Security told me to delete some images

nigpd

nigpd

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Nigel
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While going about my business shooting a Football League match yesterday, a couple of opposition fans attracted the attention of Security by become a bit too rowdy.

As one fan was being ejected right behind me, I grabbed a couple of shots of the fan and the security chap, as you do.

Next thing, the chief security guard comes over and tells me to delete the images. Not wanting to cause a fuss and also to avoid the possibility of being asked to leave if I refuse, I delete the images while he watches. Next thing, the security chap who threw the fan out comes back and shouts in my ear "did you delete all those photos?". Of course I said yes.

Well, I think I know the legal position and I didn't have to delete the images, but for the sake of staying at the ground and for not bringing my agency into disrepute, I did delete the images (on one card haha, so God bless the 1Dx).

I think I did the right thing at the time, but was tempted to stand my ground. At least I avoided being banned from the ground

What would you have done?
 
best to "humour" the guard by either deleting (and recovering later) or only delete the image from one card as you would not really want to be asked to leave - different from a security guard in a shopping centre as being asked to leave would be no real inconvenience.
 
Told him that you had no intention of deleting the images because they potentially constituted evidence.


[some content deleted]


Never, ever delete images. That's why you should have a dual card camera for worst case scenario.

Edit:

I'd also report this to the club's press manager as a complaint.
 
Last edited:
•
You did the right thing… these f+++ers may have ruined your day. Your only
mistake was to be sitting too close to the scene and they were aware of you!
Had you been at some distance and not attract their attention, you could have
got away with it.

Good to know: they had no right to ask for that if…
• you got a legitimate ticket
• there was no clear sign saying that taking pictures is forbidden.

You did the right thing… these f+++ers may have ruined your day since you will
never win a point with a crying baby, a soldier in arms, and a grouchy partner!
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•
You did the right thing… these f+++ers may have ruined your day. Your only
mistake was to be sitting too close to the scene and they were aware of you!
Had you been at some distance and not attract their attention, you could have
got away with it.

You did the right thing… these f+++ers may have ruined your day since you will
never win a point with a crying baby, a soldier in arms, and a grouchy partner!
Click to expand...

I'm interested. How much do you know about UK law and more importantly the UK sports market - specifically club football and working on spec for an agency?

That's appalling advice.
 
•
Two things here:
• I completely forgot for a moment the UK origin of this forum so this advice is for
continental Europe where I work and North America where I'm from. So I really got
no idea about the UK laws… are they so different? I understand that Nigel was there
as a paying viewer and a private person.
• Looked up "appalling" and didn't find… what does it mean?
 
Easy if you used sandisk you can recover deleted photos. It is only the picture that is deleted not the data which is recoverable. Don't know about other makes of memory cards, the only time you can't recover is if the card gets formatted
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•
You did the right thing… these f+++ers may have ruined your day. Your only
mistake was to be sitting too close to the scene and they were aware of you!
Had you been at some distance and not attract their attention, you could have
got away with it.

Good to know: they had no right to ask for that if…
• you got a legitimate ticket
• there was no clear sign saying that taking pictures is forbidden.

You did the right thing… these f+++ers may have ruined your day since you will
never win a point with a crying baby, a soldier in arms, and a grouchy partner!
Click to expand...
He did exactly the wrong think,if anything he should have asked to speak to the chief steward or the head of security and the grounds media manager as the images could constitute evidence of some sort and this is even before going into the realms of any sort of legality.

Is someone wanting early classifieds access
 
Just to make it clear from my original post, I was going about my business shooting a Football League game. I work for an accredited agency.

The reasons I deleted the images were, I knew I still had duplicate images on the second card, I didn't want to miss any more of the game, I didn't want to get ejected from the ground, I didn't want my agency to get banned from the ground for whatever reason. The decision made in the spur of the moment.

I will be contacting the press officer of the club in question
 
realspeed said:
Easy if you used sandisk you can recover deleted photos. It is only the picture that is deleted not the data which is recoverable. Don't know about other makes of memory cards, the only time you can't recover is if the card gets formatted
Click to expand...

