Trafalgar Square, noon, 23rd Jan 2010

[Austerby]

I'm A Photographer Not A Terrorist campaign have organised a mass photo gathering today to protest about the increasingly difficult environment in London by which photographers are challenged by security guards and police under anti-terrorism legislation.

I've only just heard of it, listening to the 8am news on the BBC (along with an item stating that the national threat level has been raised back up, oh joy).

http://photographernotaterrorist.org/

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=581558295#/group.php?gid=276488225324&ref=mf

I'll load up my R3A with HP5+ and go along. Anyone else going to be there?

 

[Olsen]

Good! If the British decides to pull out of Afganistan and stop fighting the Afgan people (æhum Taliban, hum!), who, in accordance with international law has the right to fight for their national freedom, the threat of terrorism will disappear. - And, hum, pull out of Northern Ireland too.

 

[larmarv916]

Hey....Best of Luck. But I would have some bystanders shooting video and they put it up at YOU TUBE. Seriously you guys need to do some CYA and also show the scale of HOW you got "handled".

 

[Austerby]

Good! If the British decides to pull out of Afganistan and stop fighting the Afgan people (æhum Taliban, hum!), who, in accordance with international law has the right to fight for their national freedom, the threat of terrorism will disappear. - And, hum, pull out of Northern Ireland too.

Absolutely old chap, but I don't think it's actually quite as easy as all that. Be nice if it was though.

I've long been a firm believer that the Nordic societies provide a lot modern Britain can learn from - both domestically and internationally - but it's not really us.

How does one apply to become part of Scandinavia?

 

[Olsen]

Absolutely old chap, but I don't think it's actually quite as easy as all that. Be nice if it was though.

I've long been a firm believer that the Nordic societies provide a lot modern Britain can learn from - both domestically and internationally - but it's not really us.

How does one apply to become part of Scandinavia?

You would have been part of Scandinavia if king Harald The Hard Ruler had bothered to put on his armour at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066!

(Snorre Sturlasson's 'Saga of the Kings: '...it was a hot day, even though it was late September. So, the king wore no armour when riding reconnaissance, looking for Harold Goodwinson's army....' - The rest of the story is so shamefully humiliating that I won't repeat it).

I am absolutely convinced that the Terrorist Threat facing UK (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, USA, etc etc) is due to our participation in the illegal occupation of Afganistan.

 

[Spoks]

Regardless of Afganistan participation or not: You British photographers at Trafalgar Square today are making an important protest. You have our full support!

 

[kully]

Hope it goes well, I'm stuck in Reading today.

 

[Austerby]

Just back home. There was a great turn-out, with hundreds of photographers gathered together. The press were there too - let's see what the Sunday papers think of it tomorrow. Meanwhile, here's the BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8476318.stm

It nicely encompassed the whole range of photographers too - from digital P&S users, lots of film SLRs, many Leicas and other rangefinders, TLRs, Hasselblads, Large Format (Shen Hao), Polaroid, Stereo Cameras, oh and a handful of those big dSLRs.

Lots of milling around but thankfully a lone Community Support Officer foolishly strayed amongst the group and asked someone what they were doing - cue a heated debate that did bring in PC Plod. It was all nicely handled though and was a peaceful protest throughout.

An important point was made but these events only really become effective over a sustained period so lets hope there are more.

My photos will have to wait until I've developed and scanned my films.