It Could Be You: 42 Days and 42 Nights

[faustus]

A while back, abrinsky, lamentables and myself were all individually prevented from taking photos such as the one to the right, "in the light of the current situation." I don't recall hearing of anyone being stopped during the period of the IRA bombings in England, nor can I see that this sort of thing is likely to be useful to any Al Quaida operative. This is surely paranoia - and you would have thought that someone found their shopping centre interesting enough to take photos. (Mind you, I've taken some of ugly ones too.) Of course, the shopping centre is private property, so the security guards can do what they like.

 

 

 

Then I heard that a photographer from Sittingbourne had had two rolls of film confiscated by the Humberside police, for taking photos in a shopping centre in Hull - although not the ones depicted to the left, although you can glimpse it behind the curiously short and squat woman.

Ok, maybe candid photography might look a bit creepy to some people, but it sounds like an over reaction to me by the police (although note he did get the films back this week). A little word with him should have been enough to reassure the police. But watch your step, and be proud to do your part to Stand Up Against Terrorism.

No photos! There's nothing to see. Move along.

For story see: here and here

Comments

[buffysquirrel.livejournal.com]

My husband was prevented from taking photos at a major shopping centre by a security guard, not last Christmas but the one before. Apparently, taking photos of a Christmas tree is a terrorist threat!

Also, he was questioned by police at the Eastbourne Airbourne last year for taking photos. Which isn't illegal.

Sucks. I feel really anxious these days when I go out with my camera.

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewmbutler/2175860705/)

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewmbutler/2175819183/)

I just don't get it... It's a power trip by someone. It is paranoid in the extreme.

Hey, someone might replace those decorations with bombs. Or swing from one to another to evade the security cameras, in that blind spot the cameras always have on TV thrillers.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewmbutler/2176602254/)

I sort of get the problem with airshows in that there may be military kit on display that they don't the Enemy to see. In which case don't put it in a place where several thousand people will see it. But we're what, looking out for a place to stick a bomb by taking a few shots with a digital camera?

I've heard tell of people being told off for taking pictures in stations. What is this, The Bourne Ultimatum?

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewmbutler/2176753026/)

Wouldn't it be more terrifying if They struck within an ordinary home? Let's ban photography of dining rooms.

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

We weren't just stopped from taking photos, we were also told that we couldn't stand around looking...

[abrinsky.livejournal.com]

A further "reason" for not being stopped from taking photographs in Birmingham's Bullring is "copywrite infringement"...



Further discussion on taking photos in CV1 here.

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

Would it be okay to stand around if your eyes are shut?

[drasecretcampus.livejournal.com]

I guess the manufacturers might be worried that people would try to buy your photo thinking it was made by them - or that somehow you were taking value from their brand, such as accidentally selling a book to someone who thinks they were buying cigarettes (http://drasecretcampus.livejournal.com/101500.html).

[buffysquirrel.livejournal.com]

But someone had alleged to the police that he was taking photos of children. Which also isn't illegal. But paedophiles are even worse than terrorists! And they're everywhere! Secretly fucking your children in their HEADS!

If there is kit they don't want you to see at the airshows, they do cover it up. For years, the Blackbird spy plane appeared with red covers and armed guards.

Come to think of it, he was also told at Victoria Station that he couldn't take photos.

[buffysquirrel.livejournal.com]

What on earth were you looking AT?

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

We were just leaning on the railings on an upper level looking down at people shopping. Clearly very dangerous.