Courtesy, Security and a Pentax

We get so much bad press about security staff that I thought I'd mention the extremely heloful and courteous security man at the John Rylands Library in Manchester.

I was in there this morning, shooting a few pictures, and he approached me and asked if I'd like a tour of the upper galleries. So I was whisked upstairs for a personal tour of the best viewpoints, he offered advice and information and said come back any time.

He was also very impressed with how smooth, quick and quiet the Pentax DSLR was.

Not a very exciting tale maybe, but a nice change from stories of photographers and security staff hurling abuse at each other.

Good to hear something positive for a change, John.

If only other security people (and the general public too) were as courteous and helpful.

I recall in 2008, my wife and I were in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park - we were taking a few shots of the foliage, etc when a couple of teachers with some smartly-dressed pupils (I'd guess 5-6 year-olds) headed our way. I politely asked the teachers if they'd mind if my wife took some shots (it was her first time in the UK from Thailand), but the teachers refused. I can fully understand the teachers' concerns, but given that it is not an offence to photograph anything in a public place, it was somewhat annoying that it is now the general public's perception that anybody wanting to photograph children is labelled as some kind of pervert. I just wish somebody, somewhere would set the record straight on this, as it can only be a matter of time before we witness the "death" of the school photograph.

BTW: will we be getting to see any of the images from inside the library?

I think you will find the teachers said no as they have a duty of care towards the children under their supervision. Saying yes wuld have breached this duty of care.

As for the school photographs these are taken on school premiss under supervision by photographers who have been correctly vetted under government legislation.

It is nice to hear that John. Common sense prevails.