Daniel Torridon’s Blog
Commercial Photoshoot for Cannon Fire Protection
Cannon Fire Protection in Ollerton, Nottinghamshire are providers of turn-key fire detection and suppression solutions. Daniel Torridon Media Ltd was commissioned by the Company to photograph these images for use in their display and marketing material. To discuss your commercial photography requirements please contact Daniel Torridon Media Ltd during office hours on 01777 817829 or email daniel@torridon.me
Ringwood Hall Wedding – Sarah and Neil
Worksop Street Photography
After being stopped by security for taking photographs today I moved into the public shopping area. I’m absolutely sure that none of the people I captured on film are having extra-marital affairs as suggested by shopping centre security. They may, however, be selling their house, in which case if you would like me to take a photo of it and act as an agent just drop me a line. If you don’t understand what I mean read this and be amazed at the ridiculousness of it all.
This image is possibly my favourite of the day. The plaque on the wall is to commemorate the death of Police Constable McDonald who was the first Nottinghamshire Police Officer to be killed in the line of duty in 1978 while investigating a burglary in Worksop. It goes without saying that I have the utmost respect for brave men like PC McDonald, but the irony of a young man standing on the same spot with “Police” written on his jeans wasn’t lost on me. Especially as it would appear that he frequents McDonalds.
Is that a look of suspicion? Does she think her PIN number has just been stolen? Write your own caption. I for one would love to know what is going on in other people’s minds when they’re going about their everyday business.
Next I shot the Laughing Butcher. Despite appearances, this is not a real person so is therefore not covered by any UK privacy laws, despite what security may otherwise tell you.
I spotted this lady on several occasions wheeling her trolley around the town. It struck me that if I took too many photographs of her I might be threatened for harrassment, at least if Peter Jenkins is correct. He stated in his article entitled Street Photography: “Continually taking someone’s picture after having been reasonably asked not to, standing very close to someone with a wide angle lens (clearly invading personal space), acting in such a way as to cause a hazard or distress to someone else, would all be held in a dim view by a court.”
Another very interesting lady. She was totally oblivious to a bargain!
Getting low down provides a different view on the world. I noticed the reflections in the car door and thought it made for an interesting angle.
A scene around the back of the bus station caught my eye. I’ve called it “Six Men At A Bus Stop”. In case you’re thinking I can’t count and that there are actually only four men, look closely. You’ll see me and my fellow photographer Rob Ferrol reflected in the glass.
Worksop town centre proved to be a very rewarding location for street photography and I look forward to returning soon.
Stopped By Security For Taking Photographs
Today I decided to head off to a nearby town to do some more street photography. Little did I realise that I would be stopped in an outdoor shopping centre by security guards – or more precisely by a man emptying bins – and asked to “move along”.
Everything started out ok. I found a great location in front of a massive billboard which set the scene nicely for my first image of the day which I’ve entitled “Fun Shopping”.
I just love how the young women on the billboard look so full of energy and joy to be shopping in the shopping centre, while the elderly couple look… well… not so full of energy and joy to be shopping in the shopping centre.
Next I took a walk to my favourite coffee shop and spotted this contented looking gentleman drinking his coffee. By the look of the newspaper he was waiting for someone. Either that or he has the ability to read upside down. I wish I knew.
Just up from the coffee shop is the car park where I shot a man on his bicycle. That sounds like a crime, I know. But it’s not. I’m just a man with a camera going about his business of photographing people. There’s just one problem. Security guards don’t always see it the same way.
Moving back into the shopping centre I made the fatal mistake of taking a photo of a man emptying bins. Within seconds he was on me stating “You can’t photograph here”. I explained that I was a “professional street photographer documenting everyday life” and pointed out that by law I was allowed to photograph in a public place. What he told me next surprised me.
“Ok”, I thought, “this changes things.” Although it’s not a criminal offence to take photographs, landowners can request that you leave their property, on whatever grounds, for example if they don’t want you to take photographs. If you refuse you can be “forcibly ejected” by security on grounds of “trespassing” the guards themselves can (legally) do nothing except call the Police – not something I particularly wanted to get into on a Monday afternoon.
I explained that I didn’t realise it was private and as a professional photographer it was not my intention to cause any trouble. I asked Mr Bin Man to point out to me where the private area started and where it ended, which he did. I thanked him for his trouble and told him I would be happy to move on. Discussion over? Not quite.
Mr Bin Man whipped out a walkie talkie and called Security. I was shocked. I didn’t realise that bin men carried walkie talkies. Within seconds two large men in yellow fluorescent jackets arrived on the scene. It was all very exciting. If I’m honest, thoughts of being (wrongfully) arrested did enter my mind at this point. But to be fair the bin man and the security guards were all pretty reasonable guys. They were polite, called me “Sir” and even shook my hand when I introduced myself and explained what I was doing.
