Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/09/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've had similar experiences in Paris to that of Ted Grant. One has to use some common sense. Understandably, the Police are not happy about setting up tripods in crowded places. I have used table top tripods under and near the Arch de Triomphe without question while at the same time the Police stopped people using traditional tripods under the Arc. All this assumes we are talking about 35mm photography and not big clunking Medium Format or View Cameras. I have taken a number of pictures with a small, flimsy, telescope tripod in the middle of the Champs-Élysées at a traffic island facing the Arc de Triomphe. I had been trying to get the postcard view of streaks of red taillights and yellow driving lamps. The Police did not seem to care as long as I did not stray off the island however the vibration on the roadway was horrible and I finally resorted to taking exposures timed with the stop lights so the road would settle down. The Louvre permitted the use of a tripod for a small fee. One had to pin the permit slip to a lapel or jacket so it would be easily visible to the guards patrolling the rooms. The permits were not available on Sundays or holidays when crowds were at their peak. I do not think that permits are available at the Musée d'Orsay but I have used the small Leitz table top tripod held against a wall or railing and no one ever challenged me. This is easy to do if pictures of opportunity are being taken; it is going to be almost impossible if you want to frame a picture or sculpture exactly. Again, I think the size of the crowd will dictate the severity of the museum guards' attitude and reaction and most of the galleries at the Orsay always seemed to me to be more crowded than those at the Louvre. Something to do with the love affair most people have with 19th century impressionism. Ed Kowaleski Most churches permit at least table top tripods as long as services are not being conducted. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@home.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 10:10 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] Tripods in France > > ARTHURWG@aol.com wrote: > > > >Anyone have any experience using, or trying to use, a tripod in France? > I've > >heard that it's almost impossible, or at least very difficult, as someone > is > >bound to chase you away etc. I'm planning to take a trip there sometime > this >year<<<<<< > > Hi Arthur, > I see others have said there's no problem using a tripod in France and that > maybe their experience in some locations. > > Just don't try and use a tripod within the confines of the Arch de Triomphe > or you will be politely told... "Non tripod!" You will be asked/told nicely > by the policemen. Don't argue, just do it! They don't do nicely the second > time around. :-) > > Shooting from the street over 6-8 (?) lanes of traffic I didn't have any > problems in the evening doing time exposures of traffic patterns and Arch. > > But when you go through the tunnel under the street to the Arch properly and > the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there isn't any question, if you take a > tripod over there, day or night, you will have the police stop you from > setting up. period. No matter what brand or size. > > And please guys this is live experience from absolute been there, done it, > had it happen! > > Other than the Arch and Plas de Concorde requiring time exposures in the > evening, all other shooting in Paris was hand held stuff with a fair amount > of evening material using the Noctilux without tripod. > > But then a Noctilux, why use a tripod? ;-) > > Soo Arthur old buddy take the tripod and use it and don't ask, just do it > and if it's a non-non you'll find out quick enough.:-) > > By the same token use common sense, as you're aware there are many places, > no matter what country you reside in tripods are not allowed. I've always > found on assignment being polite about the situation you might "just be able > to get a couple of frames off" with their cooperation by smiling and sweet > talking and indicating, " Please can I just take one?" Even if the sweet > talk has to be passed through an interpreter. Occasionally you can win one > being polite! > > Then break down the gear quickly. > > If not, let it go, as arguing doesn't get you a thing other than ticking off > the locals and illustrating you're just another "loud mouth pain in the ass > tourist!" > > ted > Ted Grant Photography Limited > www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html