Hi everyone,

Soon, I'm planning on starting taking photographs of transport (hopefully a nice mixture of railways and buses), and intend to start a Flickr account etc.

Just looking for some advice, I'm fine on the part of the railways, I train-spot at CLS regularly and see many guys taking photos without any hastle, I'm just a bit concerned about the buses.....

I've always been a relatively well-behaved kid, and on the rare occasion that I get told off, I really do get annoyed about it, especially if it's for something as simple and innocent as snapping a few shots of a bus on it's first day in service. I reckon I'll be fine in Chester-Le-Street, but in terms of wanting to add a bit of variety to my photos, in places like Newcastle and Gateshead, I don't really like the idea of a policeman coming along and asking to view all of your photos.

Can anyone give me any advice on the best places in the 'notorious' zones on where to take photographs of buses. Thanks in advance and any advice is appreciated.

Marcus

(31 Aug 2014, 3:07 pm)Marcus wrote Hi everyone,

Soon, I'm planning on starting taking photographs of transport (hopefully a nice mixture of railways and buses), and intend to start a Flickr account etc.

Just looking for some advice, I'm fine on the part of the railways, I train-spot at CLS regularly and see many guys taking photos without any hastle, I'm just a bit concerned about the buses.....

I've always been a relatively well-behaved kid, and on the rare occasion that I get told off, I really do get annoyed about it, especially if it's for something as simple and innocent as snapping a few shots of a bus on it's first day in service. I reckon I'll be fine in Chester-Le-Street, but in terms of wanting to add a bit of variety to my photos, in places like Newcastle and Gateshead, I don't really like the idea of a policeman coming along and asking to view all of your photos.

Can anyone give me any advice on the best places in the 'notorious' zones on where to take photographs of buses. Thanks in advance and any advice is appreciated.

Marcus

Have to say I've rarely had any trouble from the police, the only time we got "questioned" was when we were stood outside of the athletes village bus station in Glasgow a few weeks ago, and even then they were quite happy to let us stand there taking photos.

(31 Aug 2014, 3:07 pm)Marcus wrote Hi everyone,

Soon, I'm planning on starting taking photographs of transport (hopefully a nice mixture of railways and buses), and intend to start a Flickr account etc.

Just looking for some advice, I'm fine on the part of the railways, I train-spot at CLS regularly and see many guys taking photos without any hastle, I'm just a bit concerned about the buses.....

I've always been a relatively well-behaved kid, and on the rare occasion that I get told off, I really do get annoyed about it, especially if it's for something as simple and innocent as snapping a few shots of a bus on it's first day in service. I reckon I'll be fine in Chester-Le-Street, but in terms of wanting to add a bit of variety to my photos, in places like Newcastle and Gateshead, I don't really like the idea of a policeman coming along and asking to view all of your photos.

Can anyone give me any advice on the best places in the 'notorious' zones on where to take photographs of buses. Thanks in advance and any advice is appreciated.

Marcus

Policemen never come, it's the dickhead Nexus staff that tell you to move. I normally just be sarcastic to them and move like one step out of their property - then they can't do anything. Once I was told I was a terrorist!

(31 Aug 2014, 3:07 pm)Marcus wrote Hi everyone,

Soon, I'm planning on starting taking photographs of transport (hopefully a nice mixture of railways and buses), and intend to start a Flickr account etc.

Just looking for some advice, I'm fine on the part of the railways, I train-spot at CLS regularly and see many guys taking photos without any hastle, I'm just a bit concerned about the buses.....

I've always been a relatively well-behaved kid, and on the rare occasion that I get told off, I really do get annoyed about it, especially if it's for something as simple and innocent as snapping a few shots of a bus on it's first day in service. I reckon I'll be fine in Chester-Le-Street, but in terms of wanting to add a bit of variety to my photos, in places like Newcastle and Gateshead, I don't really like the idea of a policeman coming along and asking to view all of your photos.

