Photography on the London Underground.

[james60059]

Hi Folks,

With the current situation, am I likely to get a frosty reception if doing photography on the London Underground?, obviously I'll be wearing my face covering (which ironically is a Central London, Underground map). Has anyone been on the tube lately for photography purposes?

Thanks in Advance

 

[Enthusiast]

I don't think you are allowed to take photographs at stations that are actually under the ground in any circumstances. Someone will put me right if I'm incorrect, I'm sure.

 

[bramling]

Hi Folks,

With the current situation, am I likely to get a frosty reception if doing photography on the London Underground?, obviously I'll be wearing my face covering (which ironically is a Central London, Underground map). Has anyone been on the tube lately for photography purposes?

Thanks in Advance

Officially I'm not aware of any change to the rules having been announced, which is that photography is fine using small cameras for private purposes, subject to no flash and tripod.

As to whether you'd get a frosty reception in practice, I suspect that would depend on exactly where and what. Providing you pick somewhere that's absolutely not causing an obstruction or nuisance then you'd probably be fine, though if you intend to linger in one place then it would probably be worth speaking to staff first. In reality many LU stations are still fairly empty at the moment, so in some ways that could make things easier than normal.

So in essence I'd suggest either keep moving around on a fairly constant basis, or if wishing to remain at a location for more than a few minutes pick somewhere "out of the way" and discuss with staff first.

If you're looking to be doing pictures of things like station features or passageways then again substantial common sense is the order of the day. Some places are still very quiet and you should have no problem at all providing you're sensible, but if you're looking for busier places then forget it - though evenings are very quiet pretty much everywhere at present so you could use this to advantage.

 

[John Hunt]

I was tempted to try photos on LU some years ago.
Approached a member of staff who quite reasonably pointed out that although I would not be using 'flash' mistakes could happen.
He carried on to say that a couple of days previously he and a colleague had escorted someone from the platform who had not even
had the decency to ask first.
I've never even thought about it since, although I have taken photos 'underground' at Liverpool after asking for permission.

 

[Enthusiast]

Yes it was the "flash" prohibition I must have had in mind. For safety reasons, I would imagine.

 

[John Hunt]

Yes it was the "flash" prohibition I must have had in mind. For safety reasons, I would imagine.

Most definitely!
Although the true cause of a horrific accident years ago was never proved beyond doubt, we don't want another 'Moorgate'.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Probably OK on the surface lines; I've had a few friendly exchanges with LUL drivers recently who have shown interest

 

[ThameslinkUser]

Currently, it should be perfectly fine everywhere on the tube, provided you adhere to the guidelines outlined in post 2.

photography is fine using small any cameras for private purposes, subject to no flash and tripod.

TfL state this is at the station's discretion; from experience, I have found that Central London stations are less likely to have issues. I have suspicions as to why this is, but this isn't the place to speculate.

Edit:
TfL's official guidelines are here

 

[DelW]

I've taken photos on underground platforms, both on film and digitally, no problem if hand held and no flash as said above.

A couple of suggestions from experience:

• With digital cameras it's sometimes possible for the flash to be turned back on, e.g. when changing "scene" mode. If there's any possibility of that, stick a bit of tape over the flash lens
• Be aware of who is in your shot, and what they're doing. I once had a confrontation with someone who was possibly doing something illicit, and thought I was recording him doing so (actually I was looking at the train and hadn't even registered him). In the end I deleted the shots in front of him, and retook them when he'd gone.