Give me Shelter

[Michael Markey]

Maybe of interest to UK photographers.

I was idly snapping away in Manchester today when I was approached by a street representative from the charity for the homeless ,Shelter.

I was asked what I was doing and why I was doing it .
I was reminded that I needed consent and asked to delete any shots which featured Shelter charity workers.

Apparently it is Shelters policy that their street collectors should not be photographed.

I refused and pointing out that I didn`t require any consent at which point I was asked if I wanted to speak to the northern regional manager.

How could I refuse such an honour 😉

A phone was duly thrust into my hand and during the course of the conversation I restated my position.
I added that I would consider any reasonable request ,if any undue distress had been caused for example ,but would not delete any images because of a corporate decision taken by the board of Shelter.

He agreed that I was within my rights muttering something about recent bad TV coverage which had brought about the no photographs decision.

Disappointing .

 

[Black]

Glad you stood your ground, Mike. Its all too easy to acquiesce, roll over and delete to avoid any conflict, but I think its important that we stand up for our rights to photograph in public places and that people get that message. A case of use it or lose it, in the long term, I think. So long as we deliver our argument in a polite and reasonable matter, they (the subjects) take a running jump, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Sparrow]

... yep, that's a reasonable stance I think ... I'd do much the same

 

[Michael Markey]

Yes Chris ... I was very firm but very polite too.
I made it clear that if there was anything I could do to help I would but wasn`t about to curtail my civil rights simply because of an ill considered decision made by their governing body.

 

[gb hill]

Too bad you wern't shooting film. When he asked you to delete your images I'd like to know his startled reaction when you said 'I can't'😀

 

[Michael Markey]

Too bad you wern't shooting film. When he asked you to delete your images I'd like to know his startled reaction when you said 'I can't'😀

Yep ... I missed a trick there 🙂

 

[Takkun]

Yep ... I missed a trick there 🙂

That's my favorite trick in these situations! Though, once, Homeland Security tried to take mine (back in high school, some friends and I were horsing around on what turned out to be an immigrant detention center property), but some city police were kind enough to convince them to let us go.

 

[Michael Markey]

That's my favorite trick in these situations! Though, once, Homeland Security tried to take mine (back in high school, some friends and I were horsing around on what turned out to be an immigrant detention center property), but some city police were kind enough to convince them to let us go.

Homeland Security ... that could have been serious .

 

[Godfrey]

If all of these bans, restrictions, etc on photography continue, a hundred years from now some people are going to be scratching their head as to why the early score or so of years of the 21st Century is seen in pictures as nothing but pet cats.

G

 

[Roger Hicks]

If all of these bans, restrictions, etc on photography continue, a hundred years from now some people are going to be scratching their head as to why the early score or so of years of the 21st Century is seen in pictures as nothing but pet cats.

G

No! Don't tell me they've banned coffee mugs too!

Another view is that maybe in 1000 years, people will wonder why the English-speaking world suddenly ceased to exist when (for example) most of Europe survived.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . Apparently it is Shelter's policy that their street collectors should not be photographed. . .

Dear Michael,

I wonder how they'd respond to, "Really? That's odd. It's my policy that they should be photographed."

In the light of what you have said, if ever I see a Shelter-wallah, I shall go out of my way to take a picture.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Scrambler]

Dear Michael, I wonder how they'd respond to, "Really? That's odd. It's my policy that they should be photographed." In the light of what you have said, if ever I see a Shelter-wallah, I shall go out of my way to take a picture. Cheers, R.

Do make sure you can direct them to a website with the policy on it...

 

[lawrence]

He agreed that I was within my rights muttering something about recent bad TV coverage which had brought about the no photographs decision.

Disappointing .

More than disappointing, quite crazy. How can they make such a decision when they have no right to enforce it and no means of doing so?

 

[lawrence]

No! Don't tell me they've banned coffee mugs too!

Another view is that maybe in 1000 years, people will wonder why the English-speaking world suddenly ceased to exist when (for example) most of Europe survived.

Cheers,

R.

According to this NY Times article 'most of' excludes the French speaking part, at least as far as people are concerned.

 

[helen.HH]

a Disappointing hassle for sure
But Good to see You prevailed thru Wit , Charm & perseverance

 

[Michael Markey]

Dear Roger.

Yes ...how odd that a bit bad publicity should lead to a decision that we`ll have no publicity at all.
Rather than address whatever it was which caused the bad publicity in the first place

Regards

Michael

 

[Sparrow]

Do make sure you can direct them to a website with the policy on it...

... he can direct them to post No.11, as I shall if I get chance 🙂

 

[MrFujicaman]

So this bunch thinks that if THEY have a policy that they can't be photographed in a public place (which is legal) everybody must follow THEIR policy ?

I think their management needs a course of shock treatments to bring them back to the real world.

 

[Sparrow]

So this bunch thinks that if THEY have a policy that they can't be photographed in a public place (which is legal) everybody must follow THEIR policy ?

I think their management needs a course of shock treatments to bring them back to the real world.

... not really, respectful and determined objection is fine ... as it's a social thing not a clash of cultures, not everything is black and white

 

[StefanJozef]

I was taking photographs in a street fair in the UK recently when I was informed by a steward I wasn't allowed to take photographs with a zoom lens or with a fixed lens longer than 35mm. She told me the Showman's Guild had made this ruling. Apparently they hire their own photographers to sell to the public online. I ignored her advice. I was told by a showman working on the waltzers last year "no photography allowed pal".