Advice on photo trip to London

Am off to that London next week and my trip will include a visit to the Docklands/Canary Wharf area. Does anyone know if I'll have problems with security guards etc if I wonder about taking pics of the buildings?

I haven't yet been approached anywhere but to be honest I dread it as I am afraid I won't be able to bite my tongue and walk away.....

Take a copy of the Police advice:

http://www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm

If you are on public land they security guards cannot do anything.

Even if you are on private land they can only ask you to leave. The cannot look at your images, they cannot force you to delete them and they cannot touch you if you agree to leave - that would constitute assault.

thanks

You often get more hassle when or if you use a tripod, but security will no doubt tell you to move on or that you can't take pictures of certain buildings. The key is to stay calm and relaxed and not get frustrated. Enjoy the trip.

I typed this and posted ... but it has not appeared.

If a security guard asks you to stop, ask where the boundary is, ask them to prove it too and also where the signs are that prohibit photography. Go to the boundary and carry on - make sure you get their pictures too.

Also worth having a phone with voice recording and turn it on when approached.

Another piece of useful info:

http://www.canarywharf.com/aboutus/Media/Filming-and-Photography2/
Print the page and take that too, it looks as though you will be fine.

I think I'll stick to nice places rather than go to a concrete jungle and get hassle

I'd recommend not being overly confrontational - security guards tend not to like a stubborn bloke with a camera reciting laws at them - whilst they might be in the wrong this could quickly escalate.

Whilst you don't need to you can always offer to show them the photo's to prove that you aren't doing anything dodgy, explaining what you are doing and what type of shot you are going for might spark their interest and let you go on your way, you never know.

You can always complain later to their bosses - remember they might not know the laws and have probably been told by someone else to stop people taking photo's, they're just following orders.

In general try not to worry about it, and don't let yourself get into any situations you can avoid.

I've not encountered any problems with security at Canary Warf, although there is a lot of it, which is understandable as they have been a terrorist target several times in the past. Just act like a tourist rather than a professional photographer and you should be fine.