Hi,

I've seen this link posted on a few blogs recently (though it's
existed for ages) that appears to say casual photography is banned on
London Underground:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/5225.aspx

"Any individual or film production company wanting to film or take
photographs on the Tube must seek prior permission from the London
Underground (LU) Film Office."

Of course, the Film Office only has jurisdiction over professionals
(and students etc) doing proper photo shoots, and also there's nothing
in the conditions of carriage banning passengers from using cameras.
So it's reasonable to think that, despite appearances, this statement
doesn't apply to passengers casually taking pictures.

Anyway, I've emailed the film office to confirm, posing as a confused
commuter, and they confirm it's allowed:

"If you are acting like a tourist and from what I can gather you are,
then you do not need to obtain a permit from us. It is only if you
are setting up a photograph or a scene to film and you are going to be
on the station longer than 5 to 10 minutes that you would need to
obtain a permit."

I've asked them to update the page (no response yet) and, if you've
got nowt else to do this afternoon, I suggest emailing
asking them to be clearer on their website
about what's what.

U

On Apr 17, 1:23*pm, Mr Thant
wrote:

Hi,

I've seen this link posted on a few blogs recently (though it's
existed for ages) that appears to say casual photography is banned on
London Underground:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/5225.aspx

"Any individual or film production company wanting to film or take
photographs on the Tube must seek prior permission from the London
Underground (LU) Film Office."

Of course, the Film Office only has jurisdiction over professionals
(and students etc) doing proper photo shoots, and also there's nothing
in the conditions of carriage banning passengers from using cameras.
So it's reasonable to think that, despite appearances, this statement
doesn't apply to passengers casually taking pictures.

Anyway, I've emailed the film office to confirm, posing as a confused
commuter, and they confirm it's allowed:

"If you are acting like a tourist and from what I can gather you are,
then you do not need to obtain a permit from us. *It is only if you
are setting up a photograph or a scene to film and you are going to be
on the station longer than 5 to 10 minutes that you would need to
obtain a permit."

I've asked them to update the page (no response yet) and, if you've
got nowt else to do this afternoon, I suggest emailing
asking them to be clearer on their website
about what's what.

U

We had a discussion on this last week. By my reckoning the crux of the
matter is the muddled use of terminology - on the LU Film Office
webpage (linked to above) they speak of "student or non-professional"
permits, the problem bit being "non-professional" which is not defined
anywhere. For as long as the meaning of that phrase is not explained
properly then the occasional hysteria can be expected.

On Apr 17, 2:00*pm, Mizter T wrote:
I've seen this link posted on a few blogs recently (though it's
existed for ages) that appears to say casual photography is banned on
London Underground:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/5225.aspx

"Any individual or film production company wanting to film or take
photographs on the Tube must seek prior permission from the London
Underground (LU) Film Office."

Of course, the Film Office only has jurisdiction over professionals
(and students etc) doing proper photo shoots, and also there's nothing
in the conditions of carriage banning passengers from using cameras.
So it's reasonable to think that, despite appearances, this statement
doesn't apply to passengers casually taking pictures.

Anyway, I've emailed the film office to confirm, posing as a confused
commuter, and they confirm it's allowed:

"If you are acting like a tourist and from what I can gather you are,
then you do not need to obtain a permit from us. *It is only if you
are setting up a photograph or a scene to film and you are going to be
on the station longer than 5 to 10 minutes that you would need to
obtain a permit."

I've asked them to update the page (no response yet) and, if you've
got nowt else to do this afternoon, I suggest emailing
asking them to be clearer on their website
about what's what.

U

We had a discussion on this last week. By my reckoning the crux of the
matter is the muddled use of terminology - on the LU Film Office
webpage (linked to above) they speak of "student or non-professional"
permits, the problem bit being "non-professional" which is not defined
anywhere. For as long as the meaning of that phrase is not explained
properly then the occasional hysteria can be expected.


See:
http://www.johnband.org/blog/2008/02...-is-permitted/

--
John Band
john at johnband dot org
www.johnband.org

In message
of
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:38:59 in uk.transport.london,
writes
On Apr 17, 2:00*pm, Mizter T wrote:

[snip]

We had a discussion on this last week. By my reckoning the crux of the
matter is the muddled use of terminology - on the LU Film Office
webpage (linked to above) they speak of "student or non-professional"
permits, the problem bit being "non-professional" which is not defined
anywhere. For as long as the meaning of that phrase is not explained
properly then the occasional hysteria can be expected.


See:
http://www.johnband.org/blog/2008/02...don-undergroun
d-is-permitted/

John,
Many thanks for that. I have no current wish to take photos on the
underground and am mainly concerned by the muddle.

I believe the page on general photography (I failed in copying that long
URL. I really should learn to generate a tinyurl takes too narrow a
view in stating "... you must NOT use flash or lights on any of our
platforms".
I believe the relevant text is in
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...age-march-2009
..pdf
where it says "4.5. For safety reasons, on our buses, in our bus
stations and on Underground stations and trains you must not: ... take
flash photographs and/or use a tripod or other camera support equipment
...."

I raised a question on such confusion with TfL before. I shall try and
follow up on it.

BTW, How did you find the long URL document and have you found any way
to navigate to it? Is it as authoritative as you might hope?
--
Walter Briscoe

See also

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ondon-bus.html

!

Kev

On Apr 17, 3:23*pm, "Kev Lawrence"
wrote:
See also

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...an-deletes-tou...

!

Indeed, I've just read that in the Guardian - here's a link to their
article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/ap...tourist-photos

The incident appears to have happened at Walthamstow bus station. One
suspects that the police bods in question are likely to have been
PCSOs rather than proper police officers, though that's just
supposition. Whatever, the police really need to get their act in
order.

On Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:20:16 -0700 (PDT), Mizter T
wrote:


On Apr 17, 3:23*pm, "Kev Lawrence"
wrote:
See also

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...an-deletes-tou...

!

Indeed, I've just read that in the Guardian - here's a link to their
article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/ap...tourist-photos

The incident appears to have happened at Walthamstow bus station. One
suspects that the police bods in question are likely to have been
PCSOs rather than proper police officers, though that's just
supposition. Whatever, the police really need to get their act in
order.

Seig Heil.

The days of "Gee, I think your policeman are wonderful" died a while
back.

Seig Heil.


This is the government that dares to arrest opposition MPs then
threaten them with life imprisonment just for leaking embarrassing
facts that have a public interest, right to know, and a government
that employs covert surveillance on parents that mistakenly thought
they could have a say as to which school educates their kids

So, where on their concerns might you think rail photographers come?

An un-elected Prime Minister who has opposition politicians arrested,
rubbishes the economy and then claims only he is capable of fixing it.

We're all Zimbabweans now.

In message
, at
11:00:11 on Fri, 17 Apr 2009, remarked:
An un-elected Prime Minister who has opposition politicians arrested,
rubbishes the economy and then claims only he is capable of fixing it.

But hasn't he gone now? Or did I dream him saying in Glasgow the other
day:

"I take full responsibility for what happened - that is why the person
that was responsible went immediately...."
--
Roland Perry

On 17 Apr, 16:20, Mizter T wrote:

The incident appears to have happened at Walthamstow bus station. One
suspects that the police bods in question are likely to have been
PCSOs rather than proper police officers, though that's just
supposition. Whatever, the police really need to get their act in
order.

It is a ridiculous situation, as surely if a crime *had* been
committed the images should *not* be deleted as they are evidence.

It sounds like poorly trained muppets on a power trip.

Neil