The Beltane Express - 1st May, double-headed GWR to Didcot!

I wouldn't walk in front of someone lining up a shot and am usually perfectly happy to pause if my intended path would mean crossing someone's shot, but as stated at an open day like Didcot part of the fun is getting right up nose to nose with live steam. I have on at least one occasion been admiring some locomotive engineering, only to keep some wannabe David Bailey arrive and start whistling and shouting at me to get out of shot. Sadly I must have been brought up with good manners as so far the temptation to stick two fingers up and carry on has so far not overcome me - but it is close! Maybe next time I'll remember where that BIG spanner for adjusting the traverser is kept!

 

My own view: I was there for the day, via the Beltane Express, and extremely enjoyable it was too. Vintage Trains did a nice job with the train and Didcot put on a fantastic spectacle throughout the day. The weather behaved well - thank heavens it wasn't today's awful downpours and cold. The crowds were big, lots of kids and dogs and wives as well as us 50-60 year old men. Almost everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves - the exception being certain photographers, who clearly thought that the day had been arranged solely for their benefit and that they had a god-given right to abuse people and order them around. The bad feeling that jerks like that create will put the general public off these events.

I saw and heard one of them walk up to someone taking a snapshot, put his hand over the lens as he took the photo and say "there, that's cos you just ruined my shot by getting your elbow in it." The guy was totally bemused, he was just there on a day out to see some steam trains, for f*cks sake.

Please photographers, stay away from open days. There are already 3 photoshoots announced by Didcot - go to those. Or learn not to behave like 4rseholes. One or the other. Because you do more to spoil these events than anyone else does.

 

I'm sorry this has turned into a debate of the us versus them proportions.
All I was trying to point out was that at open events such as Didcot was that when an informal gallery was formed you don't expect people to barge through and stand about 20 to 30 feet in front of the assembled 'gallery'.
As people who know me will know, I'm very keen on people getting up close and personal with our engines. After all it's only by getting the youngsters on to the footplate for a look that we will get the next generation of volunteers to keep steam on the mainline.
Sorry if I've upset people by my origanal post, but it was only the thoughtless few I was annoyed at.

 

I'm the first one to stop if I see someone taking a picture, more often than not I get a cheery way or at least a nod of acknowledgement. I can fully understand photographers getting upset by other photers getting in shot, totally wrong. The trouble is at "open" events like this there is always going to be someone in shot.

 

Well done for tarring everyone with the same brush there, must be feeling very proud there...

Fact is there are berk photters and berk rivet counters ruining it for the majority of those who behave, don't see why you see fit to lump the 80 well behaved guys in with the 5 muppets though, im bloody sick of getting all this abuse frankly because i like to take pictures, despite having done nothing wrong personally.

And don't think im singling Steve out for an earbashing, many are guilty of 'biting the hands that feeds them' where photters are concerned, maybe we will stay away as you suggest and you can lose your revenue from Charters, Lineside passes, Bringing the family etc..

 

It is a shame that pleasant discussions about a great railtour and a great event can descend into biting each others heads off like this. Clearly there are disagreements and different opinions, but arguing like this on this forum won't resolve them. We should be grateful that early preservation pioneers like the GWR Society and others have allowed photographers the oppurtunity to take photographs, and the rivet counters to have something real and physical to count rivets on in the 21st century.

I think it would be best if the matter were put to bed for now - we should share our enthusiasm, not argue about how each individual enjoys it.

 

You're right and I am sincerely sorry I said it like I did. I really just meant the berks should stay away. Please all accept a humble apology from me which is really meant.

I must learn not to post late at night!

 

Hi Matt - shame the sun went in on you at Heyford, nice pics.

Where is that Heyford location please ? How far north or south of the station along the canal tow path ?


Thanks
STEVE

 

Thanks Steve. At Heyford it is south from the station. Walk along the canal until you get to the first overbridge then you will see the shot on your right. Its only about 10 minutes max from Heyford station.

 

Thanks - I know the bridge you mean - it's been many years since I walked that section of the canal, but never shot from there though.


STEVE

 

Had a very good day at Didcot on Saturday. Well done GWS for a superb event. A shame about all of the inconsiderate people (and there were many) who ruined shots for a lot of us. I don't mind getting people in my videos or photo's but the behavior of some on Saturday was unbelievable. I gave up taking both video and photo's in the afternoon. They were probably the same people who were gawping at the Air Ambulance when they were told to move away from it when it took off!

 

Thats what i like about this forum the same old arguments keep coming around trepass,photographers, liveries, how many times have these subjects been aired and then descend into a slanging match between members.

 

For goodness sake, its a public event. You don't own the airspace between your lens and the subject. Don't be the photographic equivalent of a road hog. If you want to take authentic images in the proper scene go to a photographic event or charter or hire the GWS for a private weekend. Places like Didcot are for people to get close up to locomotives when normally they are not allowed to, they are not photographic studios.

 

Calm down................I know I don't own the airspace! It just gets a bit annoying when you take a clear pitch and somebody stands right in front of you even though they have seen what you are doing or are trying to do. To me this is form of ignorance. I always check to see if I might be about to spoil someones picture and wait until they have taken it before moving. It's not hard to do.
With the air ambulance people were told to stand back for their own safety but they didn't take much notice.

 

I think it's fair to say this thread has made it's point by now, there are ignorant rivet counters and abusive photters while the rest of us look on with disbelief.