London Underground apologises for DSLR ban blunder
London Underground is considering opening Aldwych station to professional photographers after facing a storm of protests for banning DSLR cameras at the historical underground station, BJP can reveal
Author: Olivier Laurent
10 Jan 2012 Tags: Street rightsLondon
In December 2011, London Transport Museum came under fire for banning DSLR cameras over other photographic equipment at the Aldwych Underground Station. A sign, displayed on 03 and 04 December, read: "Due to their combination of high-quality sensor and high resolution, digital SLR cameras are unfortunately not permitted inside the station".
Speaking to BJP, a spokeswoman explained at the time that DSLRs could represent a health and safety risk for visitors, as well as delay visits to the historical station.
Now, London Underground has revealed how the decision to ban DSLRs from the station was taken, after BJP filed a freedom of information request with Transport for London.
"The decision was made by London Underground and formed part of the terms and conditions for visitors to the event," reads TfL's answer. "The terms and conditions were sent to all ticket holders, posted on the London Transport Museum website in advance of the event as ‘Essential information for all ticket holders' and displayed at the station on the day."
But, TfL admits that the sign displayed outside the station was incorrect. "In the initial discussions regarding the event, a complete ban on photography and photography equipment such as tripods was considered because there is no lift at Aldwych and 2500 people would have to walk down a spiral staircase with over 160 steps. We were concerned that if people were carrying large, heavy cameras and equipment there could be an accident going up and down this number of stairs. In addition we were concerned if there were delays because people were held up by visitors taking pictures it was not going to be enjoyable for everyone and we might not have been able to get all those who had booked, safely round in the tours."
Subsequently, it was agreed that, instead of having an outright ban on all photography, only professional equipment would be deemed unacceptable, says TfL, "because it was felt that those photographers were more likely to want to take more pictures and want to stop for longer periods of time to take them. The term ‘professional equipment' was subsequently defined as digital SLRs and tripods."
On the first weekend of the tours, TfL says that it proved difficult for Museum staff supervising the event to implement the ban on DSLRs without support and guidance. "A sign was therefore made for the second weekend of tours. It was intended to make the situation clear for visitors, and staff and volunteers. The Museum is happy to concede that the sign did not achieve its intended purpose."
It adds: "The Museum apologises for this and has taken steps to make sure signs are thoroughly screened for future Museum events to ensure their meaning is clear before they are issued."
The Museum is also exploring the possibility of holding a photography day at the end of the year at the station. "This would be for a much smaller group of people who could use digital SLRs and other equipment. The smaller group will be much easier to manage and allow visitors to get the photographs they want whilst being able to safely get up and down the spiral staircase."
Read our initial report "Tight schedule" forced ban on DSLRs, says London Transport Museum.
Comments
I wonder what the prejudice is against digital. It make no mention of professional film equipment/users.
That's an easy fight on my hands then...
lots of assumptions being made there
There are an awful lot of assumptions being made on TfL's part there. And I think when they say 'professional' they really seem to be meaning 'enthusiast'.
I think it's a little inane for people to still be pointing out how a film SLR or rangefinder would work around this ruling, just realise that to all intents and purposes film is dead to most lay people and that's a fine world view for them to work within given their situation. Personally I don't _agree_ with the wording, being a film rangefinder and TLR user.
Peter, my point is exactly that - their wording owes nothing to the fact that 'professional photography' is holding up the tours or poses a risk to safety. I am not for a minute going to go put them to the test and see if they can tell the difference between film and digital. My facetious comment was merely suggesting thier specific reference will not fix their issue explained (if in fact that is the real reason)...
Well, another useless and pointless debate on photographers rights. Don't get me wrong here I'm with the shooters on this, pro and none pro.
However, I really think this is a case of the control over the usage of images being taken within the station.
Oh, how much did it cost to have these posters, the time in sorting this out, design etc etc cost. Would this money not be better spent on the preservation of the site or homeless people around the area.
Come on, have we not had enough hassle with being branded as terrorists, besides other things, every time we bring out camera out in public, without stupid posters and other such stuff as this.
On a previous visit to Aldwych...
... the group was encouraged to bring camerasof all sorts but told not to make photos available online or commercially to avoid infringing TfL intellectual property rights.
I think TfL are naturally camera-shy and pull out random justifications when challenged...
I was walking past Aldwych when the tours were in progress with people inside taking photos - I asked the official on the door if I could take a picture through the door from outside. He said okay - I took one photo and was walking away when another belligerent official came up and demanded I delete the photo. He said he had power to make me because it was a security matter.
No ''official'' can order you to destroy any photograph you have taken either on or off their premises, an official can not seize your camera. A police officer can seize your camera or photograph if he suspects it is evidence of an offence, but can not destroy it or order you to destroy it as he would be destroying evidence in a suspected offence. That can only be done by an order of the court.
@Trevor Palin: I am not inclined to agree with you with it being about commercial use of images.
I contacted the LTM before visiting Aldwych and asked why DSLRs were banned. They said that they had been told by LT/TfL it was part of the conditions of opening the station. They 'guessed' that it could possibly be that people could use the images commercially but I pointed out that P&S (and most of the people on the tour had compacts) have such a high resolution now that the rule was silly.
As for availability of images, just check Flickr to see an abundance posted from this years tours and every previous one as well.
Chris, point taken but Flickr is not really a commercial gallery and many of the images are for free download only.
What you must understand is that this is a public space built by public money and therefore we all should have a right to basically shoot and enjoy the photography without being constantly hassled every time we bring out a PROFESSIONAL looking camera.
Next time they will ban babies due to all the trolleys and other stuff. Plus you have to carry a baby down the stairs which will be very dangerous on the crowded staircase. Come on. A marketing department screwed up and is now screwing it up even more.
Making themselves look utterly stupid!
Along with the police, these people are just making themselves look utterly stupid. They put up a ban that has no basis at all. Then, when people protest, they fall back on idiotic excuses in an attempt to justify it. Same with the police: All of us who have attended law courses at uni knew full well that the police had no right to stop us using our cameras in public places. We knew that there was no right to privacy in a public place. This was confirmed by Mr Justice Bean sitting in the High Court only recently. Now the Met and ACPO and the Home Office have confirmed this and made clear that police have no right to stop people for taking photographs unless there is a very good reason AND, criminal intent is suspected.
Having said that, I still believe that my discreet approach is still the best way to avoid any trouble at all:
Keep your camera and a lens or two in a large-pocketed jacked - an ex-army M65 from the army surplus stores will cost around twenty quid.
Keep a sharp lookout for police/PCSO/security guards and any old bag who seems to be watching you. When you see your shot, bring camera up to your eye, press the go button AND MOVE AWAY! This last bit is very important: If the 'concerned member of the public' has to follow you while talking to the police on a mobile phone, they will be very obvious, allowing you to take evasive action.
I know we should not have to behave like this but, it works.
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