Bus Photography

[Deleted]

So who here is interested in bus photography?

I started this year, mostly at bus rallies, and the odd bus in public service every now and then. I have also been taking photos of bus stops, and railway-related things.

But yesterday, I did it 'properly', by taking quite a few pictures around Liverpool Street, mostly of the 11, 23, 100 routes.

I would like to take more pictures, especially more of the suburbs close to where I live, but I just don't feel comfortable, especially with all the stories (obviously they are sometimes exaggerated) of bus drivers overreacting, police taking cameras, and also many people don't understand what you are doing. Its not so bad in central London, where tourists are always taking photographs so i didn't feel so bad doing it here, but out in the suburbs people get the wrong impression, and you don't get many tourists in places like Ilford, Walthamstow, and out in Essex in places like Harlow!.

So what are your experiences, and did some of you feel a little uncomfortable when you first started?

Also, you can talk about anything related to bus photography here if you wish.

[RM5chris]

I have been taking bus pictures since 1988 approx for my own enjoyment, to let a few years go by and then sit back in a comfy chair in front of the fire with a glass of Port and look through them and remember things they were....

Flicking through a random album now from my shelf,

...Thamesway Olympian on the 307

...'Lewisham Link' Harris Bus Optares on the 108s (P332NHJ)

...2nd hand Mk1 Metrobuses of Grey Green on the 125

...Blue Triangle Leyland National Mk1 THX174S on route 500

...London Suburban Buses Titan KYV393X on the 41

...Atlas Bus Leyland Lynx on the 112 on the stand at Wood Green

...DMS 1488 just after being acquired by Big Bus Co and out in winter sightseeing service still with roof and in LT red

In the mid 2000s I moved to a digital camera and put my pictures on fotopic - if other people enjoy them all well and good (just give me a credit if you use them for something!).

Really couldn't give a monkeys what other people think or have thought of my hobby/interest - at least I have one! I think if you were the one at school known for liking trains, liking buses, taking pictures of the school buses etc (as I was), I knew I was better than anyone who was taking the pee out of me because I was Reading, learning etc and had a hobby that kept me happy and out of trouble - till girls arrived! Getting to know the regular drivers of my schools buses was great - used to bunk off PE on a Friday afternoon and run with them from Braintree to Colchester and do the school bus run for another school with Brandons fleet of 7 ex LT Fleetlines

Never really had a problem whilst out and about - in fact i've met alot of good bus people (drivers, controllers, conductors etc) out there to talk to and have a laugh with - I don't think I fit into the anorak/nerd type (unless you've met me at a forum meet and think different!).

In fact I think I have only ever had 2 issues...a driver from BTS on route 114 driving Titan OHV777Y giving me a 2 fingered salute as he passed Harrow Bus Station, and a First driver at Edgware bus station shaking his head at me and trying to hide his face with his timecard....someone mentioned to me that I should have mentioned this to First as if he is trying to hide, why? driving on a dodgy license or some such?

Anyway I don't get out as much as I used to these days and now really only take some pictures whilst out and about for work which could see me in any part of London when I can get out of the office.

[jay38a]

I must agree with you chris, there are some great drivers out there, i must say some of the 162 and B13 drivers like a nice chat when im on the bus, one says its boring if he doesn't interact with passengers (madstuntman might know him, he looks abit like your avatar but drives the B13). Some say hows your mum to me if they haven't seen her in a while. If you have regular drivers on your local route you get to know them. Now back onto photographing, I have had a few rude drivers as people would have seen cause i had a rant on here about them, but on the whole most drivers are fine, ive had a few wave and one make a pose for the camera, i normally dont care what people think unless they wont drop it.

[Deleted]

I've found this interesting website, which isn't about bus photography, but photography in general:

I'm A Photographer, Not A Terrorist

[Deleted]

I have taken a lot of photos, aminly since Selkent started operating SPDs on the 146.

My name is David Collins and if you search that into the search box on the site all my own photos appear...

londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/

[Steve09]

I like to get out and take photos too, can't say that I've experienced any rude drivers as of yet. Last week or so I took loads of photos in Bexleyheath of which 40 were good enough to put up on my website, including some odd workings like Selkent Enviro400 on the 269 and a PVL on the 486

In the near future I want to get photos of the London Central V reg PVLs on my local routes 229 401 and 422, the sole P reg LDP (LDP7) which is still in service from Bexleyheath on the B11 and B16 and also the Stagecoach V reg Tridents working the 99, before they get replaced early next year.

[jamaal]

To be honest. I have to agree with Alex. I do not feel comfortable taking photos in the suburbs where I live. As people will normally get the wrong impression and think your weird, so I prefer to venture out to Central London where you literally pass as anyone.

It's part of the reason why I organize garage visits instead.

[Deleted]

Don't tempt me!

[greeny253]

Save sticking up a new thread I'll put this in here (as it's sort of related ;D).

I have a request.

Does anyone have a picture of (any) one of RM's 17xxx Tridents on route 174 bound for Harold Hill that they wouldn't mind me pinching and using as an avatar??

[john]

Oct 31, 2010 12:27:10 GMT greeny253 said:

Save sticking up a new thread I'll put this in here (as it's sort of related ;D).

I have a request.

Does anyone have a picture of (any) one of RM's 17xxx Tridents on route 174 bound for Harold Hill that they wouldn't mind me pinching and using as an avatar??

