Photographing armed forces/police

[mani]

What would be the requirement to go and photograph either the armed forces or the police in action?

Would it be a case of writing a nicely worded letter explaining why and how your pics would be used or is there a more selective process?

what if you were requesting taking pics of the forces abroad - i guess this would be nigh impossible even if you made your own way there?

 

[String]

I would have said it's nigh on impossible to get permission to film either police or armed forces in action.

No one wants a dead togger on their hands is the brown stuff hits the fan..

 

[Scranbag]

The armed forces have their own professional photographers and I know some police forces use Scene of Crime Officers as professional photographers. It can be difficult to gain access to capture your own images.

But...

Each unit in the armed forces and each police force has a Public Relations office/person. There is also a central MOD Public Relations Office which covers all the armed forces (including front-line)

Why don't you contact one of the P.R. Offices and ask? You might be surprised!

 

[big soft moose]

with regard to combat photography - a lot of the big name togs started out in vietnam by just making their own way out to the zone and photographing stuff - but needless to say its damn dangerous to do it that way

Being embedded with an army unit is marginally safer but you arent going to get that kind of permision without being known and having news agency acreditation

(in fact its damn dangerous anyway you do it as a couple of guys in libya just found out )

WRT the police - you can photograph them in action at demos and stuff from the street without any special permisions , but that isn't exactly safe either - as it means being on the wrong side of the police line and many demonstrators may not want to be photographed either.

Ive done the latter a few times ( I have a scar on my head where i got hit by a flying bottle during a climate change demo turned nasty) and its not for the faint hearted - at minimum I'd suggest taking a hard hat in case stuff starts to get thrown arround, and recceing the area first so you can hopefully find somewhere to hide or escape too if it all goes omelette shaped.

 

[gm43uk]

Maybe it might be useful to start in a small way just - military and police displays and send their PR people copies of your photographs to make the initial contact. Or perhaps contact the police with an idea for a story such as their dog handlers to let them get to know you and hopefully things might develop from there if they like you.

 

[Photo Plod]

Police forces will also no doubt have different arrangements in place for each force. As you're in Accrington, I assume you're more interested in Lancashire Constabulary or Greater Manchester Police, neither of which I can help you with, I'm afraid.

The Metropolitan Police maintains its own press bureau, and they may be able to help with official requests. However, in terms of seeing the police "in action" (and not being on the wrong side of the line, so to speak) it's quite a difficult process. We certainly used to allow members of public to come out for a ride along, but it was always subject to demand - and most officers weren't terribly happy with having to deal with an emergency situation, *and* look out for the member of public as well. I seem to remember that there were lots of disclaimers involved, as well.

One potential starting point is Police Review - but they aren't actually "the police", as they're a privately produced magazine - but they are on a national scale. Other than that, I suggest you write to the force(s) concerned and see what their policy is. Surprisingly, some of the specialist units may be more accommodating because they aren't "in action" as much - but that may not give you the shots you're looking for.