Photographer’s self-defence kit

‘In many private properties, photography is allowed only if the images are for personal use’

It’s crazy. People with mobile phones seem to be able to take pictures of just about anybody or anything, anywhere, anytime, and share the images around the world in a matter of seconds. But take a ‘proper’ camera out of its bag when you’re out and about, and you can be made to feel like an arch criminal. It pays to know your rights.

In a nutshell, if you’re on public land, you’re free to shoot whatever you like, within reason. So, if you’re on a public road or pavement, or even a public footpath across privately owned fields, you’re within your rights to photograph people and even private property from where you’re standing. However, you’re not allowed to cause an obstruction, which rules out setting