Cheeky git!! You only live around the corner from it!!! Saying that, even I haven't got one, but that might be because the drivers on the route might start getting to know me as an odd ball ;D

[greeny253]

Oct 31, 2010 13:11:16 GMT john said:

Oct 31, 2010 12:27:10 GMT greeny253 said:

Save sticking up a new thread I'll put this in here (as it's sort of related ;D).

I have a request.

Does anyone have a picture of (any) one of RM's 17xxx Tridents on route 174 bound for Harold Hill that they wouldn't mind me pinching and using as an avatar??

Cheeky git!! You only live around the corner from it!!! Saying that, even I haven't got one, but that might be because the drivers on the route might start getting to know me as an odd ball ;D

Well in that case you go get one too ;D

At any rate I'm hoping someone has one - I know FAR too many drivers at RM (and people on Harold Hill for that matter!!) to go about taking pictures of the buses ;D

[jay38a]

Oct 31, 2010 12:27:10 GMT greeny253 said:

Save sticking up a new thread I'll put this in here (as it's sort of related ;D).

I have a request.

Does anyone have a picture of (any) one of RM's 17xxx Tridents on route 174 bound for Harold Hill that they wouldn't mind me pinching and using as an avatar??

Your in luck greeny i have one pictured at Dagenham, Kent Ave: jays-bus-pix.co.cc/index.php/August-Photos/100_2422

The blind looks like its halfway between showing Harold Hill, Dagnam Park Square and Dagenham, Mash Way. By the time i got off the bus at Romford the blind had wound itself so it was fully showing Dagenham, Mash Way

[Deleted]

Oct 26, 2010 17:31:54 GMT @truffles1234 said:

So who here is interested in bus photography?

I started this year, mostly at bus rallies, and the odd bus in public service every now and then. I have also been taking photos of bus stops, and railway-related things.

But yesterday, I did it 'properly', by taking quite a few pictures around Liverpool Street, mostly of the 11, 23, 100 routes.

I would like to take more pictures, especially more of the suburbs close to where I live, but I just don't feel comfortable, especially with all the stories (obviously they are sometimes exaggerated) of bus drivers overreacting, police taking cameras, and also many people don't understand what you are doing. Its not so bad in central London, where tourists are always taking photographs so i didn't feel so bad doing it here, but out in the suburbs people get the wrong impression, and you don't get many tourists in places like Ilford, Walthamstow, and out in Essex in places like Harlow!.

So what are your experiences, and did some of you feel a little uncomfortable when you first started?

Also, you can talk about anything related to bus photography here if you wish.

I've only started taking photos of buses since two-three months ago I think as for a trail thing yeah know as I was getting abit bored of recording the iBus and the same routes day in day out. I wasn't uncomfortable at taking pictures of buses when I first did it cause I usually do it from across the road zoomed in, Lol ;D. But anywho.. I've taken some pictures of buses up in Uxbridge especially the non-tfl like Route 740 and 58 (First) also a few in Dublin.

[greeny253]

Oct 31, 2010 13:38:07 GMT jay38a said:

Oct 31, 2010 12:27:10 GMT greeny253 said:

Save sticking up a new thread I'll put this in here (as it's sort of related ;D).

I have a request.

Does anyone have a picture of (any) one of RM's 17xxx Tridents on route 174 bound for Harold Hill that they wouldn't mind me pinching and using as an avatar??

Your in luck greeny i have one pictured at Dagenham, Kent Ave: jays-bus-pix.co.cc/index.php/August-Photos/100_2422

The blind looks like its halfway between showing Harold Hill, Dagnam Park Square and Dagenham, Mash Way. By the time i got off the bus at Romford the blind had wound itself so it was fully showing Dagenham, Mash Way

Thanks Jay Though I dare say John is right and I should probably go out and take my own ;D Good shot though

I reckon the un-intended blind movements are a result of the tension needing adjusting - easily fixed though.

[M1199]

Oct 31, 2010 16:09:48 GMT @eastlondon92 said:

Oct 26, 2010 17:31:54 GMT @truffles1234 said:

So who here is interested in bus photography?

I started this year, mostly at bus rallies, and the odd bus in public service every now and then. I have also been taking photos of bus stops, and railway-related things.

But yesterday, I did it 'properly', by taking quite a few pictures around Liverpool Street, mostly of the 11, 23, 100 routes.

I would like to take more pictures, especially more of the suburbs close to where I live, but I just don't feel comfortable, especially with all the stories (obviously they are sometimes exaggerated) of bus drivers overreacting, police taking cameras, and also many people don't understand what you are doing. Its not so bad in central London, where tourists are always taking photographs so i didn't feel so bad doing it here, but out in the suburbs people get the wrong impression, and you don't get many tourists in places like Ilford, Walthamstow, and out in Essex in places like Harlow!.

So what are your experiences, and did some of you feel a little uncomfortable when you first started?

Also, you can talk about anything related to bus photography here if you wish.

I've only started taking photos of buses since two-three months ago I think as for a trail thing yeah know as I was getting abit bored of recording the iBus and the same routes day in day out. I wasn't uncomfortable at taking pictures of buses when I first did it cause I usually do it from across the road zoomed in, Lol ;D. But anywho.. I've taken some pictures of buses up in Uxbridge especially the non-tfl like Route 740 and 58 (First) also a few in Dublin.

I've always wanted to take some pictures up in Uxbridge. Over the years I think its been an excellent place to catch all kinds of liveries from London and non London Buses.
However, I've never felt comfortable, as the risk of being caught by a pal or an old school friend and then being 'victimised' over my so called sad hobby has proven far to great...