Have you ever been in that moment when you’ve composed the scene just how you wanted, you’ve nailed your focus, you’ve placed your grad perfectly to balance the exposure and you’re about to take the photograph when you’re interrupted by someone telling you that you’re not allowed to use a tripod at the location?
On closer inspection, you notice that the person isn’t even in security, they’re just a self-appointed tripod policeman. In this article, I’ll examine this photography policing phenomenon in an attempt to stop it.
I remember doing a commercial travel photography job in Turkey. I had a permit to photograph with a tripod in a cave church in Cappadocia. The rules of the church clearly stated that tripods were not allowed. Even so, members of the public tried their luck. The security guards told the public to put away their tripods and then a voice whined out, “how come he is allowed to use a tripod?”. I turned around, shocked to see a fully formed adult man pointing at me. I was dismayed because logically, there were only two explanations for why I was using my tripod. I either had permission or I was trying my luck and getting away with it. What did this man hope to achieve by reporting me? Did he imagine the security guard was going to roll over and allow him to also use his tripod? More likely, this man was annoyed that he couldn’t use his tripod, so he wanted to prevent all others from doing so.
Both this and the lead photograph were taken either side of Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is one of the most photographed icon in London, however, both locations are privately owned and the owners have chosen to ban tripods. At both locations, I've been told by other photographers not to use my tripod.
Since owning a drone, I’ve had to deal with similar issues: self-appointed drone police constantly telling me what I can and can’t do. Worse still, whenever I post a photo or video from a drone, certain people are outraged, convinced that I’ve broken the law to get the shot.
I appreciate this video by Tech Drone Media because it provokes the drone police and highlights the futility of the practice. To some extent, I understand why some photographers feel compelled to police other photographers. When photographers willful break the law and annoy the general public, it can make it more difficult for law abiding photographers. However, there are three issues facing even the most well intentioned photography policeman:
- The photographer has a permit and is operating within the law. In this case, confronting the photographer distracts them from doing their job.
- The photographer is aware of the law and is taking a chance, hoping to get away with it. In this case, the photographer will simply move to another location and will continue to take the chance.
- The photographer is ignorant of the law. This is a common occurrence with drones available from most stores sold to the general public without any education. This group does not represent the serious photographer group and if you're going to try police this group, you've got an uphill battle now that just about every person in the world has a camera in their hands.
Have you ever found yourself acting in some sort of photographic policing role and if so, what were you hoping to achieve? To the self appointed photography police out there, I suggest making a decision to make your life easier and just let other photographers practice their craft without interference.
To be clear, I wasn’t saying the landowner should shut up and leave me alone, I was saying other photographer should do so. With so many private security guards around already enforcing the tripod rule, we surely don’t need other photographers doing their job.
Surfing communities around the world have banned drones from certain spots to keep crowds down. Can’t say I’m against it
Never been told off using a tripod, but was accused of taking pictures of girls with a long lens at a sports field. The person had no clue, I was on the other side of the carpark!
Another time I was shooting little kids at soccer match. Not easily offended but as the father of two girls I was horrified. I wanted to make a shirt saying 'photographer, not pervert'.
I'm guessing many of you have had similar experiences.
Yes, as a travel photographer, I’ve had to cover many beaches. Often someone will come up to me and shout and me not to photograph their children, even though it is very clear that I’m making every attempt not to photograph people.
"I am the law. Don't you understand, I represent the law?" - Cotton Mouth
" Piss on ya and your law" - Rubber Duck
I believe the term is "snitches".
There are two contributory issues here in London. First, most of what you assume is public property is
actually private and owned by land development companies or the Corporation of London. Being granted the right to walk on private property does not give you the right to take photographs. Second, years of mindless terrorism have made the security forces paranoid, and they in turn have made the general public paranoid. On public transport there is a mantra fed over the PA system urging the public to use their initiative, be vigilant, to act like security personnel. I really don't see anything changing for the better any time soon....
I have never had this problem but then I do not shoot iconic trophy locations and do not shoot where people are. I am out to get away from people.
These people were tattle_tales as children in school. Always pointing out the faults and errors of others to distract from their own inequities. They profess to be liberal in their thinking but in fact are mini dictators trying to make the world to their liking. I have no tolerance for them or their self imposed rules.
As long as you are not impeeding anyone else what is the harm. Actually the photographer takes all the risk with a tripod that could easily get knocked over with thousands of dollars on the line by some careless fool not watching where his feet are planted.
I will stick to my private corners of the world avoiding most of the human race while shooting.
Hear hear!
Mini tripods can be very useful and unobtrusive..here's one I made earlier.
Impressive!
A person could stand all day with an smartphone and take pictures without getting any attention, but let that same person haul out a DSLR or worse yet a tripod and the photography police loose it. Yet essentially the results are the same: a photograph of something.
Other than heft, this is the reason I moved from DSLR to Sony mirrorless. Even so, it still isn't as circumspect as the smartphone.
Police yourself and don't waste your time worrying about others. You have no idea what someone else is doing. They could be doing everything legal and by the book and even if they aren't it's not your business.