Inspired by a Salgado photograph of Mumbai train station that I saw a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try and replicate the blurred crowd effect that he achieved, albeit a little closer to home. Liverpool Street Station has an upper balcony with good views of the main concourse below, so I thought this would be an ideal venue for shots with a static station clock and timetable and blurry people rushing by. I planned to use digital and film - the images on film would be used for the “Photography of Movement” module in the City and Guilds course that I’m doing.

So, picture the scene - I’ve found the ideal spot, set up the tripod, mounted the camera, checked the settings, taken the first picture - then “Excuse me Sir, what are you doing?”. I felt like saying “What do you think I’m doing?”, but instead decided to be polite to the British Rail employee. Good move, as John the team leader quizzed me about why I was daring to take photographs in a train station. I explained that I was a photography student, whilst waving a Jessops Student Discount card in his face. Another good move, as it turns out that all commercial photography is completely banned, unless you pay for some kind of licence. Even so, I had to sign a form saying that I wouldn’t use the images for commercial gain, and I was allowed 30 minutes maximum in the station.

I went back, set up again, took what will hopefully be some effective images for my course, before being interrupted by another BR employee. “What are you doing?”, “I’ve spoken to John and signed the form”, “How long will you be?”, “15 minutes tops”, “Make it 10 sir”. Power-mad.

And I originally thought that it would be fine to take pictures in what is one of the most public places I can think of. Silly me.