Travel Photography - Will I have any problems using a tripod in London, Paris, and Luxembourg City?

I'm going to be spending about 2 weeks travelling in the UK, France, and Luxembourg. We're definitely going to be visiting London, Paris, and Luxembourg City. I think if I am to have any issues using a tripod, it'll be in those cities. Can someone here tell me if I need a permit or anything along the lines of that to use a tripod in public? Are there any tourist sites in either of those countries where tripods are prohibited?

Thx!

In London and Paris, no, but obviously if you try and set it up in the middle of the Louvre, you'll be politely asked to put it away. In London, the police (or Community Safety Officers) can ask you to put the tripod away if you're causing an obstruction.

Personally, Ive never had any trouble in those cities with a tripod.

In London and Paris, no, but obviously if you try and set it up in the middle of the Louvre, you'll be politely asked to put it away. In London, the police (or Community Safety Officers) can ask you to put the tripod away if you're causing an obstruction.

Pretty much my experience at the Louvre (inside), in London, not much of an issue but a police at Piccadilly Circus did ask me what I was doing and am I a professional, end up had a pretty nice chat with him and let me shoot all I want.

Don't use it on the Tube as it's against the rules.

You're referring to using a tripod on the Tube train itself, right? Because using your camera on the Tube (in the ticketing halls, on the platforms - so long as you don't use the flash - and on the trains themselves) is very much permitted.

In Paris, they are very touchy about photos taken around the Embassy area. Tripod or not. I had a bit of an issue with an officer because some of my shots taken at the finish of the Tour de France had an Embassy or two in the background. It wasn't obvious enough that I was taking photos of the riders coming off the course at the end of the race???

You're referring to using a tripod on the Tube train itself, right? Because using your camera on the Tube (in the ticketing halls, on the platforms - so long as you don't use the flash - and on the trains themselves) is very much permitted.

So you reckon it's ok to set a tripod up in a ticket hall or platform...?

So you reckon it's ok to set a tripod up in a ticket hall or platform...?
It depends on where you set it up and how far you extend it.

If, for instance, you want to get a nice, long-exposure shot of a train coming into the station and thus set up the tripod at the rear end of the platform out of the way of all passengers with the camera twelve inches off of the ground and very unobtrusive, I will virtually guarantee you that will be no problem.

If you set up a tripod at rush hour in front of the gates blocking hundreds of people coming through, you're probably not going to be welcome.

Come to think of it, about six weeks ago, I set up a tripod towards the end of the platform at my local Tube station (granted, it is an outdoor platform and not the busiest in the network, but still) and took some nice long-exposure shots of the trains coming in and out. No-one even batted an eyelash. I was a few hundred feet from the station, so the staff - such as they were - probably didn't even notice, but they certainly didn't care if they did notice.

The point is to stay out of the way and you shouldn't run into any difficulties. It might not be a bad idea to ask politely one of the local staff "Do you mind if I take a few photographs?" but it's highly unlikely that it will be a problem or that they will even care. Just go onto Alamy and type "London Underground" to see thousands of examples of photographs taken on the Tube, many of which are undoubtedly with tripods.

in venice, a person set up a tripod in the middle of one of the main walk ways. i tripped over it and fell. the person's camera and lense fell. he was ballistic and claimed i probably damaged his equipment. i was royally *******, as i hurt my knee, and may have ruined my vacation. if my wife had not had restrained me, i probably would have taken his tripod and tried to beat him to death with it.

in venice, a person set up a tripod in the middle of one of the main walk ways. i tripped over it and fell. the person's camera and lense fell. he was ballistic and claimed i probably damaged his equipment. i was royally *******, as i hurt my knee, and may have ruined my vacation. if my wife had not had restrained me, i probably would have taken his tripod and tried to beat him to death with it.
Very sorry to hear it.

The guy was a dumb*ss, was very inconsiderate, and probably paid a quite heavy price for it (which served him right). When you set up your kit in a busy walkway (or anywhere, really), it is your responsibility to look out for it, not to expect that others will magically do this for you - let alone that they will even see it. This is exacerbated when a tripod and its skinny little legs are sticking out in other people's pathways at odd angles.

