Sunday 4 January 2009

9

LC1, f2, 1/5, ISO 200, RAW, 28mm

Took it easy today and just went for a walk to Greenwich Park and the Observatory there. It was nice but I got told off for taking pictures since some of the things are copyrighted, even this staircase is off limits for photography but I already took that shot. Should you have been following my blog you would have noticed two other pictures (the last one only two weeks ago) taken in the Observatory so this rule must be new. I will never understand the reason to limit photography and will never support it. What I do support is limiting people to use their flash everywhere but this is a different matter.

6 comments:

  1. I think that they incorrect to say that you cannot photograph the building for "copyright" reasons.

    The 1988 copyright act says:

    62 Representation of certain artistic works on public display
    (1) This section applies to—
    (a) buildings, and
    (b) sculptures, models for buildings and works of artistic craftsmanship, if permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public.
    (2) The copyright in such a work is not infringed by—
    (a) making a graphic work representing it,
    (b) making a photograph or film of it, or
    (c) broadcasting or including in a cable programme service a visual image of it.

    However on "private" property the owner can restrict photography. So it is not copyright but the can stop you. If you photograph the outside from a public place then they can't.

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  2. Glad to see the interesting picture.

    Sometimes we have to take risk for getting the pictures we want as long as we don't cross the very lines, the law and our safety.

    Most of the time I just don't care until I'm stopped for whatever reasons. Opportunites are plenty. Being unable to take those "considential" images isn't a problem. I simply go for another.

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  3. Thanks for the explanation Peter, very interesting. I think they use this more as an excuse and since it's private, they can do as they please.

    Mike, you are right about taking risks to get the shot. Sometimes it is worth depending on the risks.

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  4. Copyright - that's a new one!
    I have been stopped for allegedly contravening the Data Protection Act. There is provision in the Act covering photography, but its very ambiguous. The UK operates under Case Law, i.e an Act becomes Law after it has been tested by the Court. There was one case involving a well known person where the Act could have been tested but the Judge avoided ruling on the point and setting Case Law.

    If someone objects on the grounds you are on private property and photography is not allowed, then that's OK. But please lets not have all the cr*p about Copyright or Data Protection Act.

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  5. Copyright or not, I like the photograph and the presentation of the interesting architectural form.

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  6. You are right yesbuts, wish people would object to photography for valid reasons and not something they made up to sound important. Still, leaving people to take pictures would be much more desirable ;).

    Thanks Wouter, I like the staircase and it makes for an interesting form.

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