Like many other snappers growing increasingly concerned about the increasing official harassment facing both amateur and professional photographers, we went along to Saturday’s ‘I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist!’ demo.
The protest took place in Trafalgar Square, central London at midday, and several hundred photographers were out in force to defend their right to take street photos – as the organisers website explained:
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.
This campaign is for everyone who values visual imagery, not just photographers.
We must work together now to stop this before photography becomes a part of history rather than a way of recording it.
More photos:
Trafalgar Square protest (Jan 2010) – Scotland Yard demo (Feb 2009)
More info:
‘I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist!’ campaign:
Website –Facebook – Twitter
Also: check out our comprehensive guide to: Photographers Rights And The Law In The UK, read case studies and incidents or contribute to the discussion on our sister site, urban75,
