Are Tripods Allowed in London?
Can tripods be used in London is a question that always comes up and many people will be fast to tell you that tripods are allowed to be used in London.
However, I have been leading workshops for Photography Tours At Night in the heart of the city for 8 years now and with the number of tripods now used in the city at night. I thought I would offer some clear guidance in relation to using tripods in the city as there are some places and some rules that you will have to follow in order to avoid being stopped by anyone.
First, are tripods banned?
Well, the answer is yes, and no. The answer is yes and no because I simply do not know where you are planning on standing, or what you are planning to point your camera at. The answer would always be based on these two variables at all times so I thought I would offer some tips and hope this rule of thumb helps you while on location.
1, Don't be the Photographer who annoys security.
Photographers love to get great shots but we are plentiful in number and turn up in our 1000s to take classic shoots, and the same 1000 also like to hunt for new locations.
However, we have to be aware of what we are taking photographs off. Yes, we all know not to shoot a military base, or a place like MI5 is a no-no. But other buildings in the city are also high-security buildings and we might not consider that fact when we are applying our “rights” to shoot on public property.
Take the Moor buildings near Tower Bridge. These buildings are an architectural beauty and the security on location allow you to take photos of the buildings with any camera. However, the very second you take out a tripod and mount your camera to take a shot of this building. You have triggered a security guard watching you via the CCTV office to have to walk around to you and tell you you cannot use your tripod.
Now, I understand you will think you have the right to because 1, you are in a public place as lots of people are around and 2, photographers have rights. However, first, the area is not actually public; it states this on the wall to that part of the Thames, unlike other parts of the Thames that are 100% a public footpath. This part is private footpath that is open for the public to use.
But 2, and more importantly. The reason it triggered the security guard to come to you is that the Moor buildings are home to big companies who have trade secrets and you cannot point your camera on a tripod towards the windows because the staff are working on computers in the windows that you are planning to take a photo of and they don't want you to be able to read their computer screens as have secrets that they don't want to be public.
So, we have to help each other to respect the buildings we capture. We have to remember that they are not just for beauty and that they are in actively in use. We have to also respect the security guard who has to repetitively tell photographers that tripods are not allowed on location. Remember its easier to police tripod use then police what lenses are used on location and while it might be annoying because places like Canary wharf are stunning, sometimes its best to just go for a CityScape location then a detailed up close and personal location
Tip 2. Don't be the Photographer who blocks the path
London can be quiet at times; like 10pm to 6am. During these times, the streets are all yours. But then, by 7:30am everything changes and streets become a hive of activities.
You might want to be the photographer who takes a motion blur photo of Victoria station during rush hour. However, if you do it you will block the path of so many people; who will openly tell you off about it and might even swear at you as most commuters, at this moment, are in a rush and not need you blocking their path. And, it also gets on the security team's nerves as they now have to come and tell you to stop.
It’s simply not worth taking out your tripod in the middle of the station. Try finding a flat area in a place to eat inside the station that has outside seats and rest your camera on the table, or try to master lower shutter speeds like 1/8 handheld; but stand aside, by a wall, to not cause a nuisance.
Likewise, don't block pavement on one of our many high Rd just become we have the right to take a photo using our tripod. Tripods are classed as a nuisance because they do present a hazard. You have to consider the flow of pedestrians when you chose a place to use your tripod.
Many people now use their phones as they walk, some simply will not see you or some might simply be unable to go around you. If you select a place that makes people have to step out into to avoid bopping into you then you have selected a bad place to shot and this might present a major hazard that would cause the security watching the CCTV of the street to now to have to either ask local security, or even the police to assist in asking you to move on and leave.
Rule of thumb is that it would be best to always put your tripod to the side of the pavement, nearest the roadside, or in front of a public bin, or something already blocking the pavement. Never put yourself in danger by standing in the roads and never put our tripod in a place that people have to step out into the road in order to avoid you.
Conclusion
If you follow the two tips above and you do not stand in a hazardous place or use a tripod to take photos of a high-security building. You will be doing two important things that will help you to avoid being stopped in the first place.
If you are taking photos for non-commercial reasons, the streets of London are open for you to use because we do have the right to stand on the high street/public footpath and take photos while using our tripods. And yes, we can have the “It's our rights under the same acts and rules that govern CCTV in the UK” debate. But the fact is, there are also other rights that companies and civilians have in order to go about their working day in a safe way.
I have led 1000s of people around the streets of London to take photos and security teams in the city allow us to pass through peacefully. We do not cause a problem with 16 tripods touring around Soho, Piccadilly, Westminster, Southbank, Tower Bridge, Portobello Rd or Camden and many other areas; by day or night. And, we only follow these basic rules of thumb.
Photography should be thrilling and while on location, you can unleash the creative master in you. But arguments about the right to use a tripod can take away some of the creative flair that you get when you're on location. It's best to avoid this argument altogether by understanding the reasons why you will be asked to move on.
I hope this helps you with your plans to use a tripod on a future trip to our city. London is a great place to shoot! You can shot for a quick 3 minutes without being bothered but you need to keep things moving. But we do not want the laws to change because we become a bigger nuisance. We have to remember that some rules are made for good reasons and if we respect why we cannot capture some buildings or stand in dangerous places, it will make for an overall good experience of shooting London with a tripod.
If you enjoyed this blog, you can read more of my blogs Here. I am Katrina Frazer, I am a travel photography tutor, mother to young adults, and I have a passion for sharing information.
