A funny thing happened to me at Canary Wharf today

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/09/2006 07:47:34 PM · #1

Talj and I had a mini GTG today and our first port of call was Canary Wharf. T was all prepared with an email allowing us to use tripods (from a Canary Wharf official). We had only been there a few minutes when I noticed a jogger that wasn't jogging (he caught my attention as he looked like the now retired soccer ref with the bulging eyes and was hair folicle challenged as well.

T spotted him as well but thought nothing of it but as we walked along the Wharf I could spot him in the reflections from buildings and noticed he would stop when we did.

We got to the fountains we were looking for (but they were turned off) and the 'jogger' was now at the bottom of some stairs peering through a bush at us. I wasn't particularly bothered as I thought either a) I was paranoid or b) he was a security guy.

Just for fun I suggested T and I walked swiftly out his view and as soon as he could no longer see us we sat down watching the steps. Seconds later he jogged up the stairs and was suprised to see us sitting looking at him and turned to wander a little further away. He then got on his mobile and probably called in the fact his cover was blown.

A moment or 2 later T pointed out a security guard approaching from the left and we were poised to engage him, however, another guard approached from the right and politely asked us (no told us) we were amateurs and whilst we were on private property we could only take hand held shots, we could not use tripods and could not take pictures of people, doors, in fact anything 'they' thought sensitive. Not wanting to argue and produce the letter of consent we agreed and it was then that I asked the guard if it was the bald jogger that 'dobbed us in' as he looked at me in mild astonishment that a fellow officer of the private army was not the covert officer he thought he was I said, "I hope he is a security official as he has been stalking us and with several thousand pounds worth of gear we were getting worried about the safety here".

The guard chuckled to himself, acknowledged the fact that 'jogger' was on the payroll then wandered off bidding us good day.

Every jogger we saw from then on was probably following us so with poor skies we ampled off to another location (again with permission to use a tripod and this time with the intention to enforce our rights - possible challenge entries so will leave it as somewhere in Greater London).

Oh, we did pass a lady sitting on a bench smiling to herself and when we got ready the bench was having a conversation with her! (well, I think the speakers at either end of the bench were supposed to be 2 people chatting with her and the real lady was sat in the middle listening in - how very cool lol)

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

09/09/2006 09:03:36 PM · #2

Great story andi but I wish you and Talj had challenged them with your note of permission even while I understand your decision not to do so. So, no hassles in your other Greater London locations then?

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

09/09/2006 09:25:56 PM · #3

I don't understand - You went to the trouble to get pre-permission for pods and then didn't show them?? Why bother?

I hate this &^%$ recently that someone with a big camera is presumed guilty (god knows a P&S would not bother anyone) - A "baddie" with half a brain would just get the public building designs if they needed or search google for millions of already available detailed photos :-/

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/10/2006 07:30:29 AM · #4

Originally posted by robs:

Hi Rob,

I am not sure of Andi's answer to the above but certainly on my part (being the one with the 'permission' in my bag), I had a certain shot in mind that I wanted to take and as the fountains were turned off there was no need for the tripod. So, in my eyes, no need to argue. Plus, I was leaving all the talking upto Andi and he seemed to know what he was doing!! :o)

I do agree with you about the presumption 'security' people seem to have when they see someone with a big camera. It certainly prevents me from taking pictures when I am on my own as I'm not one for any kind of confrontation :o(

Cheers,

T

xianart

Canon EOS-7D

09/10/2006 07:40:30 AM · #5

'tis a sad fact that as a young looking white woman, i have never been stopped from taking a photograph anywhere. mind you, i lived in london 92-97, when you could get into almost any building in london by ringing a bell and crying 'hi, courier' (i was a cycle courier). basically only lloyds and the parliament buildings were truy secure...

09/10/2006 07:42:33 AM · #6

What T sdaid above ;)

Oh, and thinking about when I got home we both had our tripods folded up but with the legs open so they were standing on the pavement thus covering the same amount of ground they would for a low level shot with a cam on them. Anyway I seem to remember T saying she was going to write to the lady that gave us permission.

Nova, we were asked several times for our written permission at another site - all will be revealed another time ;)

09/10/2006 07:51:25 AM · #7

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Anyway I seem to remember T saying she was going to write to the lady that gave us permission.

I'll be dropping an email to the lady tomorrow and see what she says :o)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

09/10/2006 08:20:30 AM · #8

Originally posted by xianart:

Hmmm I'm a young looking (ish) white woman too so it must have been Andi they were after and not me ;o)

Obviously times have changed but I still don't feel there is the need for security people to be so 'awkward' towards photographers. There are hundreds of thousands of us, infact I'm pretty sure most people own some sort of camera these days....I did note whilst around Canary Wharf that those with point and shoots or people taking shots of their nearest and dearest in the strangest of poses right in front of the doors dont get a second glance, but a dSLR and bigger looking lenses and your instantly out to cause trouble....

UNCLEBRO

Canon EOS-30D

09/10/2006 08:29:15 AM · #9

Maybe the "security" men were keeping an eye on Andi and making sure he wasn't HAVING A CIGARETTE!!!!!!

Just kidding Andi :-)

09/10/2006 09:12:41 AM · #10

Originally posted by UNCLEBRO:

Maybe the "security" men were keeping an eye on Andi and making sure he wasn't HAVING A CIGARETTE!!!!!!

Just kidding Andi :-)

lol! am now on day 37, its not getting any easier but am hanging in there :)

09/10/2006 11:51:46 AM · #11

Originally posted by UNCLEBRO:

Maybe the "security" men were keeping an eye on Andi and making sure he wasn't HAVING A CIGARETTE!!!!!!

Just kidding Andi :-)

LOL Steve :o)

And Andi....stick at it, you've done remarkably well and we are all very proud of you :o)

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

09/10/2006 11:55:32 AM · #12

i agree why not show the letter? really have nothing to lose there.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/10/2006 08:18:34 PM · #13

Originally posted by saintaugust:

i agree why not show the letter? really have nothing to lose there.

As T mentioned earlier she had gone specifically to take a shot of the fountain, I was along for the ride (and at that time not exactly sober enough to be in control of a camera). I guess if I really wanted to take some tripod shots (I did say the sky wasn't good when we were there) then I might have brought the email into to play however I didn't see the point of arguing about tripods when I wasn't going to use one. I was on private property and wasn't prepared to argue the toss with 2 security guards and the undercover referee look alike.

I'll wait to hear what happens when T sends the email tomorrow and if they say its ok to use a tripod again I'd be happy to join a mass tripod gtg at the wharf ;)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

09/10/2006 08:59:07 PM · #14

Asking for the letter may have enabled them to have your "tail" ready and waiting for you : )