Can anyone give me any advice on the best places in the 'notorious' zones on where to take photographs of buses. Thanks in advance and any advice is appreciated.

Marcus

Best advice I can give is don't act suspicious and people won't get suspicious. If it's quite clear you're taking photos of buses, then the majority of people won't have an issue. I've seen people approached, but it tends to be when they're looking around over their shoulder a lot, acting quite 'shifty'. If you want to take photos at bus stations in Tyne and Wear, just make sure you're well out the way and off their property, otherwise you risk being approached.

I know Dan does, and I think some others do the same as me. I'll either look up the route on Google maps and use a mixture of that and street view to find some suitable spots for photos. Or alternatively, ride the route in full and note them down along the way. At least that way I find I get a good variation of photos.

(31 Aug 2014, 3:07 pm)Marcus wrote Hi everyone,

Soon, I'm planning on starting taking photographs of transport (hopefully a nice mixture of railways and buses), and intend to start a Flickr account etc.

Just looking for some advice, I'm fine on the part of the railways, I train-spot at CLS regularly and see many guys taking photos without any hastle, I'm just a bit concerned about the buses.....

I've always been a relatively well-behaved kid, and on the rare occasion that I get told off, I really do get annoyed about it, especially if it's for something as simple and innocent as snapping a few shots of a bus on it's first day in service. I reckon I'll be fine in Chester-Le-Street, but in terms of wanting to add a bit of variety to my photos, in places like Newcastle and Gateshead, I don't really like the idea of a policeman coming along and asking to view all of your photos.

Can anyone give me any advice on the best places in the 'notorious' zones on where to take photographs of buses. Thanks in advance and any advice is appreciated.

Marcus

Just do your own thing. You don't need to go to the notorious zones or hang about bus stations - if you do, your photos will probably be the same as everyone else.
Think about all the unique photo opportunities on your doorstep and five minutes down the road - just with the 71 and 78!
How many photo's do you see of buses at Chester Moor?
What about on the new roundabout at the top of Park Road North?
Plenty opportunity for different, unique shots without following the crowds.

(31 Aug 2014, 3:25 pm)aureolin wrote I know Dan does, and I think some others do the same as me. I'll either look up the route on Google maps and use a mixture of that and street view to find some suitable spots for photos. Or alternatively, ride the route in full and note them down along the way. At least that way I find I get a good variation of photos.

I have a list of places I want to take photos at mostly in County Durham and Darlington with many of them are places that are rarely photographed as when I do eventually get round to setting up a Flickr account there will be photos of buses in a variety of places and not just wall to wall photos of buses exiting Haymarket Bus Station.

(31 Aug 2014, 3:50 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Just do your own thing. You don't need to go to the notorious zones or hang about bus stations - if you do, your photos will probably be the same as everyone else.
Think about all the unique photo opportunities on your doorstep and five minutes down the road - just with the 71 and 78!
How many photo's do you see of buses at Chester Moor?
What about on the new roundabout at the top of Park Road North?
Plenty opportunity for different, unique shots without following the crowds.

Tried Chester Moor, but it's quite busy on the A167 traffic wise. May give it another go one day, when it's perhaps a bit quieter. I daren't take my camera into Fencehouses though.

(31 Aug 2014, 3:52 pm)Jimmi wrote I have a list of places I want to take photos at mostly in County Durham and Darlington with many of them are places that are rarely photographed as when I do eventually get round to setting up a Flickr account there will be photos of buses in a variety of places and not just wall to wall photos of buses exiting Haymarket Bus Station.

See I quite like most of the old photos I see, because they're all out and about. I can't flick through photos when it's just photo after photo from the same spot, or worse, photo after photo taken seconds after the previous. I don't think there's anything wrong with bus station photos though as long as it's part of a variety. Each to their own though.

