Street Photography laws

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Bronikon

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Ron
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Hi all , the law in Scotland differs from the law in England and other parts of the UK ,the recent discussions about street photography and the police security gaurds etc has made very aware of the threat to photography.
The posts on various websites and articles in magazines leed me to beleive that photographers in England get a very hard time of it be they ametuer or pro .

In Edinburgh i have photographed a lot of what could possibly be considered
sensitive buildings ie Edinburgh castle the Scottish parliament Building , the palace of Holyrood House and loads of others in full veiw of police ,soldiers and other officials and only on two occassions have I been asked to stop both times by jobsworth security guards and of course told them to leave me alone as i am not breaking any laws (well not exactly in those words}
and they eventually give up.( using medium format and slr on tripod.
It has often been said that I have a face that is only suited to a wanted poster i wonder if that makes any difference to officials atitude:
Can anyone clarify the differance in law if there is one on the subject of photography between England and Scotland.
Guid health.beer::beer::beer:
 
I believe the law is the same for both England and Scotland but like yourself I have had no hassle at all up here compared to some of the stories from folks down south.

Tommy.
 
there is also a difference to do with location!

London is a "terrorist hotspot" compared to other cities (though I think Edinburgh isn't lagging far behind) so police can be alot more calm and considering!

if you go to Tywyn/Barmouth/Aber in wales, the police will pose for you! (well in my experience they did when i last visited gran!)

I asked them about the law about permission etc and they said that the day a terrorist comes to wales is the day that pigs learn to fly:lol::lol::lol: they were loving the attention really:D
 
Hi folks the reason i ask is My soon to be ex other half is going to live with relatives for a week or so (oh thank you lord) so I was thinking of a few days down in london and then back to Amsterdam for a weekend with some mates.
Ive never been to London other than changing trains .
Any tips for street photography locations would be a help.
Guid health.:beer::beer::beer:
 
April's edition of Photo Plus did a good guide to this :thumbs:
 
the whole of central london is good really!

the tourist hotspots can be fun because they either look at you with horror, or pull a face or two!

walking around it best, plan a route if you can from a to b. there are other places that can be fun too (brick lane/spitafields -but only go when its "market day" which I think is sunday -beware! pickpockets!)

anywhere along the thames is nice. greenwitch, erm loads of stuff! what kind of photography do you like to have a go at? with that in mind I can help point out a few other places!

also, just because there is the anti-plod-papparazi law, it doesn't mean that every police man and woman will stop you from taking photos! In my experience it happens rarely and in certain places! (like the Grovsnor square and the US embassy -round the corner from me!) You probably won't get stopped if you don't go right up to em and peev 'em off!
 
Bronikon said:
Hi all , the law in Scotland differs from the law in England and other parts of the UK ,the recent discussions about street photography and the police security gaurds etc has made very aware of the threat to photography.
The posts on various websites and articles in magazines leed me to beleive that photographers in England get a very hard time of it be they ametuer or pro .

In Edinburgh i have photographed a lot of what could possibly be considered
sensitive buildings ie Edinburgh castle the Scottish parliament Building , the palace of Holyrood House and loads of others in full veiw of police ,soldiers and other officials and only on two occassions have I been asked to stop both times by jobsworth security guards and of course told them to leave me alone as i am not breaking any laws (well not exactly in those words}
and they eventually give up.( using medium format and slr on tripod.
It has often been said that I have a face that is only suited to a wanted poster i wonder if that makes any difference to officials atitude:
Can anyone clarify the differance in law if there is one on the subject of photography between England and Scotland.
Guid health.beer::beer::beer:
Click to expand...

At the bottom of the page.

You are reminded that under UK law, there are no restrictions on taking photographs in a public place or on photography of individuals, whether they are adults or minors. There is no right to privacy in a public place, although photographers are of course subject to the usual libel laws in the same way as any other citizen and should observe them. Equipment or film may not be confiscated, or images deleted by any person or officer unless a warrant for such action is issued. Any attempt without a warrant is considered assault under UK law.

http://www.phooto.co.uk/rights.shtml
 
AleksanderLoesch said:
London is a "terrorist hotspot" compared to other cities (though I think Edinburgh isn't lagging far behind) so police can be alot more calm and considering!
Click to expand...

The police up here are generally more respectful than the Metropolitan Police and BTP. For example the only substantial levels of complaints about abuse of Terrorism Act stop & search in Scotland started when the British Transport Police were at the big railway stations in the aftermath of the Glasgow Airport 'attack' (use the word advisedly as I'm not convinced a small bonfire on a rainy day qualifies as a proper terrorist attack :P).
 
I was thinking about this the other day. I'd like to take more shots of people unaware, but am actually more nervous about that than I am about asking people direct.
Am frightened of someone getting angry and shouting at me:lol:. , whereas if I ask - the worst they do is say no ...
 
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