Freelance photographers were yesterday invited to carry a small pocket-sized card that spells out their rights as professionals to take pictures in public places.
The political and industry backlash follows the story of an independent photographer who was ordered by a community support officer to erase the photos on his digital camera.
Amateur snapper John Kelly said he felt like a crook when the officer stopped him in
However, if the photographer is causing a public nuisance by blocking traffic in the public road by staging or taking the shot, then they may face legal problems, according to the AOP.
It is for this reason that when organising a shoot in a public place, the industry association said photographers should notify the police first and follow any recommendations they make.
“We have written to the police, we have lobbied MPs, but ultimately, whether a photographer is prevented from taking pictures, is down to the individual officer on the ground,” John Tracy, the BFP’s chief executive said yesterday.
The bureau’s ‘Blue card’ has come about because the number of freelance photographers being stopped by police, or more commonly community support officers, is on the increase.
Mr Tracy reflected: “We feel that the card, if used with tact and discretion, may have the desired effect of emphasising to an officer the fact that photography in public places is a legitimate and, in 99 cases out of 100, legal activity.”
The card, which is enclosed with the June issue of the BFP's monthly newsletter, is written in simple language; it is short, to the point and has been legally validated.
Card-holders are asked to report back all their experiences of using it in public, in other words the association wants to know the good and bad effects of producing it upon being questioned.
The forum said it hopes to be in a delegation being put together by
Regardless of how the card fares, photographers are reminded that they must obtain a permit before shooting in royal parks, such as Hyde Park and
Similarly, the Association of Photographers advises that owners of public monuments and private landowners will normally permit photography if asked and if a payment is made.
Positively for photographers, the National Trust does not charge for permission to shoot on its landscape and coastline properties, the AOP said.
However, photographers must contact the National Trust Photographic Library if they wish to snap listed species or land inside a sight of specific scientific interest (SSSI).
Photographers should also note that buildings can be registered as trade marks, although this remains rare in the
As they are also an artistic work, logos are covered by copyright law, which may be infringed if the motif is photographed without the permission of the rights holder.
Reflecting the sentiments of industry practitioners, and now 200 MPs, the National Union of Journalists said it does not believe any legislation should be amended, or brought in, to restrict what people can photograph in public.
Jun 3, 2008
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