" on it does not limit itself to commercial only. How can you exclude something just because it doesn't state it.
 
I'm a professional photographer, taking pictures to sell to make money. I need a permit.

I'm a professional photographer, taking pictures purely for my own pleasure/collection. I don't need a permit.

I'm a shop assistant who takes photographs as a hobby and I've been asked to shoot some specific shots of an underground station for a colleague who will buy them off of me. I need a permit.

I'm a hobbyist photographer who fancies trying some underground shots for fun. I don't need a permit.

It's not difficult to understand. Is it? :shrug:
 
Simmotino said:
I'm a professional photographer, taking pictures to sell to make money. I need a permit.

I'm a professional photographer, taking pictures purely for my own pleasure/collection. I don't need a permit.

I'm a shop assistant who takes photographs as a hobby and I've been asked to shoot some specific shots of an underground station for a colleague who will buy them off of me. I need a permit.

I'm a hobbyist photographer who fancies trying some underground shots for fun. I don't need a permit.

It's not difficult to understand. Is it? :shrug:
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Summed up nicely lol :clap:
 
fabs said:
I think youre getting confused between the terms commercial and professional. The term non professional is used under the heading of commercial, implying non professional commercial photography.
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:shrug: eh?

So what are you saying? If they come up to you and ask you to stop, you just say you are non-commerical Amateur? Geez, that's clear, whats the point having a permit at all if all you need to do is say that? It's not like you can prove you are a amatuer is it.

Unless you can point me to a section that gives amatuer "excemption" then I have to disagree.
 
Simmotino said:
I'm a professional photographer, taking pictures to sell to make money. I need a permit.

I'm a professional photographer, taking pictures purely for my own pleasure/collection. I don't need a permit.

I'm a shop assistant who takes photographs as a hobby and I've been asked to shoot some specific shots of an underground station for a colleague who will buy them off of me. I need a permit.

I'm a hobbyist photographer who fancies trying some underground shots for fun. I don't need a permit.

It's not difficult to understand. Is it? :shrug:
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Then how does student come into it? It's not like they are taking photos for a shop is it?

If everyone just say "I am doing this for fun" then the point of a permit becomes moot.
 
Raymond, I don't know why you have a bee in your bonnet about this. I didn't say my friend makes the rules, I said he had confirmed what the rules are and he is in a position to do so. By specifying that a permit is needed for commercial photography they are automatically saying that it is not needed for non commercial photography otherwise it would say that a permit was needed for photography, period.

It is quite obvious that whatever I, or other say, you will disagree so let's at least agree on that.
 
Just to go back to the 'flash' issue. It could possibly be to do with fire detection, but as an ex-ASLEF member I can tell you that the main reason is safety as, even in this automated age, there will be a real man or woman at the controls of a train with possibly hundreds of people on board. Can you imagine what it must be like to drive for a few minutes through pitch black tunnels, pop out in a station, and be blinded by a camera flash? :eek:

Permit or no, you would be hauled out of the station at the least, or worst case scenario arrested by BTP for endangering the safety of the railway.

Other than ABSOLUTELY no flash, no tripod, and if you're not selling the snaps, then just get out there and look like a tourist! :cool:
 
fabs said:
Raymond, I don't know why you have a bee in your bonnet about this. I didn't say my friend makes the rules, I said he had confirmed what the rules are and he is in a position to do so. By specifying that a permit is needed for commercial photography they are automatically saying that it is not needed for non commercial photography otherwise it would say that a permit was needed for photography, period.

It is quite obvious that whatever I, or other say, you will disagree so let's at least agree on that.
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I am quite open to acceptance, but only when proven otherwise. I am afriad that your friend's word isn't proof.

I mean the police get the law wrong all the time in regard to photography, no offence, but how can i trust your friend? As far as I am concern, he is 1 person, they next staff member in the LU might think differently. If just 1 of those staff interpret as what I think the rules says, I'll be in the wrong while taking photographs.

I am just reading the page as it says, Student or non-professional permit. Which i am sure covers everyone, regardless of your intention for your end product.
 
And just to add...

Common sense of course comes into it. Trying to snap at 8am on a weekday in Bank Station or any BR Mainline station is bound to cause unwanted attention. Yet do it on a Saturday or Sunday at one of the popular touristy stations won't get a reaction.

Personally I would do it on a Sunday and stick to popular stations. Try Angel, Westminster, and Canary Wharf for starters. Take a wide lens for the Canary Wharf ticket hall!
 
This is of interest to me as I'm looking to do a couple of days on the LU, so I just called the film office to get clarification.

Basically, if you're just taking pictures like a tourist would then you're fine, but be prepared to be stopped and questioned as to what you're doing.

If you're going to be spending any more than 10-15 minutes at each station then you should get a non-professional permit. No mention of having to have one though.

To be honest I'll probably get one, they're only £30 and last a month and you can spend a good bit of time at each station. However, the permit only allows you to do it between 10:00 and 15:30 and 20:00 and 23:30 on a weekday, but no restrictions at the weekend.
 
I'm with fabs on this one.......

I took around 50-60 pictures in one day in various tube stations with my point and shoot and not one member of staff gave me a second look or asked questions. I even had my camera in my hand whenever I asked member of staff "which platform for Canary Wharf" etc.

who's to say if staff would have stopped me had I had my DSLR round my neck.......:shrug:
 
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