Photography has been my hobby for a while now, but I often just take pictures of trains and boring stuff like that, and something that I’ve always been fascinated by is photography at large public events, for example protests, demonstrations or ceremonies (the two most prominent examples I can think of in recent times are Israel-Palestine protests or Remembrance parades which happened recently), but I have no clue how to go about it. I would only want to do it for personal interest and not for commercial purposes (if the pictures were published they would be in the public domain).

My question is pretty much how I would go about doing this. Should I wear specific clothing so the police can identify me? Is there any other precautions I need to take? I have no clue.

  • strangeweather415@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    As protests go, you should be prepared to accidentally catch some splash damage (tear gas, pepper spray, being kettled, etc) regardless of your clothing. The suggestion of a high viz vest is a good suggestion though.

    I shot most of the 2020 protest movement in SF on a bike and with a huge DSLR and a number of GoPros. The vast majority of people, protestors and cops included, did not concern themselves with me. Learn to read the scene, get away from bad situations if you are worried. You might miss a moment, but trusting my gut in these situations has saved my eyes and throat several times.

    Protestors are liable to be very wary of being filmed. If asked to stop, it is a smart move to stop, or at least don’t film the individual that asked. People are putting their lives and livelihood on the line in many cases. There may be powerful people or nation states that want to do them harm. You can’t be the arbiter of how valid or likely that chance might be.

    Absolutely film the shit out of police or public officials, if your local laws allow it.

    One cardinal rule to live by at protests or large events/disturbances: KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. Do not take a stance, at all. Remain neutral no matter what your feelings are. Even if you think you’ll be on the more popular side of things. Involving your personal stances either way is a bad, bad idea. Don’t wear shirts about the topic, or have a signs.

    • 206street@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      As protests riots go, you should be prepared to accidentally catch some splash damage (tear gas, pepper spray, being kettled, etc) regardless of your clothing.

      Fixed that for you. No protest should have tear gas or pepper spray…

        • Legit-NotADev@alien.topOPBEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          I live in the UK so perhaps it’s different where you are, but generally this kind of stuff isn’t used at the types of events I’d be interested in so I’ll be fine for that. And yes in the UK filming laws are very liberal so there’s no legal problem here.