"Your lens is too big"

Photographers are becoming a threat. I'm not exactly sure who or what they are a threat to, but increasingly it seems that even when in public photographers are attracting the attention of the Police and security guards who in many cases don't know what photographers are permitted to do in public. There are many 'print out and keep' guides that clearly explain what photographers can and can't do. ( I carry a copy of this particular guide). But once you're no longer in public it all changes, especially when at a sporting event.

A shot I took at the 2009 Premiership Final at Twickenham using a DSLR and that 'too big' lens

I've been going at Twickenham for years, and I usually have a camera with me and I've even managed to take some decent shots. Last Saturday I was at the new Lansdowne Road stadium for the Leinster versus Leicester Heineken Cup quarter final. I had arrived straight from work so my Nikon DSLR was in my bag along with the rest of the junk I haul around with me. I've got some pleasing results with panoramic shots taken with my iPhone in the past, and given the great view from Lansdowne road's new upper south stand I pulled the Nikon from my bag, walked to the end of the row and lifted the camera to my eye.

Before I had a chance to press the shutter, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"excuse me sir, are you press?"

I did wonder how many members of the photo press were likely to be wearing a Leinster jersey and sat 40 metres above an empty pitch, but I politely confirmed that I was not a member of the press.

"Then you can't use that camera sir, the lens is too big"

This didn't seem like the time to explain to the steward that this was the smallest of my zoom lens. When I asked why, he explained that it was a privacy issue. Using a lens that large was fine outside, but it was an invasion of privacy for those sat in the stadium. He then added that it was okay if I wanted to use a pocket sized camera or camera phone, or to use my Nikon camera to take photos of the players during the match. I have to confess that of all the possible reasons for not being permitted to take a photo in a stadium I hadn't contemplated the possibility of large lens being a privacy concern.

So I sat down, placed my camera on my knee, and took 50 shots for a panorama using my 'too big' Nikon lens while reading my match-day program. I then did the same a few minutes later using my iPhone, a much less subtle activity. After processing, here are the results (click for larger versions).

This shots used in this image were taken using a Nikon DSLR, and is apparently a privacy concernand the shots used in this image were taken with an iPhone which isn't a privacy concern I wasn't supposed to take the shots that were used to make the top image, apparently it was too intrusive for the other 49,999 fans in the stadium, however the lower image was fine and taken with the knowledge of the steward.

Given that camera phones are permitted I don't actually believe that the real issue was privacy. Despite the technical capabilities of small modern cameras you would struggle to take a decent shot of the game, but a professional looking camera with a large lens may be capable of capturing an image of the match and is much easier to spot. If you read the conditions of sale on the back of the ticket it states "the use of cameras or recording equipment is prohibited". Despite the steward's suggestion that it was okay to take photos of the actual match I believe that restriction is there to prevent me 'recording' the match rather than a concern for the privacy of the fans. But with practically everyone carrying a camera phone today that rule is effectively unenforceable. It still seems odd that a 10cm long lens on my DSLR represents a privacy concern in a stadium with 150 CCTV cameras, numerous 3D TV cameras,  and potentially 50,000 camera phones.

Some things have to be restricted for good reasons, just don't make up those reasons. I know I can't wear headphones on a aircraft during take off or landing, but it's not because my iPod might interfere with aircraft systems, it's so that in the event something goes wrong, my attention is focused on the crew rather than the music I'm listening to. If there's a reason why my camera lens creates a problem at a stadium then tell me, don't claim that a big camera constitutes a privacy concern while a small camera doesn't.

The reason some people are increasingly frustrated by rules and regulations is because we're not stupid and we can tell when a rule makes no sense. In some situations long lens have been used to invade people's privacy, but I don't think a stadium with 50,000 people is where we should be trying to protect privacy.