Canon at the London Summer Olympics

[akiskev]

Another sad example of Britains obsession with security and the removal of freedom & the rights of the people.

Sad to hear that..

[briansquibb]

Another sad example of Britains obsession with security and the removal of freedom & the rights of the people.

Sad to hear that..

I would go down the security route but the freedom and rights is not my view

[Flake]

Just to illustrate how draconian the Olympics act is, it is a criminal offence for spectators to take and display their images taken within the Olympic venue (and that includes outside it) and to display them on the web.  So no flikr photobucket image shack etc.  If the person who posted the image of the fencing is not an accredited photographer within the games then he or she could be prosecuted just for posting that image on these forums.

The situation is so bad that the NUJ (national union of journalists) has published some legal guidelines as to what to do if you are stopped by a member of the 'security' squad http://londonphotographers.org/2012/07/olympics-legal-guidelines/


Any camera equipment exceeding 30cm is banned, if you try to take it in, it will be confiscated, and will not be returned!

Anyone thinking of visiting the UK with a large camera should be aware that you will be viewed as a potential terrorist where ever you are, and Police interest is often heavy handed and ignorant.  The internet is full of the problems of photographers and UK Police
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/photo-news/538834/amateur-photographer-wins-10-000-police-payout
Even Pros aren't safe
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/jun/14/police-press-freedom

[briansquibb]

It is not a criminal offense - it is a civil offense only - part of the T&C of going on the site

As for the comment about visiting the UK with a camera - that is utter BS

[Flake]

All these newspapers and other media must be making it all up!  After all I'm sure a group like 'I'm a photographer not a terrorist' was formed because there was no problem and any one even daring to mention it was 'talking BS'?

Of course there's a problem in the UK why do you think there were demos like pap the Police? because photographers had nothing better to do?

Just to hammer the point home have a read of these:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/16/02-olympic-venues-row-security-photography

http://photographernotaterrorist.org/

http://www.alamy.com/pressrelease/releases/archive/2012/04/30/152.aspx

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/899005-photographers-starting-to-fight-back-against-excessive-security-measures

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/13/olympics-2012-branding-police-sponsors

The uploading of images is covered by Ts & Cs but if any Olympic branding is visible then that is covered by the Olympic games act.

I don't know if you live in the UK, but if you think there isn't a problem then you're not getting out enough !

[adebrophy]

Although there are real issues of photography in public places, that have been well documented, it really doesn't seem that draconian here. I've done quite a bit of public shooting at events recently (official but not showing ID) and wasn't challenged by anyone.

With regards to the Olympics, I'm sorry to hear about the experience (direct experience?) of the poster above but I went to the sailing in Weymouth and there were stacks of white lenses in the audience and the security were actually really polite and friendly. A friend went to an event in London and said the event was buzzing with a great party atmosphere.

What is true is that there's a cultural predisposition towards complaining and cynicism that's having an awfully hard time keeping up with the fact that the country seems to have pulled off something rather decent - and potentially something rather brilliant.

I applaud the determination of those who continue to moan in the face of this risk of triumph - that there is a true Brit.

[briansquibb]

All these newspapers and other media must be making it all up!  After all I'm sure a group like 'I'm a photographer not a terrorist' was formed because there was no problem and any one even daring to mention it was 'talking BS'?

Of course there's a problem in the UK why do you think there were demos like pap the Police? because photographers had nothing better to do?

Just to hammer the point home have a read of these:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/16/02-olympic-venues-row-security-photography

http://photographernotaterrorist.org/

http://www.alamy.com/pressrelease/releases/archive/2012/04/30/152.aspx

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/899005-photographers-starting-to-fight-back-against-excessive-security-measures

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/13/olympics-2012-branding-police-sponsors

The uploading of images is covered by Ts & Cs but if any Olympic branding is visible then that is covered by the Olympic games act.

I don't know if you live in the UK, but if you think there isn't a problem then you're not getting out enough !

I do get out enough and I have never been stopped by the Police. I regularly shoot in central London

If you read the posting I was responding to it was quoting the out of date articles from last year for which the law has been clarified and verified as not being relevant.

Perhaps you should read the post carefully before having a dig

[Flake]

I've been stopped by the Police, on my own street! Testing a 70 - 200mm lens.  An officious and undertrained WPC told me she had a child in the back of her car and it was an offence under the data protection act to photograph it!

The case of Murray Vs Big Picture makes it crystal clear that it is not illegal to take pictures of children while in a public place. 

[briansquibb]

I've been stopped by the Police, on my own street! Testing a 70 - 200mm lens.  An officious and undertrained WPC told me she had a child in the back of her car and it was an offence under the data protection act to photograph it!

The case of Murray Vs Big Picture makes it crystal clear that it is not illegal to take pictures of children while in a public place.

Never been a problem for me

[Caps18]

Also probably has a lot to do with space, Swimming's fairly popular so they cram as many in as they can, they have more trouble selling Gymnastics tickets so there's more room to stretch the legs and put a hood on...

Gymnastics tickets are some of the hardest tickets to get.

And The Olympics is another one of those times where as a non-professional I would like to bring in my DSLR with 300mm f/4 lens, but I would worry about the restrictions on DSLRs at the venues.

And the decision to have the Olympic flame not accessible or visible by the public is a problem.

[Ziggy]

Just out of curiousity I will be attending the Olympics next week (on vacation) and I am a CPS member in the USA.
Can I get access to trying out a supertele or two from my CPS membership, or do I need a press pass as well?

More then likely, I would say you need a press pass.  For I shot the US Open Golf once and Canon was there, but they were in an area where you needed press credential to get to.  They are set-up to help the photographers who are covering the event.

Also as for Lens Hoods, I normally don't keep mine on any of by big glass when I shoot indoors.  Never see a need and it becomes more of a burden and can interfere with my fellow photographers...

[inkiboo]

The Olympics is pretty much a disaster for the UK, greedy hospitality companies raised prices so high that no one used their facilities, and now they're cutting prices to less than they were normally.  London is pretty quiet, no real bonus from visitors to bars & restaurants.

This is simply not true. And in reference to your post about being banned from posting on Facebook and Flickr, that is also not true.