OUGD505- Studio Brief 02 - Contacting TFL

After deciding the issue we are going to do me and Katie sat down and emailed TFL, we asked them so general question about permits, the cost and many more. We did this to help us understand more about the permits and to start to think about how we could effectively create a campaign for the issue and to fine a solution for the issue. are aim is to fix the issues in a campaign and to create design to help fix the issues. 

From the emails we got back some of the issues was identified. 

What are the reasons for why the public aren't allowed to take photographs without a permit on the Underground? London Underground (LU) is private property and also for health and safety reasons

What’s the need for permits? As London Underground is private property, people undertaking photography or filming on our network must be in possession of a valid permit. 

Why are they so expensive? We don’t believe that they are and are good value for money considering filming on the network starts at £500

Can you take photographs on the underground without a permit but not publicise them?

On occasions, there are people who take photographs while passing through the station e.g. tourists and this is obviously difficult to control.

additional camera equipment (including flash and tripods) are not used – however images clearly promoting the London Underground brand must not be published/broadcast without the prior permission of London Underground.”

How do you know who has a permit and who doesn't? Permits issued must be worn by the permit holder at all times while filming or taking photographs on London Underground

 I wouldn’t know how many were requested we only have records of permits issued but they are generally the same – on average it is between 5-10 a month

The main issues are.

too expensive 

hard to regulate amateur photography

health and safety

people unaware of the permits

can not publish the photos of the underground
flash photography- dangerous to drivers and passengers
terrorism
private property

  

This confirmed the idea to create a campaign that promotes photography on the underground, lowers the price of a permit to make it more accessible for the public, to make the process of getting the permit easier,  possible to expand the permit to all London transport, lets the public know you need a permit as most people don't know about the permit. And to regulate people using photography on the underground. 

A possible idea for letting photographers and the public to publish there work is to create a yearly exhibition that the public could enter in to and get there work published in a galley.  

After contacting Kate Reston we research further to find someone else to contact, Peter MacLennan.  It turned he was on Crossrail so wasn’t as helpful.  We thought even being on Crossrail he could have helped us out however I don’t think he thought he could supply reliable information.  He directed us to Kate who we contacted before. Luckily she supplied us with all the information we needed.