Taking photos on London Underground?

It was on PM on radio 4 last week. English Heritage tried to make a photo library pay a fee for using images of Stonehenge. But English Heritage had got it wrong! They can however charge photographers fees to take pictures on their property. But images of sites like stonehenge can't be copyrighted.

Cheers, I put the links to the programmes on the previous post. Probably while you were typing.

Bearing in mind the 7/7 events in London I would say that it would be a good idea to make yourself aware to staff what you are planning to do, even if you don't have to inform them.

So when a member of the public informs them about a photographer on the platform they would already be aware of your prescence.

Well since I posted my comments above I can give you an answer...sort of.

Yesterday on my way back from a photoshoot I decided to try and get an image of a train coming through the tunnel with a long exposure. I got off at Liverpool St and walked to the end of the platform armed with my K-7 and a monopod as I had used that at my earlier visit. No sign of staff to ask for permission at that point...

As I was extending one of the legs of the monopod a member of LUL staff walked past me then returned within 30 seconds and said "You need a permit to do that." I explained that had I seen a member of staff I would have asked what the the situation was re photos, he replied "Yes, you need a permit." He then stood there and watched me put the camera in the bag and collapse one leg of the monopod

With hindsight I would have asked him where do I get such a permit but I accepted the fact that generally photography is not allowed. I suspect that had I just been using a compact camera then that might have been okay but with a K-7 and grip round my neck he probably thought that I was a pro - who knows.

I did think about also explaining that I am a front line police officer who works in London with a few years' service and perhaps I could be allowed an exemption on this occasion but decided against that as he might have objected against that as well! Sometimes it helps not to show out

This obviously wasn't during rush hour. it was about 1pm and there weren't many people around at that time.

So I hope this has helped to answer the query - if not contact London Underground for the definitve answer

I understand that if you wear a Hi-Vi this does also help - it keeps members of the public aware of your presence so they are not very likely to intrude on ' your space'

Station staff soon would though! They'd be over like a shot lol.

Rob's story shows that using a tripod or monopod is not a good idea. May have got away with it if he was a bit quicker! Also, using a tripod is often forbidden, for good reason.
I still say just go ahead and take pictures, but, like Rob, be polite if you are told to stop. Never mind about 7/7. It wasn't cameras that caused that disaster and to equate photography with terrorism is just silly, especially when using a great big DSLR!

Yes: the paranoia created by relatively recent terrorist activity on the very network of which you you speak.

On the other hand, it could result in some unintended adventures with enforcers of state security, which could be the basis of numerous entertaining after dinner reminscences?

(Alas, in many ways we are increasingly resembling the post-WWII era of the Soviet Union.)

And -in particular- if you make no attempt whatever- to use your camera or lens!

i saw beautiful photos of London on photos.mymapsof.com/?photos_of=London, United Kingdom. i don't know which camera use these people.

Non commercial photography on the tube is fine, even with a DSLR. No need to ask permission, but no flash and no tripods-monopods.

here's a bunch I snapped a couple of years ago

http://www.smeggys.co.uk/images_smeggy_london_tube_2010-06-12.php?path=smeggy_images/smeggy/2010-06-12_London_04_Tube


The Tube is a great photography set. Enjoy it

I was out the other day taking shots of Stations and Trains, i enjoy taking these photos for personal use, a staff member did come up to me and asked what I was doing, When I told them I was taking personal photos for my own use I was immediately told to delete them, The Station was empty at the time and I wasn’t using tripods nor flash for my work, using a smal camera I didn’t think I would attract attention. I did tell this member of staff that I was allowed to take photographs of stations at it states of TfL website, but being told to delete them was the biggest issue, most stations I do this I have a chat with staff about the stations and they encourage me to take more photos but it seems a few staff are not aware of guides I suppose

To be fair, the TFL guidelines do state that it's at the stations discretion.

That said, I suspect that staff simply not being aware is more likely.

Much the same with "security" at shopping centres etc. Point a camera and the world descends on you. Yet all around you are people taking pics and selfies with mobile phones and no one bothers.

If I remember correctly, a certain London Mayor proposed banning cameras in the London parks to "try to prevent child porn photos". It was soon dropped when he was asked if he was also going to ban all mobile phones in the parks.

Hi
I take photos at train stations fairly regularly
And I have had no problems

FWIW TfL provide guidance for photographers here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/filming-and-photography/filming-and-photograph...

When to comes to commercial use or student photography it can be quite pricey.

In case that link above becomes broken the general gist for private photographers is,
"We get many requests from tourists, train enthusiasts, budding photographers and customers 'passing through' a station who may want to take photographs for their own personal use. We agree that this is acceptable, at the station's discretion, as long as additional camera equipment (including flash and tripods) is not used.
"However, images clearly promoting the London Underground brand/logos must not be published or broadcast without our permission ahead of time. Also, people filming or taking photographs for their own purposes on TfL's network are responsible for ensuring they comply with the requirements of privacy and data protection legislation. "