(31 Aug 2014, 4:13 pm)aureolin wrote Tried Chester Moor, but it's quite busy on the A167 traffic wise. May give it another go one day, when it's perhaps a bit quieter. I daren't take my camera into Fencehouses though.


See I quite like most of the old photos I see, because they're all out and about. I can't flick through photos when it's just photo after photo from the same spot, or worse, photo after photo taken seconds after the previous. I don't think there's anything wrong with bus station photos though as long as it's part of a variety. Each to their own though.

I hate looking at loads of photos in the same place wether it's a bus station or somewhere with a lot of shrubbery, I tend to limit myself to about a maximum of 15 minutes in one place, although I did recently spend an hour in Stockton and an hour in Middlesbrough Bus Station but that was only because I wanted to photo as many of the Prestiges and Darts before they are withdrawn.

(31 Aug 2014, 4:13 pm)aureolin wrote Tried Chester Moor, but it's quite busy on the A167 traffic wise. May give it another go one day, when it's perhaps a bit quieter. I daren't take my camera into Fencehouses though.


See I quite like most of the old photos I see, because they're all out and about. I can't flick through photos when it's just photo after photo from the same spot, or worse, photo after photo taken seconds after the previous. I don't think there's anything wrong with bus station photos though as long as it's part of a variety. Each to their own though.

Try nearer the roundabout or next to the roundabout at the Red Lion. They don't go as fast there .
Lots of different angles to get them at too.

(31 Aug 2014, 4:26 pm)Jimmi wrote I hate looking at loads of photos in the same place wether it's a bus station or somewhere with a lot of shrubbery, I tend to limit myself to about a maximum of 15 minutes in one place, although I did recently spend an hour in Stockton and an hour in Middlesbrough Bus Station but that was only because I wanted to photo as many of the Prestiges and Darts before they are withdrawn.

Despite there probably being some excellent Flickr accounts and photos to go with them, that is the reason I never bother looking these days.

(31 Aug 2014, 3:25 pm)aureolin wrote Best advice I can give is don't act suspicious and people won't get suspicious. If it's quite clear you're taking photos of buses, then the majority of people won't have an issue. I've seen people approached, but it tends to be when they're looking around over their shoulder a lot, acting quite 'shifty'. If you want to take photos at bus stations in Tyne and Wear, just make sure you're well out the way and off their property, otherwise you risk being approached.

I know Dan does, and I think some others do the same as me. I'll either look up the route on Google maps and use a mixture of that and street view to find some suitable spots for photos. Or alternatively, ride the route in full and note them down along the way. At least that way I find I get a good variation of photos.

The maps which Arriva and GNE give to show the route a service takes have proven to be very helpful for me, when looking for locations for good places to take photographs at en-route. As you say, Google Maps helps me familiarise myself with the location and then I tend to use the sun calculator to work out when to go there for a photo. I'm becoming increasingly familiar with the Stanley area as I've walked about when I've been there, and I got a nice shot of the Drifter on the 8 yesterday as the sun was at a decent angle and it was an alternative location.

All depends on how much time I have though, and if I'm trying to clear a list of "needs" or "last photographs" (in which case I tend to take more 'repetitive' photographs).

Spending a few hours on one bus service and just hopping on and off is a great way to do it too, although you'll find that you're sometimes limited if you want the sun at the right angle.

Each to their own at the end of the day, but I find that's much more entertaining. I'm getting to ride the buses (whilst getting the opportunity to catch up on Social Media, play games, etc) whilst also taking a good variety of photographs.


As someone who likes viewing other enthusiasts' photographs, I can't put myself through looking at a repetitive stream of photographs taken one after the other. I suspect others are the same, which is why I tend to provide as much variety as possible. Others achieve this by uploading in batches of five every few hours...

(31 Aug 2014, 9:27 pm)Dan wrote The maps which Arriva and GNE give to show the route a service takes have proven to be very helpful for me, when looking for locations for good places to take photographs at en-route. As you say, Google Maps helps me familiarise myself with the location and then I tend to use the sun calculator to work out when to go there for a photo.

