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Graflex Sid · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 221 Location: London,England

Hi,Folks,
Anyone coming into London and travelling on the fast Heathrow Express to the center of town,might be in for a surprise.Test runs of body scanning & Xrays on luggage come into force on this transportation.
This might prove a problem with anyone bringing in a Graphic:they might double check what's in the 'box'.Millions of bells will ring:remember those manning these machine have NEVER seen a Graphic before.
Security is getting tighter here.Although they want these checks installed throughout the system the Mayor said this was 'impossible'with the number of passengers coming & going at terminuses.The whole network would grind to a halt.

Anyhow,it's worth thinking about:we are on full alert here:tripods are also frowned upon and are not popular with authorities.
It's a mad World...
Take Care.

45PSS · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:50 pm Post subject:

So as one approaches the check point they drop the bed, set the lens to wide open at T, remove any film holder and open the view hood then trip the shutter and hold it up for the operators to see thru. Oh yes, be sure to say "The only way to shoot people". (you will be suprised how many law enforcement officers will agree).

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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

Henry · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:39 pm Post subject:

Wait a second: do you mean to say that there is a security check for travellers *entering* the country??? If so, that's a new one! We visited the UK in summers of '02-3-4, entering at Heathrow, and never encountered this. However, we didn't take Heathrow Express (whazzit?) but were on chartered coach.

Graflex Sid · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 221 Location: London,England

Hi,Henry,
Let me explain a little more on this matter:ever since the London bombings back in July security is going into overdrive.A sort of 'a red under every bed'as you once encountered.
From early '06 IF you travel on the Heathrow Express which goes from the terminal on a 15 minute journey into London's Paddington station,you will go through a barrier, be scanned & luggage as well,boarding the train at Heathrow,or going the other way back to the airport.
Here authorities have control because it's a simple process because we have NO stops during the short journey.
Where the major problem lays is the London underground itself,where millions travel daily.The idea would be to have EVERYONE screened,even on overland trains.Impossible,the whole system would grind to a halt:too many intermediate stations to man.

With the Heathrow Express (a costly affair for the normal passenger)they have control.Like an aircraft,get on,get off.
Most people rather travel on the underground to Heathrow,takes longer,stopping at nearly every station along the way,but cheaper.

It's a changing World:our Television & Radio talk constantly of more & more security.The frightening thing about this is,I can see a time when you will have to have a permit to own a camera,otherwise you could be a terrorist.

This would revert back to the day's during World War 2 when In GB it would be illegal to use a camera in a public place.Even the press boys were controlled to what they could shoot.

The word 'shoot' in relation to photography maybe one day banned.
Enjoy the rest of the day.

Henry · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the update, Sid. It's a damn shame that things have come to such a pass, a sign of the (wretched) times. We have so enjoyed our visits to the UK and will not let this latest wrinkle spoil future trips. One has to be careful not to think of pounds as dollars, but OTOH your pint is 20 oz. so there is some compensation!

Graflex Sid · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 221 Location: London,England

Well you know what the 24-hour media is like,it has to talk about something:I think the Londoner is more concerned about the Mayor doing away with the famous red 'Routemaster' bus than anything else.At least they have saved 2 routes in central London for the tourist.(installed with a cleaner engine)which will run during daylight hours.Three cheers for that.

Anyhow,London still looks the same on the surface,Henry.Laying on the Olympics seem to be more on peoples minds right now (and paying the mortgage)and doing the Christmas shopping.Facing the terrorist is all part of the British phenomenon.

The bulldog spirit still survives...and our Graphics must soldier on.