This new police “anti-terrorism” ad campaign seems both useless in finding real terrorist threats, and worrying for real photographers. According to their stance, I would “seem odd” (and no doubt reported) for taking this shot of a CCTV camera. I didn’t take any notes, but I easily could have been noting the place of the shot, what settings I used etc. I’ve actually been annoyed with myself for not noting the location since folks have often asked.

The truth is that non-photographers often don’t “get” why we take certain shots. On more than one occasion I’ve been asked “What are you taking a photo of?” when it was something a-typical. So, what is “odd”? When I am out with other photographers they always notice things I don’t, and it’s often a lot more interesting than what I have seen, and I can appreciate what they find. Do non-photographers see the artistic potential is what we are shooting or are we simply doing something “odd”? As this fear-mongering is compounded by other ridiculous campaigns such as reporting people with multiple cell phones, where do we draw the line?

Read more about the police ad campaign and Thomas Hawk posted about this with a number of comments which are worth reading.

What are your thoughts?

Update: You may want to check out this video: You Can’t Picture This (Thanks Ben for the link). Worth the watch.

Btw, for more on UK Photographer Rights check out the The UK Photographers Rights Guide by Linda Macpherson and provided by Simon Moran. You can download a PDF from the site.

It’s been almost two months since our previous Spotlight*, so it’s about time for another one: Constantin Cerdan of Ilikephoto.

(* if you have any recommendations for people you would like to see here, get in touch)

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Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 1:00pm, and then later between 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Place: Garfunkels on Northumberland Ave - it’s right near Trafalgar Square so a good spot to meet up and then venture from there.

This is the St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The parade starts at Hyde Park Corner at noon and winds its way to Trafalgar Square and up to Whitehall. It’s usually difficult to keep up with everyone during a parade, so feel free to follow it until Trafalgar Square and then we can meet up to watch the rest, and of course the performances at the square. We can venture to Covent Garden where there will be an Irish food market and Leicester Square for the Irish Culture Village.

The later meeting time allows us to get together with anyone typically late (me) or dealing with any traffic issues. We can continue to enjoy the Irish festivities until 6pm and in between, no doubt, hit a Starbucks - since that is what we always tend to do.

Another month and another festival. After the Russians and Chinese it is time for the Irish to celebrate their St. Patrick’s Day. This year it will be celebrated on 16 March and there should be lots of photo opportunities.
Click through to find out more about other exhibitions going on in March.
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