All depends on how much time I have though, and if I'm trying to clear a list of "needs" or "last photographs" (in which case I tend to take more 'repetitive' photographs).

Spending a few hours on one bus service and just hopping on and off is a great way to do it too, although you'll find that you're sometimes limited if you want the sun at the right angle.

Each to their own at the end of the day, but I find that's much more entertaining. I'm getting to ride the buses (whilst getting the opportunity to catch up on Social Media, play games, etc) whilst also taking a good variety of photographs.


As someone who likes viewing other enthusiasts' photographs, I can't put myself through looking at a repetitive stream of photographs taken one after the other. I suspect others are the same, which is why I tend to provide as much variety as possible. Others achieve this by uploading in batches of five every few hours...

That's what I intend to do - by having a variety of trains and buses I think it'll keep people entertained.

Thanks for your advice everyone.

I'm taking a break from Flickr until I get myself sorted, as it's getting to a point where I'm not enjoying taking photos.

(31 Aug 2014, 9:30 pm)Marcus wrote That's what I intend to do - by having a variety of trains and buses I think it'll keep people entertained.

Thanks for your advice everyone.

As someone who didn't have much of an interest in trains a few months back, I started taking photos of Metros more frequently just to provide a bit of variety to my photostream. This eventually expanded to trains, whenever I happened to be travelling by train. I quite like throwing in a train photo now, and my interest has increased massively. Although you appear to have quite an interest as it is, don't be afraid to try new things out - you may surprise yourself.

You tend to get more favourites when you upload in smaller batches (ideal number being 5), but it depends whether that's the purpose for you going out to take the photos at the end of the day...

(31 Aug 2014, 9:31 pm)Tom wrote I'm taking a break from Flickr until I get myself sorted, as it's getting to a point where I'm not enjoying taking photos.

How come you aren't enjoying it?

I tend to go through phases like that. Can't even be bothered to plan a day out. Last week I just set a target of Sapphire and Max, and went for it. Worked out pretty well, and without the headache of planning a day out.

(31 Aug 2014, 9:31 pm)Tom wrote I'm taking a break from Flickr until I get myself sorted, as it's getting to a point where I'm not enjoying taking photos.

You're quite like myself. I often have a few weeks where I take loads of photos, but end up sickening myself with it, so then I avoid it for a few weeks.

(31 Aug 2014, 9:39 pm)Dan wrote You're quite like myself. I often have a few weeks where I take loads of photos, but end up sickening myself with it, so then I avoid it for a few weeks.

I'm like that with buses and trains. Currently I'm going through a phase where I prefer trains, but no doubt by Christmas I'll mainly enjoy buses again. Truth be told, I haven't been on a bus since I went on holiday, which was the 6th August!

I'm trying to build an archive at the moment and when I do get a Flickr I will probably only upload so many photos taken on a day out and archive many others taken on that day so I still have photos to upload when I don't go out.

I may set Flickr up just before Sapphire is introduced to service 5/5A.

(31 Aug 2014, 9:39 pm)Dan wrote You're quite like myself. I often have a few weeks where I take loads of photos, but end up sickening myself with it, so then I avoid it for a few weeks.

It's partly due to the fact I'm sickening myself with it, and another due to the fact I'm worried that someone will see me taking photos.
It's stupid I know, but I can't help it.

(31 Aug 2014, 9:44 pm)Tom wrote It's partly due to the fact I'm sickening myself with it, and another due to the fact I'm worried that someone will see me taking photos.
It's stupid I know, but I can't help it.

I must admit, that is holding me back.

Not many will see up at a train station during off-peak times watching a handful of trains race through, but I've had dozens of people come up behind me while I'm standing in Chester and go 'boo!'

(31 Aug 2014, 9:45 pm)Marcus wrote I must admit, that is holding me back.

