Photographing people (&kids) outside

DayDreamer

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John
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:help:

Firstly I really am very sorry if this has been asked before but I would appreciate some help as I am thick when it comes to finding the answers to my specific questions.

I have never done 'street' photography but have started realising (as a wheelchair user) it is something I could do with the camera perched on my knee using the variable angle LCD.

Am I right in thinking, providing I am in a public place, I can take these shots & put them on my Flickr account if I choose. Are there specific rules like 'OK with adults' but not kids under the age of xx?

Lastly would the outside terrace at say my local coffee shop (or pub) be considered as a public space, or a private space?

I would be most grateful for pointers as I don't want to be 'sent down' for any criminal action :gag:
 
You can take photographs of whoever you like as long as they have no expectation of privacy (i.e. they are out in public). Regardless of age.
Whether it's polite to do so is a different argument. You may attract negative attention (especially if it looks to people that by shooting from your lap you're being secretive about it) but you're not doing anything illegal so the law is on your side.
Your local pub/coffee shop's terrace is sort of a grey area. It's basically up to the owners. Most won't give a hoot unless you're obviously weirding out customers.
 
Yep your ok to shoot in the street i do it all the time,as for running into problem yes it will happen now and again,i can go for ages without any,then a couple of weeks ago 4 times in one week people approach me to ask ?.

I do what always do smile have a quick chat if they want to and just carry on, its is the nature of street photographic.

:)
 
Age (as in the person you are photographing) doesnt matter in photogrpahy.. and there are no laws for any age ..fire away :)
 
Have a look at this useful guide-

http://www.sirimo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ukphotographersrights-v2.pdf

This is both a simple and complicated area.

Simple because, with some exceptions, if you are in a public place then you can take a photograph without seeking permission.

Complicated because

it seems some people believe that you do not have a right to photograph them in a public place and may exercise this believe either vocally or physically,

some (I think and hope it is only a few) local authorities attempt to prevent the photography of authority events in public places. I think there was a thread last year from a TP member who was approached when he was photographing an authority organised Christmas event in a public place,

it is not always obvious if you are on public or private land. For example, quite a bit of the land outside buildings in Canary Wharf is privately owned. The owner of private property can impose restrictions as a condition of entry, which may include no photography.

The areas outside pubs/coffee shops may or may not be public land. If they are public then its likely the businesses will be charged for its use by the local authority and this charge may give them certain rights over its use, including the allowing of photography. The best course of action is to ask pub/coffee shop. They may say, 'OK as long as it does not upset customers".

Dave
 
In my view trouble can be avoided by being non confrontational and if somebody approaches you with a twisted view of the law insisting you cannot take photos then to me at least a photo is not really worth the hassle of an argument or any escalation (unless I am in a bad mood :) )

Saying that, in the last two years of walking around taking photos in streets I have never had a single problem but if I do I will just move on.
 
Thank you all so much for taking the time & trouble to help me out with this one :thumbs:

My favourite would have been landscape & architectural but that was a few years back when I could walk so now I am having to adapt (sounds like the Borg if anyone watches Star Trek). I enjoy having a camera & spending (lots) of time with PP but am being forced to reconsider what I can & can't take.

A few weeks back I was in Buckfast Abbey & on the door was a sign saying photography fine but no flash. I further asked one the staff to make sure & she said 'all good fire away'. Then I became aware of some seriously nosy geezer stalking me & giving me the 'evil' eye. He then approached me to tell me photography wasn't allowed inside. This invoked my aggressive side with a sarcastic reply asking if he thought he was in charge to which he walked away. Perhaps he found my wheelchair intimidating, or was it my two HNS aluminium sticks :lol:

Again thanks all & here's an example of one of my shots taken as a total guess with my camera on my knee & loved how I accidentally caught his tongue coming out

 
I have a friend, (who I trust), has told me that you can shoot whoever you want in most public areas, except the kids. If you want to take photos for the kids, you have to ask the permission from their parents. But I didn't ask the exact age of that. There are two public places, however, you can't take photos. One is police station, one is train station. But really no one would stop you at train station so just ignore it.
 
I am not looking to take photos of kids but I am finding that, in this neck of the woods (significant tourist destination), many potential shots that have adults in also seem to have a child or two. I feel very ill at ease holding my camera anywhere near to children due to the times we live in.

So I will proceed with caution :)
 
hrooo2002 said:
you were right. But you could have pointed in a better manner.
Click to expand...

"I am sorry to have to inform you that after reading your post regarding your friends advice which you value so dearly.. I have come to the conclusion that your friend is an idiot and wish to convey that thought in writing to your good self.."

That any better ?


Oh and heres a smile in case you thought I wasn't happy when I wrote either post ...<SmilE> ..there.. I made that myself..
 
hrooo2002 said:
I have a friend, (who I trust), has told me that you can shoot whoever you want in most public areas, except the kids. If you want to take photos for the kids, you have to ask the permission from their parents. But I didn't ask the exact age of that. There are two public places, however, you can't take photos. One is police station, one is train station. But really no one would stop you at train station so just ignore it.
Click to expand...
Not true. You just aren't allowed to use flash or set up a tripod (or other apparatus) that would cause an obstruction on the platform.

In fact, the BTP stated a few years ago that they actively encourage the public to take photo's, because if there is some sort of incident, there will be lots of photo's that could help in their investigations.
 
hrooo2002 said:
There are two public places, however, you can't take photos. One is police station, one is train station. But really no one would stop you at train station so just ignore it.
Click to expand...

None of those are public places.
 
hrooo2002 said:
I have a friend, (who I trust), has told me that you can shoot whoever you want in most public areas, except the kids..
Click to expand...

Incorrect. If they're in a public place, where you would have no reasonable expectation of privacy, then they're fair game. Age doesn't enter the equation. People are just paranoid about kids these days, and assume that there MUST be some kind of law to prevent all us predatory paedophiles from photographing them.... as a great many retarded peopel assume that anyone with a camera who points it at a child must be a screaming kiddy fiddler. Just ignore the daily mail readers of this world.

Out of courtesy, I'd ask... and if not possible to ask before... show the parent the image... ask them if they'd like a copy. You'd be amazed how often that can turn a radical daily mail reader into a facsimile of a normal person :)
 
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