Great shoot and thanks to all involved making it happen.

Sport & Fashion exhibition at Fashion Museum Bath

A small photographer surrounded by giants

Shooting Fiona, Francois Louw, Nathan Catt & Matt Carraro

The commercial, which was also produced at the same time,  is being aired on National TV and the advertising campaign carries the strapline ‘Live a Sexier Life’  and advertises the company, ‘the sexual happiness people,’ rather than any specific products. It’s caused quite a stir in the press.

One location for the shoot was a supermarket in Essex  at 5 in the morning and then moving onto a train carriage at another location in Ongar. The train shoot and behind the scenes images are probably best portrayed on the Halo media site http://www.halomedia.co.uk/latest/behind-scenes-halo-photoshoot

Lovehoney campaign image

Lovehoney web image

Firstly they are free, secondly the elasticated band holds it over the camera and lens when it’s windy, almost a perfect fit for all but the longest lens. I can get two shower caps compacted down into an old 35mm film canister and they have saved my gear on many occasions. If the camera is sitting on a tripod locked down for any period of time it’s great to cover it from the elements and not a big deal if you loose one or if they get trashed… plenty more hotel bathrooms to raid!

Here’s the camera sporting the shower cap solution last week…

DSLR with shower cap

… bearing in mind that the camera in the shot has been outside in gale force winds and rain for two days and the shower cap is looking about as battered as I was. (No…. I wasn’t wearing the other one!)

This week I’ve shot product for Jones hire and Fullerton Shoes in the studio, Nestles were in shooting a video on Tuesday and Podium Magazine shot the Olympic fencer Heather Fell yesterday.
I’m glad it’s getting used and people seem to love shooting here.
After a week of being inside I must admit I’m looking forward to shooting on location next week.

Studio at the end of the week

Off to shoot an apple harvest next week and will hopefully sample a cider or two?

http://annagillespiesculptor.blogspot.com/2011/06/day-at-beach.html

For more of Anna’s work
http://www.annagillespie.co.uk

When you are stopped and searched the police must always specify on what grounds they are conducting the search and usually only if the officer has ‘reasonable suspicion’ in relation to  Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
There is no legal restriction on photography in public places and if you are on a public right of way – such as a public pavement, footpath or public highway – you are free to take photographs for personal and commercial use so long as you are not causing an obstruction to other users, but it seems that many officials do not seem to be aware of that.

For more information I recommend you visit and support:
http://photographernotaterrorist.org
Further detailed information about your rights are available here:
http://www.photo-forum.org/photo-forum-know-your-rights-special
A stop and search bust card is available here, print it out and stick it in your wallet or camera bag
http://photographernotaterrorist.org/bust-card

I nearly got mugged as I was shooting……  which just about sums it up!

Didn’t fancy the menu much either.

I think I’d shot about 5 frames before I was asked to stop by the opposing team coach. “You can’t take pictures of the children playing football, the Football association has rules that ban photography…. it’s not me…it’s the rules” was roughly the way the conversation went. Well it wasn’t the time or place to start having a “discussion” about this, I was sure that he wasn’t right as I seen loads of other parents taking pictures over the weeks, I didn’t know what the guidelines were …. so I stopped. I figured that it was mainly due to the size of the lens…. but I was certainly going to find out what the guide lines were.  It turns out that the coach had very little idea about what the guidelines actually are, another classic example of someone who thinks they know best when it comes to spouting rules and regulations about what you can or can’t photograph!

So for all you parents that want to take pictures of your kids playing football here are the guidelines from the official F.A website and I recommend that you make yourself aware of what the guidelines are…. especially if you are a coach.

The guide lines are in PDF form which you can get from here: www.thefa.com/…/PhotographyGuidelines…/PhotographyGuidelines.pdf

From the FA “Respect” pdf:

There has been much talk about who is allowed to take pictures of children (under 18s) playing sport and in particular what parents/carers are permitted to do. The FA would like to assure parents, carers, coaches, spectators, players and local media that we encourage the taking of appropriate images of children in football.
Potential risks
The FA has developed this guidance to help avoid the following:

• The inappropriate use, adaptation or copying of images for use on child abuse websites on the internet (often incorrectly referred to as pornography sites)

• The identification of children when a photograph is accompanied by significant personal information that will assist a third party in identifying the child. This can lead, and has led, to children being ‘groomed’

• The identification and locating of children in inappropriate circumstances which include: (i) where a child has been removed from his/her family for their own safety; (ii) where restrictions on contact with one parent following a parental separation exist e.g. in domestic violence cases; (iii) in situations where a child may be a witness in criminal proceedings; or (iv) other safeguarding children concerns.
It’s important to remember the majority of images taken are appropriate and taken in good faith. If we take the following simple measures we can help to ensure the safety of children in football.

Common sense considerations to ensure everyone’s safety
Do:
1. share The FA’s guidance on taking images with all parents, carers and members when they join the club

2. ensure the club has parental consent to use a player’s image if it is to be used in the public domain e.g. club website or newspaper article. This is essential in relation to point 3 below
3. ensure that any child in your club who is under care proceedings, is protected by ensuring that their image is not placed in the public domain. This can be done by using a Consent Form, so that parents/carers can identify whether this applies to children in their care.
4. focus on the activity rather than the individual

5. ensure all those featured are appropriately dressed (a minimum of vest or shirt and shorts)

6. aim to take pictures which represent the broad range of youngsters participating safely in football e.g. boys and girls, disabled people, ethnic minority communities.
Don’t:
1. publish photographs with the full name(s) of the individual(s) featured unless you have written consent to do so and you have informed the parents as to how the image will be used
2. use player profiles with pictures and detailed personal information on websites
3. use an image for something other than that which it was initially agreed, e.g. published in local press when initially produced for a clubhouse commemorative picture
4. allow images to be recorded in changing rooms, showers or toilets – this includes the use of mobile phones that record images.

If you are concerned about the inappropriate use of images please report this to your CFA Welfare Office ror to The FA Case Manager.
Remember
• It’s not an offence to take appropriate photographs in a public place even if asked not to do so
• No one has the right to decide who can and cannot take images on public land
• If you have serious concerns about a possible child protection issue relating to the recording of images then call the Police. This action should only be taken where you believe that someone may be acting unlawfully or putting a child at risk
• The land or facility owner can decide whether or not photography and or videoing at football activities will be permitted when carried out on private land. However you need to make this known before allowing individuals access to the private property. If they do not comply then you may request that they leave

To report potentially unlawful materials on the internet please contact:
The Internet Watch Foundation

Email: report@iwf.org.uk

Telephone: 01223 237700