WHAT ARE BUS PHOTOGRAPHY RULES?

[devilishlygood]

Relatively new to buses so I'm still finding my feet.
I was at Worcester in January and whilst taking photograph's of buses exiting the bus station noticed the odd 'First' driver either covering their face with their hand or holding their clipboard up to their face. On enquiring about this activity to a driver back in the bus station he told me it was all to do with privacy and drivers can object to having their photograph's taken.
At Cannock a couple weeks ago I went to photograph an Arriva bus on the main road and got a right earful from the driver. He was spouting off about 'invasion of privacy' and that I should ask his permission first before taking his photograph - never mind it was the bus and NOT him I wanted! He went seriously volcanic (though stopped short of swearing).
Surely if I am in a public place, and a bus (being PUBLIC transport) is in a public place there is no law against photography ......................... is there?
I'm pleased to say that I get nothing but smiles and thumbs up from TWM drivers, as well as the minor independents in and around Birmingham.
Why the wide variety of reactions between companies?

[Solo1]

What have they to hide theey drive cars  so will be filmed
in petrol stations , go shopping g most shops have cctv  most towns /cities have cctv as well so will be filmed any where in the course of
there duties

[Westy]

Must admit Im not 'hardcore' like most on here, so I tend to leave 'photography' to 'official' events like the garage open days, the last B10,Spectra etc event or Aston Manor days.

[Reece]

Relatively new to buses so I'm still finding my feet.
I was at Worcester in January and whilst taking photograph's of buses exiting the bus station noticed the odd 'First' driver either covering their face with their hand or holding their clipboard up to their face. On enquiring about this activity to a driver back in the bus station he told me it was all to do with privacy and drivers can object to having their photograph's taken.
At Cannock a couple weeks ago I went to photograph an Arriva bus on the main road and got a right earful from the driver. He was spouting off about 'invasion of privacy' and that I should ask his permission first before taking his photograph - never mind it was the bus and NOT him I wanted! He went seriously volcanic (though stopped short of swearing).
Surely if I am in a public place, and a bus (being PUBLIC transport) is in a public place there is no law against photography ......................... is there?
I'm pleased to say that I get nothing but smiles and thumbs up from TWM drivers, as well as the minor independents in and around Birmingham.
Why the wide variety of reactions between companies?

@devilishlygood Oh that was you getting shouted at by that Arriva driver at Cannock Bus Station on 18/02 the driver in question had just got of 3740 and I saw the whole thing unfold from the other side of the Bus Station I was out on round trip just doing some light bus spotting and realising what a intimidating place Cannock bus station is to take pictures of buses.

[devilishlygood]

Yup, you're quite right, it was me and it was 3740 / YJ57AZT that I was photographing.

I'm an ex train driver and took it as part of my job that enthusiasts would want to photograph what I was driving. I'll warrant I've had my photograph taken more than he's had hot dinners!

[Reece]

Yup, you're quite right, it was me and it was 3740 / YJ57AZT that I was photographing.

I'm an ex train driver and took it as part of my job that enthusiasts would want to photograph what I was driving. I'll warrant I've had my photograph taken more than he's had hot dinners!

I usually seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time I.e. meaning I am on my own bus spotting then suddenly for example this happened in Redditch Bus Station last year a driver desided to cover her face with a clipboard when I wasn't even taking a photo of that bus then the driver pulls up in the middle of the road and starts swearing at me randomly out of the cab Window and very aggressively then she drivers off!

[ARBB]

Simple internet search http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/04/14/photographers-rights-the-ultimate-guide/

Personally I don't have a problem with it.... Tbh im probably photographed more than some other drivers are. I can see where other drivers are coming from though, it is a stressful job and people aren't always in the mood to have their photo taken.

P.S. Can the idiot that uses a bright flash on their camera at halesowen bus station at night please use some common sense. This is dangerous which should speak for itself.

[Liverpool Street]

cameras are the worst invention ever
second is social media

[Westy]

Still think some of them are up to something if they dont want want their photo taken.

