Kicked out of the Park

mehfesto2

I was asked yesterday to take some brief shots of the Medical Students of UCD for them to be used in the Student Mag over there to promote Med-Day.
We met up in St. Stephen's green as it was the handiest location for most and got some basic shots of the lads against the arch's stone background (i.e. we didn't include the arch, just used the stone wall as a plain background, if you get me).

We took about 10 before the Parkie came over and asked to see our permit. Upon telling him I had none and it was for charity, I was making no gain from it and that we were not using the arch or anything identifiable from the park anyway, we asked that we leave. He insisted "advertising was advertising" and radio'd the Park Head Warden.

I asked him was nobody allowed take pictures in the park, he told me "not like the way you are". I told him again it was for inter-sociatal advertising at most and what was the difference between using a smaller camera and taking pictures of the park without a permit and he said we'd have to leave now.

Was I in the wrong? I can't see why it was such a big deal. Anybody know how to go about this in future???
Ta.

jim o doom

It may be wrong and impolite but I would be telling the anal warden to "eff off with yourself", or something crass to that effect

DaireQuinlan

jim o doom wrote: »

It may be wrong and impolite but I would be telling the anal warden to "eff off with yourself", or something crass to that effect

And that would accomplish precisely what ??

Stephens green is managed by the OPW, not dublin city council. Apparently photography & video is allowed but a permit is required 'for commercial purposes'. I guess its up to whichever park warden who comes along to decide what 'commercial purposes' means...

Here's the OPW site , with contact details etc. Maybe fire them off a mail and bring this up ?
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/StStephensGreen/

Dragan

I actually have more years experience dealing with photographers than I do being one. It doesn't sound like the guy was in the wrong, but it does sound like he could have given a bit of leeway considering what you were doing the photos for. But then again, how is he to know you are telling the truth?

If you need a permit to do anything within the green then you need the permit I guess. Sadly it's normally the guy with the keys who gets to make these decisions.

Borderfox

You could have gone out onto the pavement with the arch in the background and got the shot you wanted.. it was a bit harsh but you know people with power..

jim o doom

I'd reckon commercial purposes would be covering photography that was for a commerical purpose i.e. for PROFIT - on that basis, amateur photography for no profit certainly doesn't sound like commercial for me, and telling said warden to "eff off" would hopefully achieve him "effing off" as he doesn't have a leg to stand on, if you have student cards to show that you are in college, and clearly not a professional photographer there to make money. Those rules about no commercial photography are all good and well, but the wardens have to abide by the rules as well, and it's unfair of them to give you crap because they suspect you may not be doing what you're supposed to be. Guilt following evidence as opposed to suspicion and all.
Even if it wasn't successful, the warden in question (to me anyway) sounds like the rule obsessed sort, who has nothing better to do than ruin someones day, even when they have provided a perfectly rational explanation for what they are doing, even if he feels it might be an excuse, you would expect lee way, or the warden to ask if you would be willing to provide proof that this is for a college thing. Telling him to eff off in that situation would succeed in at least making ya feel better, if nothing else.

Beef

it was a bit harsh but you know people with power..

People with a little power are often worse...

mehfesto2

I can see your points.

It just seemed strange that obvious student types (who all produced ID when asked) with "Med-Day 08" written on their T-shirts, with buckets with Charities names on them could be benefitting in anyway other than raising money for charity! :pac:

We were told that we couldn't take pictures from the pavement outside either - that it's all park owned surounding the park. The lads have clearance to collect money outside the park on Friday, but we couldn't use the Park on Wednesday for the same cause without permission?

Isn't Stephen's Green a public Park anyway?
On this note, do Wedding Photograhers all have to get approval for shots in the park?

l pearse

U2’s Bono avails of his newly acquired privilege to graze sheep on St Stephen’s Green

Seems like if you release a zillion records world wide or save the planet from distruction you could get in & take a coulpe of pic's of the students, for their mag.
Next time bring your flock along.;)

Sounds like the parkie was on a little power trip.:cool:

What is this country like.

Stephen

Some kind of photography flash mob should be organised. 100 people with cameras invade the park and photograph the sh1t out of it :pac:

CabanSail

I have a had similar experience with the Luas people (covered in another thread)

It is ussually a power trip on behalf of the person with the uniform.

The problem is that even when you say that you are not doing it for profit, it is hard to prove. He sees a camera which he associates with "professional" & that is what he is basing his case on. Even if you show that it probably is for charity it would then require him to back down. For someone with an ego like that it would be easier for him to fly to the moon than do that.

sheesh

why didn't you just wait for him to go away. Then a quick rush in click clicky and run.

rebellious student win!

Cabaal

Hang on so he also said you can't cross the street and take pictures of the park either? lol your kidding me right, your on public property when your on the street!

Photo flash mod would be fun, everyone pick the most professional "looking" gear you have and dress as professional as you can (is there even a professional dress code? )

Dragan

Cabaal wrote: »

(is there even a professional dress code? )

A sheet of paper that says invoice at one end a four figure sum at the other?:pac:

Cabaal

Dragan wrote: »

A sheet of paper that says invoice at one end a four figure sum at the other?:pac:

yep thats it! :pac:

mehfesto2

Cabaal wrote: »

Hang on so he also said you can't cross the street and take pictures of the park either? lol your kidding me right, your on public property when your on the street!

Photo flash mod would be fun, everyone pick the most professional "looking" gear you have and dress as professional as you can (is there even a professional dress code? )

What he said was we could use the pathway between Stephens green Park and Shopping Centre (y'know the one) becuase it would depict the arch and also because the pathway there is apparantly park-owned ()

Anyway, it's all done now. Just seems like somebody failed the garda test and didn't get to live out their 'Bill' fantasies...

murpho999

Are you sure they weren't making a new series of Naked Camera, there was a park warden in that!!

Cameraman

mehfesto2 wrote: »

Was I in the wrong? I can't see why it was such a big deal. Anybody know how to go about this in future???
Ta.

Contact the opw in advance and ask for a permit - you can do it by email. There is normally no charge for this for things like Wedding Photos etc. However, you do need to have Public Liability insurance.

decsramble

Out of curiosity what could he have done if you had refused to stop.

sheesh

decsramble wrote: »

Out of curiosity what could he have done if you had refused to stop.

He could call the cops to have you removed from the park.