Not many will see up at a train station during off-peak times watching a handful of trains race through, but I've had dozens of people come up behind me while I'm standing in Chester and go 'boo!'

Don't the people at school know about your hobby though?
Surely they would understand then?

(31 Aug 2014, 9:46 pm)Tom wrote Don't the people at school know about your hobby though?
Surely they would understand then?

They do, and don't seem to mind, but very occasionally I do get people from the rougher areas of Chester shout something at me.

(31 Aug 2014, 9:48 pm)Marcus wrote They do, and don't seem to mind, but very occasionally I do get people from the rougher areas of Chester shout something at me.

Ah right - There is a lot people from the rougher areas of Wallsend (in fact, are there any nice areas in Wallsend?), and the only nice(ish!) areas are where I live and Holy Cross.

What's stopping you taking photos elsewhere? If you're from North Tyneside(?), the chances of you bumping into someone you know in say Sunderland, Washington, or Chester, are going to be pretty slim?

(31 Aug 2014, 9:49 pm)Tom wrote Ah right - There is a lot people from the rougher areas of Wallsend (in fact, are there any nice areas in Wallsend?), and the only nice(ish!) areas are where I live and Holy Cross.

Totally irrelevant - but I've just checked the Internet and it says Wallsend is a 'City in England'. Good god, Chester will be a borough and Fencehouses will be the flamin' Capital!!

(31 Aug 2014, 9:50 pm)aureolin wrote What's stopping you taking photos elsewhere? If you're from North Tyneside(?), the chances of you bumping into someone you know in say Sunderland, Washington, or Chester, are going to be pretty slim?

This is the prime reason why I don't take many photos in Sunderland now. Park Lane is usually a no-go as there's always at least one person I know hanging around there. Even during the dead of night when I haven't had my camera, I've seen people I know at Park Lane.

I've been spotted taking photos in Houghton twice. One time, the person didn't say anything to me. Another, the person sent me a message asking why I was in Houghton, but I didn't bother replying and nothing ever came of it.

(31 Aug 2014, 9:53 pm)Marcus wrote Totally irrelevant - but I've just checked the Internet and it says Wallsend is a 'City in England'. Good god, Chester will be a borough and Fencehouses will be the flamin' Capital!!

We are going for independence. The Peoples Republic of Fencehouses (or PRF) for short.

(31 Aug 2014, 10:00 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote We are going for independence. The Peoples Republic of Fencehouses (or PRF) for short.

Surely not! Independence may lead to the area becoming an area for tourists, with ticketing options on bus services being consequently designed for tourists too!

Conversely, the increased patronage may warrant commercial night and Sunday services... Who knows?!

(31 Aug 2014, 10:00 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote We are going for independence. The Peoples Republic of Fencehouses (or PRF) for short.

The PRF?! Sounds like a flaming Bazooka! (no doubt they already have a few, though)

(31 Aug 2014, 10:08 pm)Marcus wrote The PRF?! Sounds like a flaming Bazooka! (no doubt they already have a few, though)

Potato and 'cap' versions of course.

One of the bonuses of declaring independence will be the 'charges' we enforce on buses passing through between 0930 and 1800. The 10p per bus charge, will enable us to cover the costs and make a profit for our own bus service, which will run into the night.

You are more than welcome taking photos for your Flickr at Checkpoint Colin (Woodstone Village), Checkpoint Chas (outside the sewage works) Checkpoint Cedric (junction with Blackie Boy Road) or Checkpoint Ceidric (Winters Bank).

(31 Aug 2014, 9:50 pm)aureolin wrote What's stopping you taking photos elsewhere? If you're from North Tyneside(?), the chances of you bumping into someone you know in say Sunderland, Washington, or Chester, are going to be pretty slim?

I've saw someone from my school in Consett! Give me a puzzled look and asked me what I was doing there (they were seeing there dad, and I claimed I was seeing my auntie). Thankfully didn't see me with the camera though.