I don't believe it!!

The forecast for this morning for Birmingham was sunny and sunrise was 06.10. So I was in Birmingham before sunrise wandering around with my K7 and a monopod. When I got to the Bullring area I took a few wide angle shots which included Selfigdes and I used my monopod for support.
An Official came out of the building and asked me not to use my 'Tripod' in the Bullring area. I was being watched on CCTV!! I asked why and he said it was a private property area and there was a health and safety consideration. People might trip over on my 'Tripod'!!!!! He was very pleasant about it all but insisted I must detach my 'Tripod'. I explained to him: -
a) It was not a Tripod but a Monopod and hence virtually no tripping hazard (other than to me perhaps).
b) It was 06.00 and I was the only person in the area for at least 50yds all round - apart from him.
c) So where was there a health and safety problem?
Well - 'rules is rules' etc and I had to disengage my monopod if I wanted to take photos!
I give up.

I take it you then had to lean the monopod against a wall where someone could fall over it. Whatever happened to common sense?

It does seem a bit daft, but as you say you were on private property. The no tripods rule is quite common in parks, museums and other public spaces. I was stopped by the police for using one in Soho, they quite rightly pointed out that pedestrians were being forced off the narrow footpath

It does seem very daft and it ws early in the morning as well.

Sandy

It was so ridiculous - I could understand it if there were crowds of shoppers and I had a tripod - but I was using a monopod and it was early with no one around. Oh well.
Still - I'm probably a star now on CCTV!!

Another jobsworth.

The plus points of the early morning, which was a bit of a recce were
a) I now know where to get a sunrise shot in Birmingham - I missed it by 15 mins this morning!
b) I was able to walk round the City with few people around to spoil the shots.
c) I found some interesting viewpoints and angles which I shall explore more another time.
So...not all was lost - and I got to play with my new K7

Which bit of the area is private property? I went there today and there was no (obvious) indication that anywhere was private property and perhaps more significantly no conditions of entry displayed. However, you did the right thing that's for sure. Muppets.

Mike

And to prove I was there ...




It is a stunning building and this is basically a proof of one from the many I took.

I wouldn't stand for it. Its the most ridiculous thing i've heard. You notice that they state its private property, well this needs to be challenged, how can a public space created and paid for by the taxpayer end up bein' private property?
What about people restin' with their bags on the floor, or even pushchairs, a tripod takes up the same amount of space without mentionin' a monopod? If they're really gonna' get pathetic, they should stop that.

Mike - I was told the whole of the Bullring area was private property but I did not see any signs to that effect. Where it starts/finishes goodness only knows. Luckily by then there was enough light so that use of the monoped was not essential. Great photo of yours - I still have to process mine from Raw.

Pauly - you are right - but the 'jobsworth' was young and very pleasant about it and seemed embarrassed with what he was telling me so I gave up!!

I did process a couple and here is an odd one - what's the opinion of it? Comments would be welcome. Taken from the top of the Snowhill car park and looking at a church through reinforcing rods at the top of a new building waiting for concrete!





Cheers
John

It's a remarkable image that's for sure. I think I'd crop out the roof of the church and also from either the right or left to get the spires off centre.

The Bullring is surely publicly owned like any other city centre. If so then they can bye-laws against the use of tripods which actually could be reasonable I suppose.

Still there was no future in arguing it would only be upsetting. Perhaps some research is in order.

So where is the best place for dawn over Brum then?

Mike

Thanks for your insight on what he told you, Kenty.

This happens in Canary Wharf and other places in London, and it seems now that everywhere is becomin' private property, strange that.

I would like to find out from other photographers if they've been stopped and told by these 'jobsworths' that the public places they photograph in are private property?

In London in Broadgate I have seen some photographers with tripods on the pavement and the police have walked straight by without a word.

That is an interestin' photograph John, I do like what the rods do to the buildings beyond, abstractin 'em. But with respect, the photo doesn't hold much to keep me interested. Maybe a shot of the risin' sun and church beside each other through the rods could improve the image.

Hi Mike and Paul

As regards sunrise the view I got was from above where the bus stops are at one side of the Bullring - can't remember the street name but looking at my A-Z it could have been around Edgbaston St or St Martin's Queensway - and guess what - you have to look East!! When I get back to Brum centre I'll check out the exact location.

Hindsight is wonderful - but I intend revisiting the Reinforcing/Church to see if I can make a better/more interesting photo - for me it has plenty of potential. Sunrise is no good - sun in wrong direction - will check for a low evening sun soon. Thanks for your comments.

Cheers

John