Formatting isn't necessarily a killer, I've recovered nearly all the images from a couple of cards that were formatted accidentally over the years. Better not to, of course! :)
 
Frankly the matter of formatting is effing irrelevant.

A security guard who's only real duty is crowd control instructed an accredited member of the media to censor their journalistic material.

That's bloody outrageous.
 
And just to echo what Marc has said, less of the insults towards those of other nationalities please. This is a global forum with many speakers of other languages (also who might not have English as their first language). And swearing in French is still swearing. It's not acceptable. Please be courteous to others.
 
As long as you knew you were dual recording, that's exactly what I'd have done. Appease the security, get on with the job and take up the issue afterwards. Whilst also keeping your agencies name out of any mud.

I shot Grimsby vs Lincoln last season (for myself) and despite it being a generally great game and well behaved crowd, there were some people behaving badly. I deliberately made sure I got some good shots of some of the worst offenders as it was of interest and also I thought of the potential evidence angle.

In my opinion you did a great job. :-)
 
The problem with appeasing security is that he will now carry on in the same manner in future. You had two options but which ever one you took you had to follow it through. Option one was to refuse and request the press officer so as to determine the authority of your license to take photos in an FL ground. Option two delete the photos and contact the press officer afterwards to determine your position. If you do not contact the press officer now it is a fail for you and others.So please let us know the outcome of your contact with the press office.
 
That's what I meant about taking up the issue afterwards. That security person obviously doesn't know their limitations with regard to media, so they must be informed of them. However, to get into a debate about it at the time would've meant potentially missing parts of the game, so not worth it. Get on with the job with minimum fuss then sort out afterwards.
 
OK My turn haha

the right thing to do is whatever you did at the time... think about it everyone..... whatever decision you made at the time.. you felt was right.. so it was..

theres lots of views and it really depends what match.. what level (pro amatuer) and why you was there..

I was in this exact situation at a league ground..... the accrington stanley assistant manager ended up scuffling with security right in the middle of the pitch and accrington fans invaded the pitch to help him.. as it was end of season they where all in fancy dress haha...................security asked me to delete photos.. i said no... head of security arrived asked me for the memory card i said no... threatened wiht police i still said no.... was eventually told to stop photogrpahing.. which they are allowed to do.. as I had already got what I wanted I was happy to put the camera away.... First thing I did was get in touch wiht the paper I was working for to explain what happened and that i acted profesional and didn't get into any argument.. but as I was photogrpahing on here behalf then its going to come back to them.. they assured me I did the right thing..

I knew I was on safe ground refusing.. I knew I didnt care if they banned me from going again and I knew they couldn't do a thing to me... HOWEVER at a different game under different curcumstances I may have acted differently... deleting and keeping backups is a great option.... take each problem situation as it happens.i dont believe there is one catch all answer...... at the end of the day you cant go back in time.. so whatever you did was the right choice..

just my opinion on my fourth pint :)
 
Not a sports shooter so not going to comment on that aspect of the story but I'll say this I'd never delete images on principle, I'd hate to reinforce some ****wits delusions that he actually has the power to make such a demand
 
MWHCVT said:
Not a sports shooter so
Click to expand...

Please dont tell us how you would never delete your images like we all already know.....and in different circumstances neither would any of us... please no....


MWHCVT said:
not going to comment on that aspect of the story but I'll say this I'd never delete images on principle, I'd hate to reinforce some ****wits delusions that he actually has the power to make such a demand
Click to expand...


b****r... who saw that coming...
 
Honestly can't imagine a scenario where a steward would tell a photographer up here (Scotland) to delete photos - they pretty much leave us alone when we're out on the track
 
I would have said no I am not deleting the images. I will be reporting your threatening behaviour to the club.

If the club don't back you up then it is a very poor show. It would look bad on them
 
KIPAX said:
the right thing to do is whatever you did at the time... think about it everyone..... whatever decision you made at the time.. you felt was right.. so it was..
Click to expand...

I like that. It's a good advice generally (although it's not really advice - moire confirmation that you did the right thing).


Steve.
 
I've never been asked to delete anything (except by the wife;-)) so I don't know what I'd do. Their attitude is a bit silly though as surely half the crowd had their cameraphones out at the time?
 
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