[GeminiFan1991]

In fairness I can see why drivers object, at the end of the your taking a photo of them without their consent.

To help somewhat alleviate whatever objection is present. You could attempt to shoot at an angle which the driver isn't really visible at.

Asking permission beforehand is a good idea

[Stu]

cameras are the worst invention ever
second is social media

The two make an awful combination.  :o

[Bryan]

In fairness I can see why drivers object, at the end of the your taking a photo of them without their consent.

To help somewhat alleviate whatever objection is present. You could attempt to shoot at an angle which the driver isn't really visible at.

Asking permission beforehand is a good idea

I can see that asking permission beforehand could sometimes be a good idea in certain circumstances but often that is rarely an option.

A good proportion of photos taken are whilst a vehicle is moving and so this impossible. Also, as long as a vehicle is on a public highway and in a public place what is the problem? With exterior reflections and the curvature of many windscreens, it is almost impossible that a driver could be recognized in 90%+ of the photos I have taken. I would love to know at what angle a bus photo can be taken so as the driver isn't really visible and the driver would know this!

Like Westy, I would be suspicious of any driver who complained or hurled abuse. Not only that, I would make a note of the date, time, location and registration of the vehicle concerned and send a complaint to the operating company. If really bad, a further option would be to contact the police.

In all my many years of taking bus photos, I've been lucky in not receiving any abuse, with the majority of drivers just getting on doing their duty, some raising a wave in acknowledgment and a few others slowing the vehicle down so I can get a better photo!

[GeminiFan1991]

I can see that asking permission beforehand could sometimes be a good idea in certain circumstances but often that is rarely an option.

A good proportion of photos taken are whilst a vehicle is moving and so this impossible. Also, as long as a vehicle is on a public highway and in a public place what is the problem? With exterior reflections and the curvature of many windscreens, it is almost impossible that a driver could be recognized in 90%+ of the photos I have taken. I would love to know at what angle a bus photo can be taken so as the driver isn't really visible and the driver would know this!

Like Westy, I would be suspicious of any driver who complained or hurled abuse. Not only that, I would make a note of the date, time, location and registration of the vehicle concerned and send a complaint to the operating company. If really bad, a further option would be to contact the police.

In all my many years of taking bus photos, I've been lucky in not receiving any abuse, with the majority of drivers just getting on doing their duty, some raising a wave in acknowledgment and a few others slowing the vehicle down so I can get a better photo!

It all also depends on the person taking the photo as well. When I first got into bus photography, I used to use my phone and I can only begin to imagine the thought process of a driver (who already deals with enough) who sees someone looking like me taking a photo of them. The vast majority of them know it's the bus not them being photographed and your bang on with your point about for the most part you can't really discern the drivers. Although it's also not illegal to photograph a car with someone in it but some would object !

I can't imagine drivers being abusive about the subject although those who do should be identified and conducted according. I'm essentially getting out that I can see why some drivers would object

[B10L1473]

If a driver is aggressive when you're taking photos there probably Thinking
Your a spy gonna report them. That could cause them to lash out.

[devilishlygood]

If you take that bus drivers arguement to its logical conclusion, after asking his permission to photograph the bus, you would then have to board and enquire of all upper and lower deck passengers if they too would object. After all, passengers also sometimes end up being visible in the resultant photo.
Think of the delays!!
Today I actually asked a couple of beat bobbies if I was doing anything wrong and they said no. Indeed, and this REALLY surprised me, they said they often get members of the public filming them doing their rounds - and there's nothing they can say or do about it!
If you can photograph and video policemen on the beat then you can damn well do the same with buses.
So long as you are not causing a nuisance, or putting the camera right in a persons face, ALL photography in public places is totally legal .
As mentioned earlier in this conversation by somebody, there is a wealth of information on the internet about this topic, and all comprehensively agree that public photography is perfectly legal.
If it ever happens to me again, I shall be armed with this information and argue my case ............................ MOST FORCEABLY!