Born, bread and buttered.
I’m lost with your assumtion
What about this, probably unaware their photo was even taken
Born, bread and buttered.
I’m lost with your assumtion
What about this, probably unaware their photo was even taken
Hi Nigel.
I ended up returning my M2Z drone. £1400 isn’t a figure i’m comfortable eating for a piece of kit that will likely just collect dust/cause me stress because I’m not using it enough.
I think if i had more of a “purpose”… e.g. something to use the photos/videos for, or had others to fly with, I’d be in a different mindset, but flying alone, for little reason, with continuous stress about being bollocked by members of the public or worrying about breaking obscure byelaws, just isn’t worth it to me. Definitely more stress than pleasure.
I may buy a Mavic Air 2 later before my holiday and see if I can get more value of it then. re-evaluate how I feel having used it in a different location for a slightly different purpose
Eric
Well, that’s what this club is for.
I’ve met people here I really enjoy flying with
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It is not a complete or definitive guide on the law. If you are faced with unusual circumstances, specific issues, concerns or difficulties we suggest you seek legal advice.
Simples
You are the one insistently pushing one view of the law on this thread, but unwilling to give us any evidence to back up your opinion.
I sit somewhere in the middle on this - there is no general expectation of privacy in a public place, and people have no general right to prevent publication of images taken in those circumstances. The Max Mosley case made clear that (in the UK) nobody has to ask for prior permission before publication.
However, there may be specific invasions of privacy which would allow someone photographed to sue for damages: a photograph (aerial or otherwise, it makes no difference) of someone entering an abortion clinic would be one possible example. My opinion is that most drone photographers will hardly ever be in a situation where this is an issue for us.
Eric,
Agree entirely, I enjoy my photography and felt that a drone would be an addition to my hobby (a professional photographer prior to retirement). No matter how much reassurance is given here, there is always that niggle that someone will object no matter if one is within the law or not. Once that happens then the pleasure has gone and the bubble has burst.
I wish you well should you have another go with a drone.
Nigel.
I did a flight In Guildford over a week ago (when the DJI flyapp was playing up - thank you @milkmanchris for the advice) and was setting up to launch by the church of St. Martha on the hill when a fellow who looked or I assumed was the caretaker approached me and told me no drones as it was going to be busy (that was 6:30 am). I told him politely that I knew the service was at 10 am that’s why I came early and said that I wouldn’t take long etc. He said it was fine then. Funny though as while I was flying my wife told me he was also taking pictures with a camera and sounded like he was vlogging about the place. After 2 batteries of the MA2 I bid him farewell and everything was fine. I think personally I wouldn’t have been able to fly on that site even though there was no area warnings from drone assist, uav forecast and the site was actually recommended on drone scene if I was just put off by the “caretaker” telling me no because there were people coming and it was about to be busy. Communication works. I admit that I was having second thoughts buying my first drone because reading from different forums sort of gives you worst case scenarios most of the time (not all the time). What I normally do now is do some research about the place I intend to shoot, read up on it here on GADC then consult drone scene and the 2 other apps on my phone then decide. Calculated risk in short as there will always be people who may be misinformed or misguided.
Aye, it’s a good spot. I can see it’s recommended on DroneScene but land owner permissions are unknown.
Good for you for sticking to your guns, it all worked out well in the end.
I am a sports and news photographer and to keep my press pass I have to abide by the Independent Press Standards Organisation, Editors’ Code of Practice. The relevent paragraph is:
2(iii) It is unacceptable to photograph individuals, without their consent, in public or private places where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
It is generally accepted that anyone attending a sporting or news worthy event where officially accredited photographers are operating does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy providing the photographs are only used for editorial use – and most accreditations forbid the use for commercial purposes anyway. Indeed a lot of events have it written into their small print that you may appear in photographs. Yes I would blur the background if I was photographing the sportsman, speaker etc but at the Olympics and Rugby World Cup a lot of my sales were of groups of fans celebrating or otherwise. The exception is school parties where I will move or check with the person in charge to verify that none of them are at risk if appearing in a photograph.
Its amazing though @ColinE what you can get away with under 2(ii).
I worked the tabloids in the 90’s when it was anything goes in the days of the (very corrupt) PCC
I also have the Zoom and live in Doncaster and although I here a lot about negative response from the public I have rarely come across it in fact the opposite, most people I talk to and show them the screen are really impressed. One couple I spoke to while they was out walking there dog went straight to Argos to buy one
Don’t take any notice of them mate you have as much right to be there as them with there dogs, it is a public place. Sometimes I’ve felt like that just because of what I have read but I think I was being a bit to sensitive. Go out and enjoy your drone.
I’m also new but lucky enough to live in a very open area. My problem are the tourists & dog walkers. Keeping lookout for them & my Mavic can be testing so tend to fly either end of the day when it’s quietest or totally off the beaten tracks.
I’d welcome meeting up with fellow pilots as sharing the spotting is really helpful.
As for your areas maybe the new rules / qualifications may help overcome some of the restrictions for you. Finding the right training provider then becomes priority.
Good luck & hope you don’t give up 

I have to say that I’m starting to feel this a bit as well. I said to myself when I purchased my Mavic Mini a few months back that I would be a responsible operator and fly within the rules, but since then I seem to spend the vast majority of my time fretting about finding the most legal and least intrusive flying locations.
It’s really sapping the enjoyment out of it for me. When I’m flying I often feel uneasy even when I know that I’m operating within the law - I end up feeling more like a poacher than someone harmlessly enjoying their hobby.
I thought I found a good spot to shoot the below video, but even then I had a comment from a Facebook group where I posted which was just a link to the Network Rail page on “Drone safety and the law”. Not to equivocate, but the line in question wasn’t even operated by Network Rail and I’m sure that page was intended to prevent people flying Inspire 2s down the London-Norwich mainline as opposed to Mavic Minis getting steam train footage in the countryside!
Avoid like the plague, mostly wankers.
The first time I flew my Phantom 1, back in October 2012, at the local school’s rugby field, I attracted a crowd of around 15 to 20 people. Not one of them had anything derogatory to say. Those that did comment wanted to know the Eternal Three answers:
Today many would assume there has been a reverse paradigm shift but I still test fly my builds in the same field, and though the interest maybe less the positivity, on the whole, is still there, and yes I still get the three questions. I’ve had the odd grumbling dog walker ( who shouldn’t be letting their pet crap on a children’s playing field ) make the odd uneducated and ill informed comment, but ask them to expand on their theory they soon run out of words.
There are hard set in stone rules that serve a particular and obvious purpose, and generally anyone with an IQ higher than a natural yoghurt can understand the reasoning behind them. Then there are guidelines which are for particular scenarios and events which provide protection for not just the user but also for those in the vicinity.
Whether it be street photography or flying your camera a simple risk assessment prior to the action is generally all that is needed, meaning just apply some degree of common sense.
Or am I being too naive?
Nidge.
Thats where you lose the Facebook massive ;o)
Nice footage.
Great line! I’m using that! ![]()