“Freedom and Photography” – festivalofpolitics.org.uk

I’m one of the speakers at the Festival of Politics & World Press Photo ‘Freedom and Photography’ event next month at the Scottish Parliament.

The event will be chaired by Stephen Mayes, Secretary to the World Press Photo Jury and Managing Director of VII Photo Agency.

“Join a panel of professional photographers and experts as they discuss arguably one of the most important issues faced today by both professional and amateur photographers alike, where freedom to photograph in public ends and where privacy and restriction begins. The panel includes photographer Marc Vallée; Damien Demolder, Editor of Amateur Photographer magazine; Media Lawyer Campbell Deane; and Linda Macpherson of the UK Photographers Rights Guide; they will explore this contentious area, trying to make sense of what many feel are legal ambiguities surrounding public photography.”

Poster.

“Victory Flashmob – Section 44 is Dead!” – londonphotographers.org

“Campaigners claim victory over Stop & Search ruling” – PhotographerNotaTerrorist.org

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. First round is on the Met!

“Police use of protest photos will face review” – The Financial Times.

Here is a link to an article by Michael Peel, FT Legal Correspondent; James Boxell, FT Home Affairs Correspondent and yours truly in The Financial Times today on police surveillance. Do you want to know what a left-wing Labour MP, the deputy Prime Minister’s ‘interfaith and extremism’ adviser and maybe you have in common? If so then read on or pick up a copy.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 02.05.08. A civilian police photographer films and photographs working journalists outside City Hall on Friday 2 May 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link.

“Journalists win payout after police admit failing to respect press freedom” – Paul Lewis, The Guardian.

“The Met’s apology to journalists is only of value if it acts upon it” – Olly Zanetti, The Guardian.

“Photographers win damages in Met Police legal case” – British Journal of Photography.

“Photographers win human rights victory over police” – Amateur Photographer.

“Police pay damages and apologise to photojournalists” – Press Gazette.

Here is the press round for the Greek Embassy case. Right, now back to work.

EDMOND TERAKOPIAN tries out the new Leica M9. September 17, 2009. Photo: Antje Bormann.

“Convergence – Should we adapt and how?” – londonphotographers.org

This months London Photographers’ Branch meeting will feature a panel discussion on media convergence, with photographer and branch member Edmond Terakopian and film editor Simon Ruben.

Click here to find out more.

EDMOND TERAKOPIAN and a RED One camera with a Rode NTG-2 mic in a setup to shoot in Ealing Common. June 12, 2010. Photo: Antje Bormann

“Branch Secretary Stepping Down” – londonphotographers.org

I’m stepping down as Secretary of the London Photographers’ Branch to prioritise my work as branch Legal Rep. Below is the text of an email I sent to Branch Committee members on 3rd June 2010:

“I have decided to resign as Branch Secretary.

“I will not step down as Secretary until the Branch has elected a new Secretary and I hope that will take place at the June Branch meeting.”

Picture above: Andreas Laszlo Konrath at the Exit Gallery on Friday 7 May 2010. Picture by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk (c) Marc Vallée, 2010. All rights reserved.

As promised a picture of Andreas Laszlo Konrath at the Exit Gallery. The exhibition runs until July and is well worth checking out.

Print above: Joe by Andreas Laszlo Konrath. (c) Andreas Laszlo Konrath. Published here by kind permission of Andreas Laszlo Konrath.

My good friend Andreas Laszlo Konrath is over from New York this week for an exhibition of his stunning pictures at the Exit Gallery. I can not make the private view tonight but I will be out and about with Andreas later in the week and checking out the show. Full report next week.

Large file.

“Speaking up for press freedom” – Marc Vallée, The Guardian.

Here is my Comment is free on last nights Hostile Reconnaissance – Terror Laws, Civil Liberties and Press Freedom rally organised by the London Photographers’ Branch of the National Union of Journalists.

Do we need a press freedom bill?

A legal definition of who is a journalist is problematic but both news gathering and journalism need legal protection.

For me a press freedom bill would not be about giving individual journalists more legal protection then any other citizen. What it could do is give the act of news gathering legal protection. The film footage by a New York fund manger of the attack on Ian Tomlinson at the G20 in London last year by a TSG police officer was a very important act of news gathering by a member of the public who was not a journalist.

In the hands of Paul Lewis and The Guardian that film footage become journalism. The police did visit The Guardian office to put pressure on The Guardian to remove the film from its website. Thankfully The Guardian stood up to this pressure. Legal protection in that context would be a step forward.

We have a common law right to take a picture in a public place. Court rulings over privacy, counterterrorism laws and police action threaten that common law right. I would like that right to be protected for all.

Updated: 15.04.10.

“Hostile Reconnaissance – Terror Laws, Civil Liberties & Press Freedom” – London Photographers’ Branch of the NUJ.

The Hostile Reconnaissance rally is tonight! Very much looking forward to it. I will be speaking along side Jeremy Dear, General Secretary National Union of Journalists; Paul Lewis, Guardian journalist & British Press Awards Reporter of the Year 2010; Keith Ewing, Professor of Public Law at King’s College London & author of Bonfire of the Liberties; Henry Porter, Observer columnist, author & London editor of Vanity Fair and Chez Cotton, Head of Action Against the Police at Bindmans Solicitors & a co-ordinator of the Police Action Lawyers Group.

Click here for more information.