In this exercise I am asked to take some images in a public space. I have chosen to take images within in a shopping centre. My previous 2 posts in this blog detail some of the issues associated.
I've chosen Cabot Circus in Bristol and know from a previous visit there are no warning signs advising the taking of photographs is not permitted. Practicality prevails and so I have also taken with my my student card, a card detailing my rights as a photographer, and a mini moo card detailing by website.
My approach to taking images has been to not be to obvious, take a few images hand held and move on.
The reaction from shoppers was very interesting, people smiling, people attempting to avoid getting in the frame and one of acceptance. I acted confidently and not suspiciously.
I've taken with me a recently acquired 15mm fish eye lens which gives me a 180 degree field of view and will allow me to capture move of the architecture and people within the shopping centre and give a better feel of what the experience was like.
One of the features and problems with using an ultra wide angle lens is that whilst the lens can get everything in the resulting image is that the viewer is left far away. A golden rule to consider is get in really close, when you think you are too close take yet a another step forward. In this set of images I have been able to take advantage of interesting architecture and so the top of the frame is not followed with plain sky. I should add that this is my first time using a fish eye lens and the second day after receiving this as a second hand purchase.
Image 1
Can you see the pair of shoes in the bottom right corner? A mistake on my part in framing, with a 180 degree view inclusion you need to be aware of what is captured in the frame
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Exercise Learning
1. When taking images in a private location be aware of what you are allowed to do but also be aware of your rights
2. Be confident but mindful of other people, respect their wishes if asked
3. With ultra wide angle lenses you need to fill the frame to make the whole image interesting. Of this set I feel image 6 is the best. Whilst the eye roams around the image it will focus on the man with the pink bag looking into the lens and but will also discover the 2 boys sitting on the steps also looking into lens
4. I found this enjoyable and interesting. People around me were mindful of me taking images and one lady not aware my lens captures 180 degrees held her husband back for fear of walking into the frame. It was very re-assurance that even in a busy place like a shopping centre that people had respect for others, especially one with a camera
5. Be prepared to be asked to stop taking images in a privately owned location. Try to remember how you might feel if someone points a camera in your direction
6. Have fun discovering elements to photograph
In the previous post I talk about an incident and the perils of taking photographs in a privately owned retail centre. In this post I've looked at some of the retail architectural images of photographer Joel Knight.
I note in the following image he has a used a shutter speed to capture motion of shoppers to eliminate facial recognition. This is important for commercial photography as a model release would be required if images of people are to be sold for profit.
However I do wonder how the paparazzi get around this if they are selling images to papers and magazines I assume for financial gain. In this image Knight has succeeded in prevent facial recognition in this image.
A well know eating establishment
This is my favourite image from Knight's architectural set. The image contains an interesting view of the shopping arcade's stairway and including people. The longer shutter speed is creating a movement dynamic within the image
All his images look clean, almost clinical use of white with good use also of colour. No doubt some post processing work has been done but the images look crisp and interesting and show people in their use of the shopping arcade
The next exercise "A Public Space" asks for images in an organised public space. Whilst a few suggestions were mentioned I will choose to take some images within a retail shopping centre where I new there would be many people and shops and it would be interesting to see how people react.There has been some interesting articles surrounding people taking images within retail centres. One very controversial incident was as a result of a row of a father taking an innocent image of his daughter eating ice-cream in a Glasgow shopping centre. More details can be found here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15236758What I found very interesting was the fact the security guard called the police and the police advised him that he could have his camera phone confiscated under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Whilst this was clearly a valid statement the threat is laughable given what the father was doing, and indeed a copy of the image taken is visible in the above article. It is also excessive to suggest the taking of this images constituted an act of terrorism.However the crux of the issue is that notices in the shopping centre were present advising that no photography was permitted. Whilst there is an argument that does photography include camera phones, the capture of images being prevented was made clear. My view is that the notice is there to prevent some of the bad people in this world capturing images of innocent children and not to prevent the capturing of memories; in this instance a father capturing a happy image of his daughter is not what the rules are intended to prevent. There is for me some element of jobs-worth here and the security guard should have been able to recognise the innocence of the situation and simply pointed out the rule to the father.In fairness to a shopping centre spokesman they did say, and I quote from the above article:
"We have a 'no photography' policy in the centre to protect the privacy of staff and shoppers and to have a legitimate opportunity to challenge suspicious behaviour if required. However, it is not our intention to - and we do not - stop innocent family members taking pictures."
A campaign did start and many shopping centres have since withdrawn notices over photography.The key here for me is that there needs to be balance of what is right and what is wrong on both sides and of course we want to prevent all children, and adults, from exploitation.I know prepare for Exercise 7 - A Public Space and I have chosen a shopping centre in which to take some images. I will detail my experiences and approach in my next post.
