More fun in Trafalagar Square

Yesterday in Trafalgar Square there was a big demo on Climate Change, I went

along to shoot a few photos. It was packed solid, there wasn't much scope for

real "street" shooting altho' there were quite a few colourful characters there.

I had just finished a roll of Kodachrome and was thinking about going to get

some lunch when a private security thug told me to stop shooting. Whatever, I

was done anyway. He then turned on another photographer, who wasn't done - this

photographer demanded that the thug show him some ID (he was just wearing the

bomber jacket of some "event security" company). The thug refused and the other

photographer said, well, you have no real authority here, if there's a problem

with me then you will need to call a real cop. This is exactly what every

photographer should be doing.

 

Then - to my surprise and horror - members of the crowd, who're supposed to be

anti-authority types anyway - turned on the other photographer, getting all up

in his face "don't be a c*nt", "do as your told", etc etc. Has it really come to

this in Red Ken's London, that he spends taxpayers money on private security to

bully the public, and nearly everyone just rolls over, in fact likes it? I was

ashamed to be a Londoner that day.

It must be a massive trend this one lately, let's see where will bring us this time..

"members of the crowd, who're supposed to be anti-authority types anyway - turned on the other photographer,"

 

Rent-a-mob in action. A lot of people who go to rallies and demonstration do so, not because they support the objective, but because they want an excuse to be troublemakers. I have an aquaintance who works for the Crown Prosecution Service. She tells me that they see the same bunch of idiots coming through the system every time there's a demo. The photographer being picked on was just unlucky enough to be standing near some of these clowns when the security thug started to throw his weight around.<div></div>

I have had pretty good luck with getting press pass badges to wear at some of the demonstrations and festivals I've been photographing recently. Once I was given one and I didn't even ask or expect one. Lucky day! Not only are you free to roam around in otherwise restricted areas, cops and security personal leave you alone.

Win - win. Just find a booth set up for media check in or contact the promoters beforehand and ask.

Marc, I've done that before a few times... Perfectly reasonable if you want access to the press pit, but there's no reason you should need one in the public areas.

One would think a pass isn't necessary in a public area in such an event and it's true it's not but still, one never knows what they may encounter. Better to have as many bases covered as possible.

 

I've gotten to know a gentleman who comes into my work almost everyday and who has taken an interest in my photography. He does a lot of volunteer work with a local police dept.

Last week he gave me a strange looking card in a plastic sleeve.

It's a security pass of some sort with a seal, a place for my picture and signature, and a brief statement about the bearer of this card requesting cooperation in investigation tactics. Huh?

I'm sure he gave it to me as a joke. Can you imagine the heap of trouble I'd be in trying to flash that around on private property?

It doesn't say anywhere on the card that it's a police dept issued item. Next time I see him I'll ask him some more about it.

Last week he gave me a strange looking card in a plastic sleeve.

 

Probably Kenny Livingstone trying to drum up some votes.Have you ever noticed, on the TV, his got constantly moving shifty eyes?

Really sad to hear this happen in London :(

If you pay UKP453 + VAT per hour (one hour minimum) and take out public liability insurance for UKP 5 million and give Ken's mates 5 working days notice, you too could even set up your tripod in Trafalgar Square:

 

http://www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare/manage/guidelines_filming.jsp

 

Added benefit: you can tell the hirelings you're paying their wages.