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Smudge on the Lens, or Fly in the Ointment
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Fantastic photo opportunities in Belfast this weekend with the 2008 Maritime Festival I took the grandkids, and the camera, and we spent most of the today wandering around and exploring. Grandchildren and cameras are a fantastic mix, Granddads’ aren’t neurotically over-protective and don’t complain if the kids get a little messy. Kids don’t mind hanging around while grandpa gets the perfect shot, so long as the sweets, ice cream and Coke keep coming. Trouble is, I think most of the amateur photographers in Northern Ireland know the same trick, I have never seen so many cameras in one place.
When Mum and Dad arrived in the afternoon they were exhausted, and granddad was running low on cash, so they were happy to head for home. Now on my own, I headed across to Clarendon Dock to fill another Memory Card.
It was a great day for photography, not a single person complained about having their photo taken, well, not until I came across the BBC’s contribution that is. Called the BBC Raw Space Circus, it was located in a large marquee on the dockside. Strange thing for a kids attraction though, there were two large security staff at the entrance who were inspecting everyone entering.
When I approached the entrance the larger of the guards, politely, but most firmly stopped me from entering and told me that I was not allowed to take photographs.
He obviously understood my quizzical look because he simply shrugged his shoulders and said “BBC” as if that was all the explanation necessary. From what I could see through the entrance it did not look that interesting so I simply walked away to photograph the Naval Warship tied up nearby. Strange, MOD doesn’t seem to be as paranoid about photographers as the BBC..!About 15 minutes later I was coming back past the BBC tent when I saw and heard the security staff refusing entry to a 9 – 10 year old, because he had a small bottle of Coke. At this point I began to wonder exactly who was allowed to enter the BBC marquee. From my observations thus far they appeared to be excluding two major groups, those with cameras, who probably numbered in the tens of thousands, and another equally large group, Kids with bottles of Pop.
Very politely I asked the guard who had stopped me if I could speak to the person in charge? Equally politely he said yes, he would contact them. A few minutes later a young lady was explaining that it was BBC policy not to allow photography. She said if I had had kids with me, or if I was Press, or if I was submitting the photos to a local paper then I might have been allowed. When I asked if she could clarify the exact criteria upon which these decisions were made, she simply repeated what she had said.
I have to say that Belfast City Council have a real winner with the maritime festival, it is a fantastic attraction for tourists and locals alike. Even the odd light shower could not dampen the atmosphere. It’s great to see totally inclusive events where family and friends from all sections of our community can get together and enjoy themselves. However, I do wonder why, for an event so clearly designed to be inclusive to all, one contributor should exclude two significant groups, Amateur Photographers, and Coca-cola drinking kids…. If the BBC want behave like politically correct Divas should we even be inviting them to participate?
Interesting tale. Was wondering if I should go down today for a look-see. Strange remark that you would have been allowed in with kids …. ? Well, at least they respected your enquiry and turned up to justify their decision.
Interesting tale. Was wondering if I should go down today for a look-see. Strange remark that you would have been allowed in with kids …. ? Well, at least they respected your enquiry and turned up to justify their decision. Hope to see some of the photos you were able to take!
She said if I had had kids with me, or if I was Press, or if I was submitting the photos to a local paper then I might have been allowed.
So a combination of kids/+camera would have worked??!!
:DPixelle wrote:
She said if I had had kids with me, or if I was Press, or if I was submitting the photos to a local paper then I might have been allowed.
So a combination of kids/+camera would have worked??!!
:DSounds like discrimination.
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