Notting Hill Carnival visitors will be stopped from taking selfies at Grenfell Tower
Aug 25, 2017
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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It’s been over 2 months now since the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London, causing the deaths of at least 80 people. Shortly afterwards, to the dismay of local residents, it became something of a tourist attraction. Attracting selfie shooters from afar. Visitors were then asked to refrain from this disrespectful practise.
This weekend is the Notting Hill Carnival, one of the highlights of London’s annual calendar. It attracts around one million people each year, making it one of the world’s largest street festivals. The carnival runs through Kensington, and visitors are again being asked not to shoot selfies with the tower. Only this time, the requests are being backed up by the Metropolitan Police.
LBC reports that Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police are working to protect the tower from Selfie takers. They estimate that this year there will be as many as two million visitors passing through for the carnival.
Many of the surrounding streets will be blocked off, with extra police in place to ensure that only residents can enter the area. Transport for London have also started putting up barriers along rail lines to obscure the view of the tower from the trains. They have also added automated messages at stations and on the trains reminding peopel to be respectful and not take pictures of the destroyed building.
We have made changes to our policing operation for this year’s Carnival to ensure that the local area around Grenfell Tower has extra officers on duty and protective barriers in place. This is to make sure that the security of the Grenfell Tower site is maintained and to protect the many items and memorials that have been placed near to Grenfell Tower.
– Metropolitan Police
I said this last time these requests were made, that people shouldn’t really need to be told to not do this. But, it is being said, in a much louder voice this time, thanks to police and TfL backing.
Notting Hill Carnival is a wonderful place to shoot photographs. If you don’t believe me, just search Google Images, Flickr or 500px, and you’ll see many great examples. So, if you’re heading there this weekend with your camera, please show some respect.
[via LBC]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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6 responses to “Notting Hill Carnival visitors will be stopped from taking selfies at Grenfell Tower”
They should better stop construction with dangerous materials and stop blocking the fire exits…
So what’s going with the investigation here or is it being swept under the carpet a
Photography from a public place is not illegal, i’d tell them what for if they tried to stop me.
I hate selfies just like most of grumpy photographer community.
Personally, I too think it would be quite a poor taste to take a selfie like this. But – If I would there, just because of that sign, I would take a photo and maybe even selfie. People need to have this building in their faces, so they don’t forget what negligence did. And instead of wasting tax payer money with anoying randm ideots with cameras – they should work to prevent another tragedy like this…
At least it’s the residents/local community asking nicely instead of some self-appointed authority thinking they can demand it.
They can ask, but if someone does it, it is no more than a breach of etiquette. There is no way to legally enforce a photo ban like that in public, assuming Britain observes basic rights of free speech.