How do you tell private from public land?

How do you tell private from public land?

Author
Discussion

Jetl3on

Original Poster:

1,409 posts

195 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Whilst searching for a new angle on Tower Bridge the other night, came across this lovely setting by a bridge around St. Katherine's docks, very picturesque, barely got the pod out, cam mounted and started snapping before security appeared and told me it was private, I was being monitored and did I have a permit, I cannot use a tripod.
When i asked what is private, he said everything, and flung his arms about. Not wanting to draw attention I packed up and left, but how do you know they are not just saying that, there are no signs, he didn't provide any proof. Its for personal use, so going to the land registry is not viable, what is the general consensus in these situations?

From what I understand I can take a photo of anything providing I am standing on public land, but how do I know its public.

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Can't help specifically but people in reflective jackets do let their egos exceed their brains sometimes.

'How do I get a permit?' might have been a good question.


Where's that great Youtube clip where a guy with a camcorder sets up outside a factory, on a public footpath, and keeps filming depsite all the security dweebs throw at him?

londonagent

635 posts

167 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
There are a lot of places around London that are private land, the area by More London (just down from City Hall), County Hall / London Eye and Canary Wharf are just a few that spring to mind. I've taken pictures using a tripod at these locations in the past with out being hassled, but I know others that have been moved on. If you do a google search there is quite a lot of discussion and info on it.
Personally if think there will be an issue, I do a quick recce, I get the camera set up on the tripod with the settings dialed in before quickly moving in setting up the shot and moving on before security strike.

2slo

1,998 posts

166 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Jetl3on said:
From what I understand I can take a photo of anything providing I am standing on public land, but how do I know its public.
Unless you've crossed some obvious boundry I would turn that around if approached by 'security'. Ask for specifics of ownership and boundries and if there aren't any or in the absence of any satisfactory answer then tell the jobsworth where to get off. They are just members of the public in a second hand uniform.

Jetl3on

Original Poster:

1,409 posts

195 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
If you lot get me arrested madlaugh

Decided to go back and play hide and seek with security and practice my low light stuff, lovely place, just got back and pleased some didn't come out too bad.






Edited by Jetl3on on Saturday 6th October 22:17


Edited by Jetl3on on Wednesday 17th October 15:38

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Well done: Tog 2, Jobsworth 1.

NB You inadvertently photographed a Freeman 26!

Jetl3on

Original Poster:

1,409 posts

195 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Well done: Tog 2, Jobsworth 1.

NB You inadvertently photographed a Freeman 26!
A what? Google, google, google, ah I see, the Freeman 26 cruiser derived from a 22, this one looks much nicer than the ones on google images. biggrin

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
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MysteryLemon

4,968 posts

190 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
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So what was he doing sitting outside golden wonder for then anyway? Apart from causing a nusience for no apparent reason other than because he could...

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
MysteryLemon said:
So what was he doing sitting outside golden wonder for then anyway? Apart from causing a nusience for no apparent reason other than because he could...
Another way of saying that is 'proving a point of law'; and whilst the GW factory with its menopausal old bat has no significance on its own, it's an important point for civil rights. The all-pervasive machine of state is bad enough without paper tigers taking matters into their own hands. It's a kind of vigilantism but for bad reasons.

MysteryLemon

4,968 posts

190 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Standing his ground or not. He still made himself look like a tit filming the workers going in to work on a rainy morning.

If I was security I think I would also be a bit curious as to why this weirdo felt the need to film it, then get so defensive when asked not to.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
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MysteryLemon said:
If I was security I think I would also be a bit curious as to why this weirdo felt the need to film it
That bit I'm OK with

MysteryLemon said:
then get so defensive when asked not to.
It'd be the asking not to for me - I'd like to know why

MysteryLemon

4,968 posts

190 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Ok, well fair enough they had no legal right to tell him to stop filming but could have asked him not to. Whether he agreed or not is up to him.

Staying put on the purpose of what only looks to be to wind them up is childish and just makes him look foolish.

S47

1,325 posts

179 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Interesting Video. Wonder why the photographer NEVER called Mr Plod, since he was clearly in the right, why did he put up with the Jobsworths at GW security giving him grief???????

checkmate91

851 posts

172 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
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IF you were that close to the water inside the St Katherine's dock area I suspect you were on private land (alongside private water). That area is very picturesque as your pictures show and is populated by masses of office workers and tourists during the week, especially lunchtimes and early evenings for the cafes and bars. I've seen loads of tourists taking snappy snaps without any problem but that's because they're holiday snaps. A guy with gear and kit setting up to take photographs of the boats of the rich and/or famous is a different matter. Personally I'm not surprised you were moved, especially given that their photography policy is in the public domain http://www.skdocks.co.uk/events-filming/

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
S47 said:
Interesting Video. Wonder why the photographer NEVER called Mr Plod, since he was clearly in the right, why did he put up with the Jobsworths at GW security giving him grief???????
Because that was the entire point smile

I agree one would not normally film like that, so perhaps there had been a previous incident either with him or someone else. I suspect he'd checked the law and gone back for the showdown and ultimate humiliation - which the guards brought entirely on themselves most magnificently.

I was trying the think of a job for which they might be suited, but cannot...

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
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2slo said:
Jetl3on said:
From what I understand I can take a photo of anything providing I am standing on public land, but how do I know its public.
Unless you've crossed some obvious boundry I would turn that around if approached by 'security'. Ask for specifics of ownership and boundries and if there aren't any or in the absence of any satisfactory answer then tell the jobsworth where to get off. They are just members of the public in a second hand uniform.
the problem can be that the boundary is marked solely by Studs in the pavement, especially if a developer promised road and path improvements as part of the scheme ...

blueg33

35,574 posts

223 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
My private land has signs making it clear that is private. It is diifficult to tell though when planning dictates that a development looks like its part of the public domain.

Nick M

3,624 posts

222 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
checkmate91 said:
especially given that their photography policy is in the public domain http://www.skdocks.co.uk/events-filming/
Except that doesn't address individuals taking photos for private use.

I think the assumption is that tripod = 'pro', hence an assumption that their policy is being breached. Which isn't *entirely* unreasonable because they could be on the receiving end of some BS from some slightly less than honest people who don't want to pay any sort of licence fee to be able to take photos on a commercial basis there.

In any event, photography on private property is a delicate balance - if you try and ban it entirely then you risk creating a bad impression to visitors, but equally you don't want loads of people rocking up with tripods and getting in the way.

checkmate91

851 posts

172 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Are you sure? It says this:

[i]In certain circumstances, we will consider allowing certain areas within St Katharine Docks to be utilised for either a press launch, event or selected filming and photography projects.

Boasting a tranquil setting with amazing river views of Tower Bridge, Butlers Wharf, City Hall and The Tower of London; St Katharine Docks is a stunning waterside location, and for the right project or partner, offers an ideal backdrop for your brand.

Regrettably, we do not allow student filming/photography or private events in the public access areas of the Estate.[/i]

Now, if I turn up with my set of amateur gear, including tripod and start casing the joint with a view to taking some quality images for my own enjoyment I think they may say (from paragraph 1) I'm endulging in an event, selected filming or a photography project. If I say I'm an amateur they might just say (from paragraph 3) no private events.

Seems quite clear to me and I fully understand and recognise that they'd wish to protect the IP of their landscape and content. As an amateur photographer who happens to work in London a lot, I'm as frustrated as the next guy who wants to capture images of nice places, architecture etc on private property but this place is so obviously private that I'm actually now wondering why we are debating it.