Camden Market (2587) March 2006

Photo Photo
This shop in Camden market has a range of pop star prints going back over 40 years. Unfortunately the shopkeeper threatened to call the security guards if I took any more photographs of the shop. So is this where the story ends?
Check out Linda Macpherson’s piece on Photographers’ Rights in the UK and Daniel Cuthbert also produced a version for the 1st European Photobloggers meetup

Posted to TA on 3/29/2006 9:38:28 PM | Comments

1. Posted by w|e|s on 3/29/2006 1:52:26 PM
LOL I have gotten that threat before too. I would imagine there might be some counterfeit merchandise in that shop? ;-) I had always wondered how much these kinds of shops have to sell in one day to stay in business...

2. Posted by w|e|s on 3/29/2006 1:54:00 PM
altho the story does not have to end... We can always make up multiple stories why he does not want you to photograph the storefront... ;-)

3. Posted by stewart on 3/29/2006 2:01:55 PM
At least you got a shot of the shop,I don't like the attitude of these people who throw out threats.I had the same problem a few years ago in the Stables market but I never got a shot because I asked him first.

4. Posted by tony on 3/29/2006 2:16:36 PM
Hi w|e|s, I was told that many of the stall-holders in Camden Market don't like people photographing the merchandise ::
I've put up a couple of links to Photographers’ rights below the picture.

5. Posted by tony on 3/29/2006 2:19:17 PM
Hi Stewart, I have a feeling that people who work in the market just get fed up with people photographing them - but I'll need to check this out next time I'm down there.

6. Posted by twig on 3/29/2006 2:33:58 PM
It seems to be a matter of the ground you are standing on.
If you are in a public place, i.e. the street and take photos from there then there's little to prohibit you. If you are in a mall, the 'public place' may be on private (corporate) land and therefore private property and subject to THE RULES. Camden Market is perhaps in the latter category, depending on where you are standing. I think that w|e|s may have a point re 'counterfeit merchandise'.
I see a Vetrianno there... http://tinyurl.com/qc2wc A welcome combination of image and thought...

7. Posted by Daniel on 3/29/2006 2:36:33 PM
This is why i created the card. First check to see if its within private property (there should be signs saying this). If thats not the case, next time the shopkeeper threatens to call the police, TELL THEM TO!
you have rights, use them :)

8. Posted by Neoslv on 3/29/2006 7:45:24 PM
I agree with Daniel. Everyone has rights!. BTW, awesome shot, Tony.

9. Posted by Robert K. on 3/29/2006 8:27:20 PM
Looks like a cool place.. too bad they aren't very friendly ;-)

10. Posted by robert on 3/30/2006 9:32:37 AM
Hi Tony, I like the shot -- I am trying to look at the pictures at the back of the shop
-- robert

11. Posted by (( izZZ ) on 3/30/2006 7:40:52 PM
Gr8 post

12. Posted by richie boy on 3/30/2006 7:41:16 PM
yup

13. Posted by tony on 3/30/2006 11:03:11 PM
Twig, often the boundaries between public and private are not obvious. This photograph was taken from Camden High Street; for me I was obviously on public property, but for the shopkeeper I seemed to be crossing a 'boundary' when I chose to 'take' a photograph of their property. I wonder if this 'fear of the photoographer' phenomenon has become worse over the last few years?

14. Posted by tony on 3/30/2006 11:07:33 PM
Hi Daniel, good to have you come by. I think the 'London Photobloggers' Photographers’ rights card you put together may well come in useful, I've downloaded a copy and will carry it with me.

15. Posted by tony on 3/30/2006 11:10:57 PM
Hi Neoslv, and thanks. I think we may think we have 'rights', but in the everyday world we're probably not so sure of what these rights are.

16. Posted by tony on 3/30/2006 11:14:26 PM
Robert, this place can be fairly friendly, especially when the shopkeepers are having a good day - the day I took this photograph it was quite cold with few people around .. maybe the shopkeeper was having a bad day.

17. Posted by tony on 3/30/2006 11:28:55 PM
Hi Robert, I think most of the pictures in this shop are 'poster pics' that have been mounted to look like 'original prints', which is a way of adding a 'value' to the object. The Jack Vettriano, that twig, pointed out, can be bought for around £5 as a poster and here is being sold for £37 with a frame. On the other side of the entrance is a Bob Dylan print/poster, I think from the 'Highway 61' era, which is being sold with frame for £29. So, if you can cut out window mounts and make a few frames easily and cheaply this could be a way of generating an income. Oh, and you'll need a good location - like Camden Market.

18. Posted by tony on 3/30/2006 11:29:38 PM
izZZ, thankz

19. Posted by tony on 3/30/2006 11:31:54 PM
richie boy, thankz 2

20. Posted by richie boy on 3/30/2006 11:32:27 PM
you are welcome tony

21. Posted by Earl on 3/31/2006 3:52:36 PM
It doesn't seem to make a difference - even if you ask permission, it's usually denied. I always ask first. One time I wanted to take a shot of a beautiful display of bagels at a local shop. I asked the clerk, who asked the manager, who called corporate HQ. Any surprise the answer was no? Just a little too uptight, but that's just my opinion!

22. Posted by tony on 4/1/2006 1:10:24 AM
Hi Earl, thanks for this insight .. your story also reveals how, gradually, the world, the people we interact with in our everyday life, are 'acting' on the orders of 'others' .. this corporate philosophy probably doesn't help us to become responsible, thoughtful, or caring.

23. Posted by The Max on 4/1/2006 4:04:25 PM
I hate it when they ask me not to take pictures of their store, but oh well. I think I see some Andy Warhol on the lower left?

24. Posted by angie on 4/3/2006 7:42:35 PM
Looks like a place I wouldn't mind checking out. Sorry you got hassled Tony, but thanks for managing to click this one off to share with us ;)

25. Posted by tony on 4/7/2006 12:21:40 AM
The Max, thanks for the comment .. they have quite a few Andy Warhol prints here.

26. Posted by tony on 4/7/2006 12:28:10 AM
Angie hi, this shop has hit on a good idea by adding a window mount (mat) to the posters and more-or-less doubling the price of the original poster print.

27. Posted by Odon on 4/9/2006 2:27:25 PM
Looks that there are few costumers. I'm in a Cyber Cafe, now, in a Shopping Center. There's a store like this, in the first level. (Closed, at this time.)

28. Posted by tony on 4/10/2006 12:34:25 AM
Odon, this was early in the week when the market is fairly quite, and it was cold. This shop has been here for many years, but it's the first time I've bothered to look at it or photograph it.

29. Posted by Odon on 4/10/2006 5:31:32 AM
Ah, I understand. Well, maybe one of the authors are worried about the rights and ask for more security. This type of market looks like to stay in a fragile balance. (But I don't like the threats, too.)

30. Posted by tony on 4/10/2006 2:31:51 PM
.. and I think this fragilty, Odon, possibly adds to a sense of insecurity ;-|