Hi
I may have to accompany a group of students next week on a trip to London.
Question, does anyone know if we are allowed to set up a camcorder and tripod
outside the usual famous sites e.g. Buckingham Palace? I have heard that
taking a tripod might be a waste of time because of restrictions. I haven't
recorded images like this before so any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers
Paul.
Filming in London
-
Ned C
Re: Filming in London
"Paul Miley" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
public place otherwise you can be charged with causing an obstruction. In
popular tourist areas this will almost certainly be enforced so use a monopod
instead, with practice you can get very good results. Leave the monopod attached
to the camera and it will be a useful handle when closed and when opened
is a reasonably steady platform.
Good luck,
Ned C
Theoretically you need permission from the police to set up a tripod in anyHi
I may have to accompany a group of students next week on a trip to London.
Question, does anyone know if we are allowed to set up a camcorder and tripod
outside the usual famous sites e.g. Buckingham Palace? I have heard that
taking a tripod might be a waste of time because of restrictions. I haven't
recorded images like this before so any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers
Paul.
public place otherwise you can be charged with causing an obstruction. In
popular tourist areas this will almost certainly be enforced so use a monopod
instead, with practice you can get very good results. Leave the monopod attached
to the camera and it will be a useful handle when closed and when opened
is a reasonably steady platform.
Good luck,
Ned C
-
Reg Lancaster
Re: Filming in London
Shooting in London.
I agree with Ned. Stick to the monopod, and or beanbag.
Beanbag? Yes, you can even buy a modern version of this simple gadget that
lots of press photographers like me used to have in the boot of the car.
It is all very well to say "stick it on a low wall," but two points. The
wall will have a rough surface, scratching your gear, and if it is a dry
stone dyke kind of wall what do you do?
The beanbag will mould itself to the two surfaces involved, the underside
will fit the wall, spikey railing or whatever, while the top side will snugly
take your camera's underside, even if you leave on your quick release for
the monopod .
Re permission, with a pal from the Mirror, I had a monumental row with two
plods while taking pix of a happy husband and wife on a bench in Trafalgar
Sq. one day. It was a Monday, because they were insisting we didn't have
Ministry of Works permission. The reason I know it was a Monday was that
our argument with these obstinate sods was that the day before we had been
photographing all over the square when forty thousand people were protesting
about the Atom Bomb.That's different, they insisted.How we insisted and it
went down hill from there.
It was one of those straw that broke the camels back situations, and from
that moment on, Daily Express photogs always carried a copy of the Office
permit which covers all the Parks, Squares and oddball places where there
is legislation aimed at the rip-off happy snap brigade that used to be a
menace in the 30's. Thre ones that handed you a ticket took your money and
weren't at the fictitious address when you went to collect the pictures.Plus,
as with a lot of London legislation, it is passed to protect Establishment
gentlemen walking with women who are not their wives, in all sorts of places.
The individual copper is usually fine, the Parks Police are awkward fellows
and gals however - it really is a question of luck.
Usually it is very relaxed for amateurs taking the odd snap shot For movie
makers, it is not so easy. Having a tripod can confuse PC49 into thinking
you must be a professional, and he wants to see your above mentioned permit.
However, if you look at the ByeLaws always printed on the way into London
parks, it invariably bans the use of tripods. Nowadays it is the Ministry
of the Environment etc that are involved plus those modern menaces the Health
and Safety Executive.
However, as many members have found, the old IAC membership card can work
wonders! Try it, with your best smile, and who knows?
Cheers
Reg Lancs
8607
I agree with Ned. Stick to the monopod, and or beanbag.
Beanbag? Yes, you can even buy a modern version of this simple gadget that
lots of press photographers like me used to have in the boot of the car.
It is all very well to say "stick it on a low wall," but two points. The
wall will have a rough surface, scratching your gear, and if it is a dry
stone dyke kind of wall what do you do?
The beanbag will mould itself to the two surfaces involved, the underside
will fit the wall, spikey railing or whatever, while the top side will snugly
take your camera's underside, even if you leave on your quick release for
the monopod .
Re permission, with a pal from the Mirror, I had a monumental row with two
plods while taking pix of a happy husband and wife on a bench in Trafalgar
Sq. one day. It was a Monday, because they were insisting we didn't have
Ministry of Works permission. The reason I know it was a Monday was that
our argument with these obstinate sods was that the day before we had been
photographing all over the square when forty thousand people were protesting
about the Atom Bomb.That's different, they insisted.How we insisted and it
went down hill from there.
It was one of those straw that broke the camels back situations, and from
that moment on, Daily Express photogs always carried a copy of the Office
permit which covers all the Parks, Squares and oddball places where there
is legislation aimed at the rip-off happy snap brigade that used to be a
menace in the 30's. Thre ones that handed you a ticket took your money and
weren't at the fictitious address when you went to collect the pictures.Plus,
as with a lot of London legislation, it is passed to protect Establishment
gentlemen walking with women who are not their wives, in all sorts of places.
The individual copper is usually fine, the Parks Police are awkward fellows
and gals however - it really is a question of luck.
Usually it is very relaxed for amateurs taking the odd snap shot For movie
makers, it is not so easy. Having a tripod can confuse PC49 into thinking
you must be a professional, and he wants to see your above mentioned permit.
However, if you look at the ByeLaws always printed on the way into London
parks, it invariably bans the use of tripods. Nowadays it is the Ministry
of the Environment etc that are involved plus those modern menaces the Health
and Safety Executive.
However, as many members have found, the old IAC membership card can work
wonders! Try it, with your best smile, and who knows?
Cheers
Reg Lancs
8607