Do you have tickets to see any of the Olympic events and thought you might take a camera along to record that once in a lifetime opportunity, well maybe you should think again. It seems that for ill defined reasons the organisers are prepared to ban the use of what they deem to be professional type cameras, my guess is this means DSLR cameras with a lens long enough to capture anything on the track or field of play. This is another example of photographers being demonised because those in authority do not understand why people take pictures. We do it because we are interested in photography and like to record our lives, where we go and what we see. Of course it could be that the athletes, their managers, sponsors or whomever want to have complete control over what images are available. God forbid you might get a picture of an athlete throwing a hissy fit or one of the football stars doing something unmentionable to another.
The BJP, always a source of informed news and comment has an article by Olivier Laurent, with James Temperton of Computer Active on this matter, read the full article here but this is the nature of what is being considered
“Some venues will be more flexible,” she said. “For example, if you’re attending an event in Green Park, there’ll be more space for spectators, so security might allow you to get in with larger equipment. But that won’t be the case at the Olympic Stadium,” where large lenses and tripods could interfere with spectators’ view of the sporting events.
However, BJP and ComputerActive, another Incisive Media publication, have found that Wembley Stadium, which will host football events during the Olympic Games, will prohibit any kind of “professional-style cameras [any camera with interchangeable lenses] or recording/transmitting devices”.
From the BJP: Aerial view of the Olympic Park showing the Olympic Stadium and warm-up track in the foreground.
Subscribe to BJP and save money. Click here to save 29% today.
Oxford School of Photography 