Overview photos of Manchester City Centre

J

Joe-91

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2
Name
Joe Sheridan
Edit My Images
No
I have query, as it is impossible to use the car parks in Manchester for taking photos without being asked to leave the premises, does anyone have any advice to any other locations I can use as a vantage point to get the kind of shots I want?

Thanks,

Joe.
 
What were your experiences Joe ? Camera set up on a tripod or just grabbing shots - what were you shooting or want to photograph ?

If you're taking photographs from inside the car park at 'car park' type views (cars driving etc), I can understand their reluctance as it's private property. However, if you are photographing over the parapet into public vistas of Manchester, I can't see a problem with that it's a public space. It would be no different than going up the Shard building, York Cathedral or Liverpool cathedral and photographing a cityscape.
 
It depends which car parks, when and how 'intrusive' you will be (or how 'incognito' you will be).

The first one is the Arndale car park. You should be OK here, especially on a busy day like a Saturday.
The second would be shudehill interchange car park, accessed via a lift in the bus station IIRC.
It's not usually busy on the top level (When I went there anyway), so you will have to be more mindful. You are likely to be approached by security.

Tripods are likely to be a no if you ask, so only start setting up like that if you *really* need to. Otherwise just keep your camera on your strap and you should be fine.
If approached, say Hi, tell em your name, shake their hand maybe. Remember they're just doing a job, and toeing the company line of "Everyone's a terrorist or a competitor or up to no good".
Just explain you're visiting the city and you're an amateur photographer, and you're looking for good architectural angles for prints for your wall at home or something. It doesn't have to be true, just embellished a little to drive the point home you're just a photographer.
Say you've been to see x or x, is there anything he/she can recommend that's a must see?

They can ask you to leave, it's private property, simple as. They can make up whatever rules they want.
The key is to avoid having that thought enter their head :)
 
Thank you everyone for your responses, sorry for not replying sooner to any of them. I'm using a Pentax K-X with a 25mm zoom lens. I have tried both, Shudehill NCP and the NCP by the North Quarter. On both occasions I was asked to leave, the first occasion because I was in breach of the the Terrorism act, the second occasion I lasted about half an hour, and even a police officer said it was ok for me to be up there, that is until a member of NCP security asked me to leave as I was on private property.
 
Joe-91 said:
Thank you everyone for your responses, sorry for not replying sooner to any of them. I'm using a Pentax K-X with a 25mm zoom lens. I have tried both, Shudehill NCP and the NCP by the North Quarter. On both occasions I was asked to leave, the first occasion because I was in breach of the the Terrorism act, the second occasion I lasted about half an hour, and even a police officer said it was ok for me to be up there, that is until a member of NCP security asked me to leave as I was on private property.
Click to expand...

If I was going there it would be in a car. If I was challenged (as above ) I would reply, go away and find me that bit of legislation or call the police. I would of also pointed out that I had paid for my parking ticket and therefore would not be leaving until my ticket had expired, having every right to be there. If being ordered to leave by a security guard, I would ask, on what authority and point out that it was a breech of contract as I had paid for a parking ticket. I would put my camera away and just sit In my car with the windows and door closed and gone online until he/she got bored and sloped off.


I totally agree the best policy is to get on side with the Security Guard. I'm a very amenable person, but when you come up against a little 'jobsworth' sometimes you have to stand up for yourself, especially when they start sprouting complete claptrap ! I would rather politely engage with a Police Officer, then move on quietly if need be. But I wouldn't give the 'sad' Security Guard the satisfaction !
 
I sometimes take photos from multi storey car parks and not yet been hassled by sg's but I'm always wary that I could be so tend to keep moving (obviously pausing to take photos!) rather than loitering in just one place and drawing attention to myself. I'd imagine that most of the monitoring is done by cctv so a sg is probably told "go check out that person on level 6" by the cctv operator, so hopefully by the time the sg reaches level 6 (they are not normally the fittest lol) you will have moved on :sneaky:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top