Good stuff but at places like Canary Wharf where you'd hope this would come in handy, the security are quick to point out the estate isn't public land but private...! Still... doesn't stop you taking sneaky shots tho :-)
Although it does also say: the guidelines say that "if an individual is in a public place photographing or filming a private building, security guards have no right to prevent the individual from taking photographs,"
So technically I guess if you are outside and "in public", you can shoot the building... just not from the inside! Although I'm not sure how much of the outside area around Canary Wharf is considered to be private property...
@limpet365 yeah, whilst I agree we should be able to take pics pretty much everywhere, they are a "special" breed of idiots at the wharf I'm afraid :-)
Times have changed. As an example, before 9-11, we used to be able to walk right to the gates without a boarding pass or going through security. Now...of course you know that's all changed. I've been told not to take pics of certain places (like when I was on the sidewalk out front of the Boeing Building and a security guard came out to ask me not to shoot pics of it. I wasn't even shooting...just HOLDING my camera. I have to respect them, though. I understand. I figure there are plenty of other places to take pictures.
@debsphotos There are some oddities out there tho - You get stopped at Canary Wharf - an office and shopping complex in London but on Monday I visited Portsmouth Naval Dockyards (UK's main navy base) and you can walk around freely photographing ships, subs and the like...
Suppose a naval base has a sh*t-load of weapons and therefore doesn't see a photogtrapher as a threat...!!!
This article refers to 'your right to take photos in a public place', not to your rights while taking photos on private property open to the public. There is a subtle difference that most people will fail to see unfortunatly.
Many of the US military bases have postings of where you cannot take photos and security cameras, so it wouldn't take long for someone to come and take your camera if you did. While on base, you are under a different set of judicial rules, which you know when you sign for your ID card. If we are traveling onto a base I always ask at the gate where photos are prohibted, so I don't have to spend time with the MP's; and they are very friendly in informing me what areas are "photo friendly" as there are lots of places with historic buildings and docked retired ships etc where photography is welcome.
We also run into this often in the Smithsonian. Art and artifacts the museum owns are open to photos; on-loan and special exhibits are not.
The most ridiculous thing is if I've my DSLR with a large lens, I will be hassled. Camera phone? Not generally. If your intent was nefarious, would you carry a rig nearly half a meter long or a palm size device you could pretend to be having a conversation on? @pete21 There is a difference. But even on private property, the most they can do is see you off. And only then if it is posted.
I was told once to not photograph a Christmas display in a mall. I don't know why that would be so "secure" but then I asked the lady why all the people taking pix with their cell phones weren't told anything? I guess my big camera and lens stuck out in the crowd. I just went up to the 2nd level and shot a great pic from there.
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Although it does also say: the guidelines say that "if an individual is in a public place photographing or filming a private building, security guards have no right to prevent the individual from taking photographs,"
So technically I guess if you are outside and "in public", you can shoot the building... just not from the inside! Although I'm not sure how much of the outside area around Canary Wharf is considered to be private property...
Suppose a naval base has a sh*t-load of weapons and therefore doesn't see a photogtrapher as a threat...!!!
This article refers to 'your right to take photos in a public place', not to your rights while taking photos on private property open to the public. There is a subtle difference that most people will fail to see unfortunatly.
We also run into this often in the Smithsonian. Art and artifacts the museum owns are open to photos; on-loan and special exhibits are not.
When in doubt, I ask.
@pete21 There is a difference. But even on private property, the most they can do is see you off. And only then if it is posted.