Question and Complaint

DarrenToogood

DarrenToogood

JAMES CHARLES HARRIES
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Darren Toogood
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Hello all,

As some of you may be aware, Princes Charles and Camellia are coming down to the Isle of Wight on Friday. At the time I thought ''Brilliant, the chance to grab some frames of Royalty to supply to Solent News Agency''. I got in touch with the agency who said they would love to see the shots that I take - Brill.

I got onto my local council who supplied me with the information, regarding the engagements of the day. After going through 18 pages of information, I got the contact information needed to apply for a fixed point pass at a location close to home. This is where it all goes wrong.

After emailing *someone* at Clarance House, I am disgusted by the way they treated me, regarding this request. I got very unprofessional email responses, with very little information, which sometimes came across as rude. After a lot of miscommunication, I emailed her 'any updates on gaining access to the engagement in Ryde on Friday?' only to get this response:

Dear Darren,
I'm afraid I will not be allowing you any press access to any of the Royal events on Friday.
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No reason given, nor at any point did this person show any interest. This brings me onto my question of this thread...

Are there any restrictions on photographing Royalty 'on spec'?

As I have the details of their engagements, infact very indepth details, I plan to turn up to two of the locations 'on spec'. Now on a normal day these are public areas (Town Centre and an esplanade). If I turn up 'on spec' is there any legal restrictions they can place on me? I have not shot Royalty before and therefore I am not too knowledgable on proceedures.

If I turned up in the public area, I can just shoot away, yes? This does make me laugh because it totally defeats the object of having a Fixed point.
 
:popcorn:
 
DarrenToogood said:
If I turn up 'on spec' is there any legal restrictions they can place on me? I have not shot Royalty before and therefore I am not too knowledgable on proceedures.
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There are no legal restrictions but that doesn't mean someone will not try to restrict you.

Take a copy of the Photographers' Rights with you: http://www.sirimo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ukphotographersrights-v2.pdf

DarrenToogood said:
If I turned up in the public area, I can just shoot away, yes? This does make me laugh because it totally defeats the object of having a Fixed point.
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That's what most of the public there will be doing so you will be no different.

Just out of interest, where are they going? - so I can keep away!



Steve.
 
Sorry Darren, but I can totally understand the response from Clarence House, even if it's a bit off hand. Very difficult for all sorts of reasons and just from a security standpoint a nightmare. I would guess they will not grant close access to anyone but acredited professionals - can you imagine the fuss if something happened and it emerged that they had just allowed any old Tom, 'Richard' and Abdul to get in. Don't take it personally.

But there's nothing to stop you taking pictures from a public viewpoint, even if you might attract some unwarranted security attention.
 
lol, I don't think the word 'shoot' is best used for taking photo's of the Royals ;) I can't see any reason why you can't just turn up and get photos, afterall you did say they were public places. The only problem with that is you might be stuck in the crowds so getting good angles might prove difficult. If it were me, I'd just go for it, at the worst you'll be told not too at the time, but I can't see that happening.
 
Last time they visited Glasgow, the papers reported that several thousand people had lined the streets to see them as the passed through George Square, actually it was just "several" :lol:
 
This is going to sound nasty but here goes anyway.. If you want to develop a career in editorial photography then you really need thicker skin mate.

The fact that Clarence house took the time to even respond to someone outside of any recognised media outlet is actually the most amazing thing about this story.
 
DarrenToogood said:
I am lucky as I have the document stating entrances, times etc ;)
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Which is only good if they stick to the agenda and times, my experience of these events is that very often they do not.

They also tend to have a number of different plans/agendas in place for these events and can change them at the very last minute and the only people who will know of these changes will be those that need to know
 
Might be worth having a brief word with any of the police that are around where you plan on standing, they may want to just have a quick look at your gear to check it is a camera and not a camera disguised gun!

I saw a chap doing this when I was waiting to see the Queen in Manchester a year or 2 ago...then he was left to his own devices. The last thing you want is to be jumped on when she comes round the corner! I am sure they will know your rights re. being able to photograph in a public place :)

I never did see her....she was late and I had better places to be :lol:
 
DarrenToogood said:
ahh yes fair point. Im going to head to Mc Donalds for lunch, so will make sure I am there 15 mins before the time stated.
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It's highly unlikely they will taking luncheon at the same establishment but you never know.....:D

With regards to the response I think it was justified for a number of reasons:

  1. You are not accredited to a publication or agency, if they granted you a this type of access every Tom, **** and Harry and snotty nosed kid with his mum's camera phone would be wanting a "Press Pass"
  2. As Hoppy said there would not have been time to conduct the necessary security checks for those allowed more unlimited access
 
Sometimes long lenses have thier uses......:)
 
sounds like you got it planned out fracster:thumbs:
 
LOL Echelon Hard Drives are starting to go nuts right about now :D
 
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