The security men reiterated what the bin man had said, and stated that I was not permitted to photograph without permission from the private landowners. In fact they’d just stopped a film crew for the exact same reason and the crew were now speaking to the management of the shopping centre about obtaining permission.
Never one to avoid a challenge I asked if I could obtain permission too. I also asked the security men if I could take their photo. They declined the opportunity of a photoshoot, but I soon found myself in the management’s office discussing the ins-and-outs of what is and isn’t allowed.
Basically it boiled down to “No Photography” on their land. I suggested that they should have signs up to the effect of “No Photography Without Permission” which they agree was a good idea and would arrange.
What I did find interesting was the management’s view on photography in public places – outside of the private shopping centre. Basically they seemed to be making the “rules” up as they went along. They explained to me that photography of people in public places is prohibited, and that if you do take a photograph of someone without their permission you must blank out their eyes. Obviously not their real eyes because that would be a crime. I explained that this wasn’t the case, but they weren’t convinced and gave a rather strange reason for their stance.
Apparently if a couple are having an affair and a photo of them together is seen on the web it can cause marriage problems. Also, examples were cited of photographs who have supposedly taken images of houses for sale and then conned buyers by making them think they are an agent. If I’m honest, at this point I did feel a little offended as it was classing me in with sleazy private detectives and con men! I thought it best to bid farewell and “move along” as requested. So I did.
For the record, if you’re ever stopped in a public place by a Police officer the rules are :-
- There is no restriction on people taking photographs in public places or of any building other than in very exceptional circumstances.
- There is no prohibition on photographing frontline uniformed Police Officers. This applies also to bin men and security guards.
- The act of taking a photograph in itself is not usually sufficient to carry out a stop by a Police Office. Or a bin man.
- Unless there is very good reason, people taking photographs should not be stopped.
- Police Officers do not have the power to delete digital images, destroy film or to prevent photography in a public place under sections 43 or 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
These guidelines were issued to all Police staff by the head of Specialist Operations for the Metropolitan Police Service to assist them in dealing with professional and amateur photographers taking pictures in public places. My personal thoughts on the matter are that if I’m asked to “move along” I usually do, to avoid any hassle. There’s always another street to photograph. But if you fancy your chances it could be worth arguing the point, getting wrongfully arrested and then claiming compenstation.
All-in-all it was great afternoon’s shooting, with added excitement provided from the run-in with security. Not something I will be repeating now that I know where these particular public and private locations are, although I might try my luck standing on public land shooting into the private area with a zoom lens. What are your thoughts or experiences on being stopped for taking photographs in public areas? How about private areas which are used by the public in general, such as shopping centres? Have you ever been arrested for taking photographs in public and what was the outcome?
Retford Street Photography
With the weather being below freezing I’ve not had the motivation to do any street photography in my home town of Retford for a while. But today it’s been quite nice so I decided to head out after work to catch people before the shops closed and the market packed up for the day. I even had time to site in Costa and watch the world go by – with my camera of course.
My first image is of the charity shop on the corner of Bridgegate and Market place. It’s a real treasure trove and I’ve had quite a few bits of furniture from them in the past. This guy seemed particularly interested in an old sewing machine they were selling for £80. I came back several times over a period of half an hour and he was still stood there looking at it!
Next door to the charity shop is a cafe that serves all day breakfasts. This woman gave me a bit of a funny look when I took her photograph through the window, but she was enjoying her food too much to give chase as I moved swiftly on!
Retford has a market on Thursday and a regular is Billy’s Meats.
I used to work on Retford market selling pictures and frames. Packing up time was always my favourite part of the day!
Next I took a stroll down Carolgate where the main shops are, although quite a few have closed over the past couple of years due to the recession.
This is one of my favourite images of the day. The girl was posting special offer signs in the window when I waved to her to get her attention. I snapped her just as she looked up. Immediately afterwards I gave her a big smile and waved. She smiled and waved back.
Half way down Carolgate I met a street preacher. Nice guy. I asked him if anyone had been interested. They hadn’t. He seemed chuffed to bits when I asked him if I could take his photo.
I’ve no idea why this chap was walking through town with a big stick!
Further along Carolgate I was approached by several young ladies collecting money for Shelter. I asked if I could take their photo and they said “Yes!”
By now I was feeling a little peckish so I popped into Bacons for a pasty and some service with a smile (not).
Then for a sit down in Costa, a great place for watching the world whizz by unnoticed.
These are just a few of the images I shot with my Leica M9 and Elmarit 28mm ASPH lens. For the most part I was shooting at f/16 so I could zone focus, with ISO set at 1600. I’d usually work with a longer focal length, say 50mm, but today I went for the wider angle so I could capture the surrounding shops and market stalls.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these photographs. Check back soon when I will be back out on the streets of Retford, this time with a 35mm lens.