There is almost nothing he could have done to you in retribution, even if he'd wanted to. If he'd called the police and tried to file for damages or reimbursement, he almost certainly would have got a right royal telling-off from the police (and rightly so) for acting so stupidly and that would have been the end of it.

I bet that was an expensive lesson for him, but it was one rightly taught.

It depends on where you set it up and how far you extend it.

If, for instance, you want to get a nice, long-exposure shot of a train coming into the station and thus set up the tripod at the rear end of the platform out of the way of all passengers with the camera twelve inches off of the ground and very unobtrusive, I will virtually guarantee you that will be no problem.

If you set up a tripod at rush hour in front of the gates blocking hundreds of people coming through, you're probably not going to be welcome.

Come to think of it, about six weeks ago, I set up a tripod towards the end of the platform at my local Tube station (granted, it is an outdoor platform and not the busiest in the network, but still) and took some nice long-exposure shots of the trains coming in and out. No-one even batted an eyelash. I was a few hundred feet from the station, so the staff - such as they were - probably didn't even notice, but they certainly didn't care if they did notice.

The point is to stay out of the way and you shouldn't run into any difficulties. It might not be a bad idea to ask politely one of the local staff "Do you mind if I take a few photographs?" but it's highly unlikely that it will be a problem or that they will even care. Just go onto Alamy and type "London Underground" to see thousands of examples of photographs taken on the Tube, many of which are undoubtedly with tripods.

On the tube, I'd probably want to scout out a safe location to set up a tripod and then politely ask a member of staff (at least if any are around).

Luxembourg is one of the nicest, cleanest places in Europe, Luxembourg city has a town feel to it, and the countryside is lovely, you will have no problems there. If you think you might be in the way of something/someone, just ask

On the tube, I'd probably want to scout out a safe location to set up a tripod and then politely ask a member of staff (at least if any are around).
That is almost certainly the most sensible way - although not the only way - to proceed.

Nope... I don't htink that it will cause any problems. Just try not to block other's path while doing so and you'll be fine.

Luxembourg is one of the nicest, cleanest places in Europe, Luxembourg city has a town feel to it, and the countryside is lovely, you will have no problems there. If you think you might be in the way of something/someone, just ask

Agreed, Luxembourg is great. Nobody will mind as long as you don't set it up in the middle of a busy sidewalk or street. The city is also super safe as well.. trust me, I had to spend a night camped out on a bench with some friends since we missed the last train. :D

You're referring to using a tripod on the Tube train itself, right? Because using your camera on the Tube (in the ticketing halls, on the platforms - so long as you don't use the flash - and on the trains themselves) is very much permitted.

I've had a completely different experience. while on the platform at Holborne with virtually no one else around I set my tripod to about 2 feet and framed my shot but before getting a shot off an announcement over the PA system " Will the photographer on the platform please remove the camera and support from the platform as this is private property and any unauthorized photography is strictly forbidden !!" even had a visit from security.
Nearly filled my pants and was glad no one else was around to witness my embarrassment . Seems ever since this whole terrorist cr@p thats gone on major commuter terminals are becoming off-limits to photogs

In London and Paris, no, but obviously if you try and set it up in the middle of the Louvre, you'll be politely asked to put it away. In London, the police (or Community Safety Officers) can ask you to put the tripod away if you're causing an obstruction.

I set up my tripod directly over a metal fencing at Picadilly Circus, two legs adjacent to the fence and one leg ever so slightly out about 10-12 inches from it. I had a visit from the community safety officers whom instructed me to clear the area of obstruction. .... I showed how I could shield the leg with my body therefore it was not a trip hazard but to no avail. stupidly tho, I could set up if I only used one leg (monopod style) while leaning on the fence :rolleyes: Give some people a badge and their gonna rule the world.
Later on while having my expresso at my favourite cafe (Camera Cafe on Museum Street) I brought up the days events with other local photogs and they were all getting quite frustrated with the "Big Brother" authorities stance on cameras in public spaces. Seems they (police) were trying to make the act of snapping pictures an obstruction offence punishable by fine even for tourists :mad: