Photographer, not Paedophile

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wannabebankie

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Jamie
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I was at an open day in a local shopping centre taking a few shots with my SLR. After about 30 mins a Security Guard approached me and said "I'm going to have to ask you to leave!" I said "Why's that?". He said "You are taking photographs in an area with children, it's not allowed, only official photographers". I pointed out the several members of the public taking pictures with their phones. "Have you told THEM this?" I asked. He said "There's little I can do about that" He looked at me for a second, to avoid argument I said "I won't leave but I'll stop taking photographs if that's your policy" He said he wasn't asking, so I told him to phone the police if he thought a crime had been commited, he just left, but I took no further pictures.

Anyone else had this, what are our rights?
 
I've had security visits twice in shopping centres, once they threatened me with a ban as they "didn't know what I was taking pictures for", despite ID being produced. On one occasion the clueless security guard told me it was because of terrorism.

Nonsense.
 
I believe as you are on private property they can ask you to stop taking photographs or leave.
 
what angered me was I was targetted, I was NOT the only non-official person taking pictures: SLR=Wrong Cameraphone=ok?
 
:tumbleweed:
 
Just step outside onto the public path and continue to shoot the shopping centre, they can do nothing as its then quite legal.
Even better ask them if the thoroughfare is a public right of way, if they say yes, step onto it and continue to shoot, again they can do nothing.
 
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As said before. Private property, No Rights!

Even 'official' photographers have to 'sign in' at the main reception. We can't turn-up and just start taking pictures.
 
The private property thing is true, I wonder if common sense will kick in anytime though.

Shockingly it did over here a while ago. A big shopping centre in the city was getting very 'Daily Mail' about photography, with some heavy handed security telling anyone and everyone not to take photos (yes people with camera phones and point and shoots too).

In the end the Attorney General told them to get over themselves as they were making the city a less pleasant place to be, especially for tourists. It may be private property, but they don't have a god-given right to it, there's still common decency to abide by.
 
PDS said:
As said before. Private property, No Rights!
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Not absolutely.

If the guard had asked him to stop taking photographs because

a) the OP was in a wheelchair
b) the OP was the wrong ethnicity
c) the OP was the wrong sex

then you may have rights of redress under the law under various Acts of Parliament through discriminatory access to goods and services (i.e. your use of the shopping centre).

Something makes me think that it's more likely they'll stop a male taking pictures on their property than a female photographer. The problem would be proving it.
 
I'll take pictures anywhere and of anything. I don't mind confrontation about it either.

But when the words private property are mentioned it's an immediate back down (as long as they are correct of course).

Private property is just that, private. You don't have a right to be there.
 
I had the same problem but out in the streets of nottingham when i was up visiting. It was beach in the city where the local gov spends the tax payers money and ships in tonnes of sand. I was take pictures of the water feature away from the sand with my wide angle len when i was approched by security and asked to stop. i asked why and was told there were children around the old market square, told him i wasn't taking images of children so wasnt doing anything wrong, he called in the police and when they arrive i asked what i was doing wrong and why were people with point and shoots not being stopped, there answer were they dont take close up images of children where a DSRL will. I explained i was using a wide angle lens and was no where near any children where you could make out any detail, that didnt wash and they wanted to take me away, i came to a comprimise and showed them the images i had taken and they told me which ones i had to delete there and then. i was then asked to leave the market square.

Why are DSRL users treated differently
 
jollyjack said:
the police ... told me which ones i had to delete there and then.
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That's the point at which I would have been suggesting that they let me go on my way or await an IPCC complaint.

If they had reason to believe you had committed an offence, they just destroyed the evidence. If they didn't have reason to believe you had committed an offence, why require you to delete the photos?
 
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jollyjack said:
i came to a comprimise and showed them the images i had taken and they told me which ones i had to delete there and then.
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This situation depends on how much spare time you've got.

Stand your ground pointing out that only a court can order you to delete the images, get carted off down to the station for a few hours, then get released without charge...

or

..delete them and walk away knowing that you didn't have to do anything, cos' you'd done nout' wrong....

:shrug:
 
I was taking pictures of a footbridge in London last week and was approached by security staff telling me I can't take any shots with their building in the back ground.

They were rude, I was rude back.

These people think they can dictate what you can and can't take pictures of - the bottom line is they can't. He told me I couldn't, I told him I could. On we went for a few minutes until he realised he was being a dick and walked off.

As it turned out they were all **** pictures anyway lol
 
when taking pictures on private property , why not try talking to the reception and getting permission to take images. the answer will be yes or no , which ever answer you`ll know where you stand.

secondly if you are in a fenced off area , i personaly consider it a controlled area ie not general public access.

