On Saturday, the I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist campaign organised a mass photo gathering in Trafalgar Square, in defence of street photography. Quite a few people showed up too! As the campaign’s website states,
Photography is under attack. Across the country it that seems anyone with a camera is being targeted as a potential terrorist, whether amateur or professional, whether landscape, architectural or street photographer.
Not only is it corrosive of press freedom but creation of the collective visual history of our country is extinguished by anti-terrorist legislation designed to protect the heritage it prevents us recording.
Until the message filters down to the police on the street that we are not criminals for attempting to take photos of buildings we see everyday or while on holiday, perhaps it’s a good idea to print out their stop and search bust card and keep a copy on you? Especially if, like me, you are partial to taking assorted shots of nothing much.
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