Category Archives: Photography

Police Powers Allows Them To Stop You Photographing Them

Posted on February 17, 2009 | Leave a comment

New “anti-terrorism” measures came in to force yesterday. Alas, the wording is so loose, that it will allow Police to stop you taking pictures of them. This is a huge issue and completely tramples on the freedom of press. Two main issues come forth with this; firstly, if you are covering a demonstration or a riot, the Police can object to you photographing them and you can get arrested. This will put a stop to reporting a situation honestly and properly, and aesthetically will result in pictures of demonstrators with nothing to balance things out with. Secondly, if you’re in a situation where you see a Police officer doing something wrong, you won’t be allowed to photograph them. Its an outrage. Basically, the Police will be able to arrest all photographers in a given situation, ending up in no visual record of what happens.

The big problem is how loosely the wording is on the new measures; its up to individual officers to use their judgement on the scene. In my 20 years on the streets as a news photographer I’ve across many descent, honest and mature Police officers. Sadly I have also come across a fair number of idiots who do not have the mental ability to handle the power, responsibility and importance the job of a Police officer entails.
If we’re at the mercy of the latter kind, which sadly seems to increase by number as years go by, then many news assignments just cannot be covered properly any more.
I urge you to write to your MPs and to the papers objecting these ridiculous new powers. Its ridiculous that a press photographer with a press card can be considered a terrorist. One would assume that a terrorist would probably use a discreet camera phone or a hidden camera and not a couple of pro DSLRs and lenses.

Further Reading:




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Posted in News, Photography, viewpoint

1474 Megapixel Image

Posted on January 29, 2009 | Leave a comment

David Bergman, a friend from the States has made a superb image from the Presidential Inauguration using a Canon G10 and a GigaPan. The image was made up of 220 photographs and can be seen here. The level of detail is absolutely astonishing; give it a try and see how far you can zoom into the image.

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Inauguration Collage

Posted on January 25, 2009 | Leave a comment

The Washington Post has done something very interesting with photos from the inauguration of President Obama; its well worth a look.

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Posted in Photography

The Mexican Suitcase

Posted on January 14, 2009 | Leave a comment

I’ve just come across an excellent link with the story of the “Mexican Suitcase” which contained Robert Capa and Gerda Taro’s lost negatives. Its been superbly put together and well worth a look.

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Palestinian Gaza Demo, London. January 10, 2009

Posted on January 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

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Posted in News, Photography, Pictures

Best Images of 2008

Posted on December 19, 2008 | Leave a comment

A Georgian man cries near the body of his relative after a bombardment  in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008. A Russian warplane dropped a bomb on an apartment block in the Georgian town of Gori on Saturday, killing at least 5 people, a Reuters reporter said. The bomb hit the five-story building in Gori close to  Georgia’s embattled breakaway province of South Ossetia when Russian warplanes carried out a raid against military targets around the town.  REUTERS/Gleb Garanich  – © Reuters-Used with permission.

As the year comes to a close, here are a few links to the best images of the year. To say they are well worth a look, would be an understatement. There is some stunning work.

My personal favourite news image of 2008, because of its strength, emotion and respect is by Reuters photographer Gleb Garanich (above) from the war in South Ossetia. If any image is deserving of a Pulitzer and a World Press Photo award this year, its Gleb’s. Its part of a series, but this particular photograph captures the whole war in one frame. A stronger case for a stills picture having more power to convey emotion and the story than any other medium, I have not seen this year, or come to think of it, for a very long time.


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Posted in Photography, Pictures