photographing the MM wheel/London eye last night...

ajmall · Dec 22, 2004

i just set up with my tripod in a great position and some security briskly walks over and says "sorry mate, you're not allowed to use tripods here. by rule of the management."

...so i moved into the shadows and shot a different angle! but serisouly, how stupid is that? i know some idiots MIGHT mistake it for a weapon as i've heard some customs officers have questioned what tripods are used for but come on! its crazy!

Big Mike · Dec 22, 2004

Where you on public property or private property? That makes a big difference...but you are right, it's really very stupid (IMO).

There are lots of stories of photographers being hassled by "Authority Figures". It seems that in most cases, the police/security are wrong and overstepping their authority.

Unfortunately, they do have the (questionable) authority to make life a pain in the butt if/when you point out their ignorance.

On the other hand, we all know why they are concerned so we must cut them some slack, they are just trying to do their jobs. Ignorant or not.

NakedAnt · Dec 22, 2004

Some places don't allow tripods because some ungraceful folks can end up tripping on them. There is a botanical gardens in my area that has a great nighttime Christmas display out doors. They allow cameras but not tripods (kinda defeats the whole affair :roll: ) anyway it's been their policy since well before 9/11 that tripods are a tripping hazard.

voodoocat · Dec 22, 2004

I couldn't bring my tripod into the Getty center.

Jamie R · Dec 22, 2004

I was always wondering what kind of insightless amateur would try photographing the Millenium Eyesore from the Jubilee walkway. Now I know

Just kidding (actually - am I?). Having done my photography degree in London, I know a little about it. The Jubilee Walkway is a private strip of ground stretching along the Thames, created in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee (1977). It is maintained privately although open to the public to walk. I used to love this place before the commercialisation killed it - a few bohemian cafes and the lit embankment with only a few people along it. Then came Haagen Dazs; expensive $6 coffees in cafes designed to sit and be seen rather than break for a snack - the 'orrible Millenium Wheel which needs to be lowered by 3 metres to act as an energy providing turbine, and the awful candy floss stand. With commercialisation came hoardes of penny-thieves and bag-snatchers. Now all we get there are tourists with too much money; amateur photographers and teenage murderers (if any of you don't know, there have been several violent attacks in the area, including a death after a man was set on by a gang of teenagers.

When you mounted your tripod (unwisely) in front of management, you were really asking for it. A tripod isn't a God-give right to shoot photographs: all the government buildings line the banks of the Thames, and after the rocket-launcher attack on M15 building, there is a paranoia in the air.

If you wanted to do it properly, apply for a permit; or at least do it before the security guards have got out of bed. Tell them you're an interested photography student, and they would really make your granny happy to see pics of the wheel. They'll smile on you like the gods if you ask in advance and declare your intentions. If you didn't know that, then trying to humour the security guard and tell him a joke or push your luck and ask him for just one pic before you pack up might be a better idea than getting indignant.

Being unaware of city-rules and code of conduct makes an amateur photographer little more than child-like (or like a rebellious teenager). Feel indignant and outraged - that's the normal response any would feel.

Don't let it get to you - it's not worth it. Try shooting it from the Embankment if it's any consolation

ajmall · Dec 22, 2004

i asked the guy for the boundaries and where i was allowed to shoot and it was like a 200 meter radius! and i wasn't on the jubilee walk way. i was on a wide path about 100 meters from the bank facing the wheel. the only rules i've heard about photography is no flash photography or no photography at all- never anything involving tripods.

rules are made to be broken!!

toxic_stars · Dec 22, 2004

ajmall said:
i asked the guy for the boundaries and where i was allowed to shoot and it was like a 200 meter radius! and i wasn't on the jubilee walk way. i was on a wide path about 100 meters from the bank facing the wheel. the only rules i've heard about photography is no flash photography or no photography at all- never anything involving tripods.

rules are made to be broken!!

i know Butterfly world, your not allowed to bring tripods. (florida)

i work for the City that i live in, once a cop started to hassel me when i was taking a picture of a tree thats in my park, when she saw my shirt "city of plantation" she started to act all cool.

next time, find a nice garbage can, and use it as your tripod (they work great when im at the beach.)

triggerhappy · Dec 23, 2004

Hey I was going to post something about this. I had exactly the same thing earlier in the week. When I challenged them they started to get real arsey but I calmed them down and explained that I was just trying to understand what the rules are.

In the end I had a really long and productive chat with them. Basically what it comes down to, or so they told me, is that they want to protect the image of the wheel. They don't want a load of professional photographers photographing the wheel and then selling the pictures.
(I think they make a tonne of money from selling their own pics)

When I told them that I wasn't a professional and just out taking a few pics for my own enjoyment they were really ok with it. They asked me not to stand where I could be seen from front of their managers office (for obvious reasons) and then let me get on with it.

toxic_stars · Dec 23, 2004

triggerhappy said:
Hey I was going to post something about this. I had exactly the same thing earlier in the week. When I challenged them they started to get real arsey but I calmed them down and explained that I was just trying to understand what the rules are.

In the end I had a really long and productive chat with them. Basically what it comes down to, or so they told me, is that they want to protect the image of the wheel. They don't want a load of professional photographers photographing the wheel and then selling the pictures.
(I think they make a tonne of money from selling their own pics)

When I told them that I wasn't a professional and just out taking a few pics for my own enjoyment they were really ok with it. They asked me not to stand where I could be seen from front of their managers office (for obvious reasons) and then let me get on with it.

:::::note to self:::::
""when going to europe....... bring student ID"

thanks for the post