London Declaring war on Photographers?

ai3x said:
Oh dear, does this mean even more unwarranted hassle for us all?

Alex
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Probably, Alex!

Yes, the public needs to be protected... but talk about paranioa! As with everything else the powers that be want to be seen to be doing... and a chap with a camera is a visible target/scapegoat. Haven't these people heard that mob phones now have cameras? Or that real terrorists use low-tech communications (which is why they're so hard to find)? Terrorists will probably use guys with good memories and an ability to use a pencil when they get home! :bonk:
 
hmmm interesting. I was in london last weekend and was worried about peoples reactions to me taking photos but generally it was all good really, there are so many tourists around (and loads with kit slrs) that I didn't feel that I stood out too much. I even tried some photos down the tube etc!

put some up on this thread
 
Unfortunately, this is a modern day reality. I'm Asian and either wear a turban or a bandana and have not yet been hassled when I'm wielding my very dangerous Nikon, but recognise it could happen.

I think these things move with the times and if the current majority of people committing terrorist attacks (whatever their justification without getting into a political or ideological debate), then the people of that ethnicity will be most likely to be targeted.

It was probably true of Irish people in the 80's during the IRA bombing campaigns.

I guess the problem is, the greater the paranoia, the greater the likelihood. Hasn't stopped me taking pics of the London Eye, British Museum or Big Ben / House of Parliament and it won't in the future.
 
Jas said:
Unfortunately, this is a modern day reality. I'm Asian and either wear a turban or a bandana and have not yet been hassled when I'm wielding my very dangerous Nikon, but recognise it could happen.

I think these things move with the times and if the current majority of people committing terrorist attacks (whatever their justification without getting into a political or ideological debate), then the people of that ethnicity will be most likely to be targeted.

It was probably true of Irish people in the 80's during the IRA bombing campaigns.

I guess the problem is, the greater the paranoia, the greater the likelihood. Hasn't stopped me taking pics of the London Eye, British Museum or Big Ben / House of Parliament and it won't in the future.
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Well said :clap:
 
Eeek sorry I didn't realize it has already been posted my searches obviously sucked!

Has anybody else noticed a strange thing about the relationship between the amount of hassle you get and the size of the camera you carry though? When I started out I had a 300d which gave me a bit of attention and I got some hassle, then I moved to a 30d with a decent size lens on the end and I got no end of trouble, now I have a 1ds and suddenly the amount of hassle has gone down again. Somehow with a 1 series camera it seems like people think you belong there again...

Anybody else noticed this?
 
The poster in last nights paper was to look out for threatening and suspicious front doors. So keep em peeled???? :thinking:
 
This sort of thing makes my blood boil.
If terrorists wanted to know the locations of CCTV cameras there are plenty of other ways to find out rather than sending some herbert (or should that be muhammed) with a camera down there to take pictures of them.
and for gathering intelligence on the area? Oh noes better ban google earth then!
:cuckoo:
 
ai3x said:
http://www.met.police.uk/campaigns/counter_terrorism/ct_camera_2008.pdf
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Lemme get this straight: 'they' have 30,000 plus CCTV cameras watching millions of people 24/7 from every conceivable angle. Yet the average snapshooter with a little Granny P&S is automatically considered a 'terrorism threat'? A suspect?

How sick is that...! No, really, take a step back and just look at it: which of those 2 is the real 'terrorism threat'...?

There's "NewSpeak" for you!

Nineteen-Eighty-Four is actually upon us NOW!
And nobody even notices.
 
Sao said:
(or should that be muhammed)
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Yeah, if you are wanting to suggest that all terrorists are Islamic men....sorry but comments like that make my blood boil.

I really dont get why people get wound up by this, the poster is asking people to be on the look out for people acting suspicously, such as taking photos of a cctv camera. How is that a bad thing? So the police might come and ask you what you are doing, you explain, end of.

Granted they might have missed the point, but I really dont see the reason getting all wound up about it, it is out of our control. Try as you might there isnt really anything to change. This is the way the world is at the moment. Dont like it? Go live under a rock for the next 50 years.....or just get on with life and live with it!
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
I really dont get why people get wound up by this, the poster is asking people to be on the look out for people acting suspiciously, such as taking photos of a cctv camera. How is that a bad thing?
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Well for one, surely CCTV cameras should be able to take pictures of people taking pictures of them... that is their job after all.

Secondly, have you read 1984 or seen V for Vendetta? Do you really want your DNA and finger prints on file simply for taking a photo?

Thirdly, if you encourage this you just end up with a war on the unexpected
 
I think some of you are really taking this poster out of context and missing the point.

Its simply asking the public to be vigilant and report any ODD behaviour with regards to CCTV

Even the most creative of photographers would surely struggle to find any artistic reason to take pictures/notes of a CCTV system ?

If I saw someone acting this way I would probably be thinking "what is this guy up to" all the poster is asking is that you don't just leave it at that, and report it.

Nowhere does it suggest all photographers are a potential threat infact it acknowleges that 1000's of people take photos every day.

Just my opinion, for what its worth
 
bully74uk said:
I think some of you are really taking this poster out of context and missing the point.

Its simply asking the public to be vigilant and report any ODD behaviour with regards to CCTV
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I think the problem with this is the fact that it IS the general public being asked to decide whether you are acting suspiciously or not and linking possesion of a camera as a box tick in that respect.
I mean, most of jo public that I notice are usually cutting me up in traffic, trying to steal my wallet or walking round in a coma oblivious to everything.....do I want them getting funny ideas about my motives for carrying a camera...I dont think so.
By all means keep your eyes open for suspicious activity, but we cannot link it with camera possesion anymore than we can turbans, backpacks or beards..
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
Yeah, if you are wanting to suggest that all terrorists are Islamic men....sorry but comments like that make my blood boil.
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Ok that was wrong to post that, it was a flippant comment and I shouldn't have put it on the forum, my bad. :bonk:
 
shiato storm said:
interesting...this has only just been posted the other day!
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=50893

funny how no one really looks past the last couple of days before posting a new thread eh?
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What's even more amusing is this has already been pointed out in this thread... just up there... *points* :lol:

bully74uk said:
This has already been posted at least twice recently and is a bit boring IMO !

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=51185

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=50893

A bit of common sense needed me thinks.
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