DSLR`s are still considered to be a relm of the pro, though the tog may not be a pro

i hope this makes sense

Cheers Steve
 
steve_lyt said:
secondly if you are in a fenced off area , i personaly consider it a controlled area ie not general public access.
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it been fenced off on its own has no bearing on its public/private status, so while you may consider it a controlled area, on its own that has no impact
 
steve_lyt said:
when taking pictures on private property , why not try talking to the reception and getting permission to take images. the answer will be yes or no , which ever answer you`ll know where you stand.

secondly if you are in a fenced off area , i personaly consider it a controlled area ie not general public access.

DSLR`s are still considered to be a relm of the pro, though the tog may not be a pro

i hope this makes sense

Cheers Steve
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Whenever I fancy taking shots in such places then I always head for the Building Officer first, explain I love their interesting building and want to take pics for my hobby. I happily hand over my details too

So far - none has said no, and all have radioed their security staff to tell them too - no probs :)

But if they did say no then I just wouldn't bother trying

DD
 
jollyjack said:
I had the same problem but out in the streets of nottingham when i was up visiting. It was beach in the city where the local gov spends the tax payers money and ships in tonnes of sand. I was take pictures of the water feature away from the sand with my wide angle len when i was approched by security and asked to stop. i asked why and was told there were children around the old market square, told him i wasn't taking images of children so wasnt doing anything wrong, he called in the police and when they arrive i asked what i was doing wrong and why were people with point and shoots not being stopped, there answer were they dont take close up images of children where a DSRL will. I explained i was using a wide angle lens and was no where near any children where you could make out any detail, that didnt wash and they wanted to take me away, i came to a comprimise and showed them the images i had taken and they told me which ones i had to delete there and then. i was then asked to leave the market square.

Why are DSRL users treated differently
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See, this kind of BS makes my blood boil. A DSLR will take close up shots of children - jesus, what planet are these numpties on.

I'd have been inclined to quote the focal length of the lens, tell them it was a wide angle, and then just walk off promptly.

If, for some reason, they do find some reason to arrest you (which is highly unlikely, unless you were being abusive, as it's more paperwork and explanation to the sargeant for them) then take advantage of the fact that you can have a solicitor provided for you before you are interviewed. If the police are going to ruin your day, why not dig your heels in as much as you can along the way?
 
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trencheel303 said:
See, this kind of BS makes my blood boil. A DSLR will take close up shots of children - jesus, what planet are these numpties on.

I'd have been inclined to quote the focal length of the lens, tell them it was a wide angle, and then just walk off promptly.
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Or that them to the nearest camera shop and show them a P&S with a 300mm lens on it.
 
i came to a comprimise and showed them the images i had taken and they told me which ones i had to delete there and then.
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You've just commited a criminal offence by deliberately and knowingly destroying evidence.

Funnily enough, three of us were arrested once (we really shouldn't have been there) We were all seperated and taken in seperate cars to be questioned. Meeting up again afterwards we had ALL switched memory cards for blanks, and said "look I've deleted all the pics now let me go". Ninja. :)
 
trencheel303 said:
See, this kind of BS makes my blood boil. A DSLR will take close up shots of children - jesus, what planet are these numpties on.

I'd have been inclined to quote the focal length of the lens, tell them it was a wide angle, and then just walk off promptly.

If, for some reason, they do find some reason to arrest you (which is highly unlikely, unless you were being abusive, as it's more paperwork and explanation to the sargeant for them) then take advantage of the fact that you can have a solicitor provided for you before you are interviewed. If the police are going to ruin your day, why not dig your heels in as much as you can along the way?
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more to the point, if they DID suspect you of breaking the law, then they themselves broke the law in demanding you to delete the photos - those were key evidence in any case for/against you! I have utmost respect and understanding for the police, and understand that quite a lot of these 'incidents' that are widely reported (not the ones in this thread!) are from people being arses towards them, but if I am ever told to delete photos, I will be calling 999 myself.

I've never had any problems, then again I am usually working, so have a professional setup that could in no way be mistaken as subtle... that and I do look about 14 and very...non-creepy!... (actually 21 :lol: )
 
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urbanx said:
You've just commited a criminal offence by deliberately and knowingly destroying evidence.

Funnily enough, three of us were arrested once (we really shouldn't have been there) We were all seperated and taken in seperate cars to be questioned. Meeting up again afterwards we had ALL switched memory cards for blanks, and said "look I've deleted all the pics now let me go". Ninja. :)
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that's a good one to use for urbex, but you're buggered if they search you and find the real memory card .
 
trencheel303 said:
that's a good one to use for urbex, but you're buggered if they search you and find the real memory card .
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"it was just a spare! I carry two and swop them periodically to make sure that if one fails, I've got a copy of the pictures!"
 
I think I've turned a "I'm a photographer, not a sexual deviant" thread into one about putting memory cards up your a*se...:thinking:

Sorry.
 
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It'll be getting crowded in there with your father's gold wrist watch too... :D
 
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