Latest advice? Group street photography

[HDPete]

Hi all,

A small group (6) are travelling to London's Southbank on Friday to take some night shots of the usual Houses of Parliament, London Eye etc, but I would like to be prepared for the inevitable when we're challenged by security folk or police.

I've heard that they use excuses such as blocking the public highway etc, but is there a pocket guide that anyone has as to what our actual rights as members of the public are?

Obviously we will not intentionally cause agro for anyone, but it would be helpful to be fully informed, if only for the sport of the challenge.

Kind regards
Pete.

[Cathus]

Print this out - http://hmmm.co.za/UKPhotographersRightscard_v6.pdf

here's another one - http://www.sirimo.co.uk/wp-content/u...srights-v2.pdf

and the Met's own advice to officers: http://www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm

if challenged, be as polite & professional as you would expect the challenger to be, remember you are representing all the other photographers out there and if you make an **** of yourself, you do the rest of us a disservice. (not that you will, just my advice, make of it what you will)

[HDPete]

Many thanks for the links - just what I was after.

I agree with the need to be polite and professional and that will be so much easier now that I am properly informed.

Thanks again.
Regards
Pete.

[ap4a]

I can't see you having many problems on the south bank, I've shot there a few times in the day and evening and the atmosphere is very laid back even with other things going on (eg. Xmas market & book fairs when I've been) I've also seen plenty of people using tripods at those times too. There are street performers, skate boarders, cyclists and plenty of tourists who are all just as likely to get in the way as you might be and are left to get on with it too. So to top off the advice above I'd say to take a positive attitude and enjoy it

[chris-p]

Another bust card is from the I'm A Photographer, Not A Terrorist organisation. Download it here.

I'd also add that you're unlikely to get much trouble on the South Bank. A couple of months ago, we organised a photowalk along the river from Westminster to Tower Bridge. There were only 12 of us but we didn't get any trouble from the police at all.