Photographers are terrorists. Official.

[petemc]

This makes me so angry. As if its not hard enough taking pictures for a living already. I've had a few jobsworth security guys telling me what I can't do on public property, and I've even been escorted off a car park for taking photos. Every few months you hear something new about what the police have done to some poor innocent photographer. Random searches, asking them to delete their images and so on. I know we have a few policey types on here and I don't wish to offend them as I know they're great guys, but honestly this just makes me really mad. "You know that guy with a camera, thats a terrorist that is.... Don't be silly Dorris its a pedo... Ah so it is..." and the guy continues taking photos of a daffodil. *insert giant rolleyes*

[Kell_ee001]

[karbon]

2 of my mates got arrested and their equipment seized because one of them had a toy cutlass and the other a small toy assault rifle. quite obviosuly toys (imo) but took them an age to get their stuff back.

[Blackstar]

Apparently we are only to care if one seems 'odd' so Pete your ****ed
Seriously though, wouldn't a terrorist be acting in as normal a fashion as possible?

[leowyatt]

It's been going on for much longer in the states. I remember listening to an OTH show where Bernie S had his equipment confiscated by a police officer for taking photos in and around NY

[petemc]

Originally Posted by Blackstar

Apparently we are only to care if one seems 'odd' so Pete your ****ed
Seriously though, wouldn't a terrorist be acting in as normal a fashion as possible?

Haha I am indeed since I have taken photos of security cameras and I do have a notepad! But yeah you would think that a terrorist would simply use a point and shoot and act as casually as possible. Quick snap and off they go rather than studying the building.

Originally Posted by leowyatt

It's been going on for much longer in the states. I remember listening to an OTH show where Bernie S had his equipment confiscated by a police officer for taking photos in and around NY

I've heard the same. Apparently tripods are banned from some places due to security concerns. We've got similar nonsense here but the real issue is what this does to the public. It creates fear of photographers who are simply enjoying their hobby or trying to do a job. I spent most of yesterday running around Liverpool photographing buildings. I was standing outside, looking odd, walking around a bit and taking photos. People were looking at me as they do when you're taking photos of random places. But with this people might start doing stupid things like telling security that there's a terrorist outside. Then I get told to move on when all I'm doing is my job. Grrrrr

[petemc]

All they needed in that car park was a sign saying "No photography" or something. I told the guard that it was really silly. You can just walk in and take photos. I said that I checked the list of regulations and there was nothing. I was taking photos of Malmaison being built too. The funny thing is about that place that benneh's car broke down just near the roundabout and was left abandoned for over 2 hours with no-one doing anything about it. To quote another post I've seen, "it is something that could have come straight out of Soviet Russisa (”Report any suspicious activity, comrade! It’s your patriotic duty!)." Its bad enough that we have to worry about stupid security guards but now we have to worry about the public reporting us. I have my NUJ app sitting at home waiting to be sent in and has been since before Dec. I really need to send that off.

[Joe 90]

Originally Posted by petemc

Then I get told to move on when all I'm doing is my job. Grrrrr

I'd ask for their details and inform them that you're going to be escalating this to thier management in the form of a compensation claim due to loss of earnings

[karbon]

i mean really, cmon



i do however quite like this take on it.

[petemc]

A good video on the subject.