One & Other

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About me

Born in Hertfordshire & lived there most of my life - now in my mid 40's

Been passoinate about photography since the age of 10, & spent the last 25 years working as a commercial photographer & still enjoy it.

Saw the time on the plinth as a chance to take some pictures, just for the fun of it, of the square from a unique perspective which will probably never be available again.

It will also give me a chance to promote the rights of photographers to take photos in public.

I shall use my hour to publicise the Amateur Photographer's "AP Rights Watch" details of which can be found at www.amateurphotographer.co.uk

and the British Journal of Photography's "not a crime" campaign details of which can be found at www.not-a-crime.com

I will use part of my time on the 4th Plinth to take a self portrait which on my descent will be posted onto the "not a crime" flickr page as part of the visual campaign.

Increasing concerns about terrorism, paedophilia, health and safety, personal privacy and plain old paranoia about pretty much anything Her Majesty’s subjects get up to has resulted in a deep mistrust of photographers.

Police routinely invoke anti-terror legislation to prevent photographers from carrying out their work, and photojournalists are constantly filmed at public gatherings and their details kept on an ever-growing database. Tourists, particularly foreign tourists, are also targeted by police, as was the case with an Austrian father and son recently who made the mistake of photographing a building of an extremely sensitive nature—Walthamstow bus station.

Put simply, Britain has become a no-photo zone, and so if you fail to comply, you may find yourself liable to attack, arrest or harassment. Recognising that Britain is not the only country where such a draconian anti-photographer culture is developing, the British Journal of Photography is beginning an international visual campaign to raise awareness.

Over the next year we hope to gather thousands of self-portraits of

photographers-professional and amateur—from around the world,

each holding up a white card with the words, ‘Not a crime’ or ‘I am not a terrorist’.

Comments

At 21:11, 11 August 2009 John Williams wrote:

Good man, I've been a photographer since my Dad taught me to develop and print a film when I was ,eight years old, that was in 1934! I am eighty three years old, and sick to death of what is happening to the freedoms that millions of chaps like me fought for
At 12:56, 04 August 2009 spud wrote:

Good on you mate I'm glad some one has the resolve to stand there and proclaim it's not a crime to Take Photo's
At 19:15, 03 August 2009 Lawrence Brotherton wrote:

Nice one, Spike! Maybe the start of a budding media career??
At 13:53, 03 August 2009 diana brown wrote:

Hope you understood your conversation with yourself...left me a bit baffled!!! Mumsie x
At 11:30, 03 August 2009 Adam Rayner wrote:

I have worked with Spike for years and years. I woud have said "Personable, Friendly and Simian"

Sorry I didn't make it , Steve but this definitely puts you one list above me mate. Yer "E" list now!

I never really noticed the growling before but I knwo you mutter gently......

mwah xx the Fat Bloke
At 11:25, 03 August 2009 Peter Thomas wrote:

I'll be sending a self portait too in support of this campaign.
At 10:49, 03 August 2009 Brent Maritz wrote:

Well done Spike! I hope that this will bring more attention to the big issue at hand. We need more photographers like you to make a stand.... This issue also effects CCTV installation companies as no one really knows the law. Regards, B.

info@securitysolutions.uk.com
At 10:04, 03 August 2009 Angie B wrote:

Well done Spike! Hope you enjoyed yourself up there and didn't get rained on! A great cause to be supporting and I hope it results in lots of 'exposure' (sorry!) for both you and the cause. Take care,

Angie x
At 10:02, 03 August 2009 Jon Eastwood wrote:

Spike - I always knew you were a trouble maker! Well done matey - looking good on that plinth. Keep up the good work and everyone remember that we need the freedom to speak our minds. Long may we be able to make a protest without the fear of the nanny state state removing our tongues! Love ya work.
At 09:51, 03 August 2009 Justin Beattie wrote:

Alright Spike? You seemed to be doing a lot of that growling that you do whilst you work, my friend! Well done on highlighting your cause. Speak to you soon, matey.
At 22:24, 02 August 2009 carol allen storey wrote:

Shocking that we who live in a 'free' society and as professional snappers who provide a visual voice for the citizen's of our compromised fragile planet have to resort to a media campaign to support Freedom of the Press ... And i am not a terrorist just a humble photographer who is PASSIONATE about integrity and telling the truth through capture in my lens.
At 21:48, 02 August 2009 TFC wrote:

Go Spike Go!! :D
At 21:47, 02 August 2009 Geoff wrote:

Well done Spike!
At 21:41, 02 August 2009 Helena wrote:

Well done for drawing attention to this issue.
At 21:23, 02 August 2009 Phil Graham wrote:

On behalf of photographers everywhere...all credit to ya.

Phil

FILMAR Photography

www.filmar.co.uk
At 21:19, 02 August 2009 Dave wrote:

good point - well made my friend.
At 21:13, 02 August 2009 Gilly_C wrote:

Brilliant. Most people don't know how much we need this. (It will be an issue for me on the plinth in September.) Good luck.
At 21:12, 02 August 2009 ray wrote:

Good man! You are highlighting just one of many ways in which our freedom is being restricted. We are really sleepwalking towards a police state. Keep it up, but makesure there are no policemen in any of your photos up there!
At 21:05, 02 August 2009 markus wrote:

spike

like you i'm not a terrorist

and taking photos is not a crime
At 20:59, 02 August 2009 Lynn wrote:

I'm sending my portrait in! Meant to do it this week and you've reminded me. Fully supporting you, will be watching!

lynnede.redbubble.com
At 20:39, 02 August 2009 Amanda_D wrote:

Good luck Spike!