Anyone who regularly uses the London Underground probably has a story or two they could tell you about something or someone they’ve seen. It’s impossible to ride ‘the tube’ and not eventually encounter a strange or odd looking person… Better yet, maybe you have been that person?
The abundance of wonderful weirdos and interesting anthropological opportunities on London’s busy underground network has provoked one anonymous commuter to start a blog called ‘People I see on the tube.’
The title explains it all but in the first post made on March 26th this year the ‘secret photographer’ writes. “I’ve started to take snaps of people that I see on the London Underground. I am constantly shocked/amused/creeped out by some of the bizarre people that I see.”
Using an Apple iPhone the secret photographer snaps her subjects who, for the most part, seem to be oblivious to her photographic attention.
While the photographer has chosen not to reveal her own identity, she can be seen in reflections on a number of the pictures posted on the blog.
Wary of the possible objections that some of her subjects might have about their photographs being posted online, the photographer has provided details of how to request the removal of any pictures. However, it’s worth noting that anyone who uses ‘the tube’ is monitored by a complex network of some 12,000 cameras recording their every move.
The last time I was on ‘the tube’ a highly intoxicated man who had a distinctive aroma began engaging me in loud an absolutely incoherent conversation. He then started pointing at people, apparently choosing them slurring “You can stay” then pointing at others and grunting “Not you.” – I’m glad to say I made the cut.
I’ve often considered starting a blog of a similar nature, but I don’t commute to work. Besides which you need to live in a city the size of London to be able to gather new and interesting content on a regular basis.
The next time I find myself riding the tube I’ll be on the look out for the anonymous photographer, though hopefully I’m not creepy or shocking enough to get her attention. You can see the secret photoblog at peopleiseeonthetube.com.
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Unfortunately, ‘the secret photographer’ closed the website shortly after this blog post following contact from Transport For London who own and run the tube. According to ‘the secret photographer’ someone complained to TFU about the site.
I have no further information at this stage though it’s difficult to see how TFU could exert any authority over the website or the photographer as she was not doing anything illegal.
‘The secret photographer’ has now changed the focus of the site which is now called ‘People I see on the street‘ which I have to be honest and say I don’t find nearly as engaging as the original.
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People I see on the street
People I see on the tube – No longer working.
Careful Santa
London Underground song
Official London Underground website
British Transport Police CCTV BS
Wrote the following comment on May 10, 2010 at 9:29 am
Thanks Simon for a glowing review. I hope you all enjoy my blog and if any of you end up on it please be proud that you are not dull enough to pass me by.
I must be more careful when taking snaps to avoid completely blowing my anonymity!
SP
Wrote the following comment on May 10, 2010 at 11:36 am
I’ve often thought of doing this myself but I’ve never had the front, I’m delighted someone else has. Some great pictures on there. Well done SP!
Wrote the following comment on May 10, 2010 at 3:03 pm
A girl after my own heart!
Wrote the following comment on May 10, 2010 at 3:23 pm
i totally could have done that living in austin, especially on the bus route i lived on – it was totally sketchy, and the most popular bus, the most number of stops on a route, and the most frequent buses. one time i was on, and wearing sunglasses, and a pregnant lady who must have been really messed up on drugs (i shudder to think about what her baby had to start life with) accused me of laughing at her. I wasn’t even looking at her, but she couldn’t tell b/c of my sunglasses. “Hey you!” (she pointed at me) “You think this is funny?? You think I’m funny looking?” She was really angry. that was pretty crappy.
Wrote the following comment on May 10, 2010 at 8:10 pm
@ Secret Photographer – Don’t mention it, though after that comment I feel like I should make sure I look thoroughly outlandish next time I’m on the tube. I mean I’d rather be that than “dull.” :-)
@ Marcie – Maybe you’re a weirdo magnet like me? I have to say though, I kinda like being someone that the freaky people like to engage. Maybe they see something that the ordinaries don’t?
Wrote the following comment on May 11, 2010 at 1:29 am
Awesome!
On a side note – who puts tattoos all over their face?
Wrote the following comment on May 11, 2010 at 4:34 am
[Top right] See, I knew Anna Nicole Smith wasn’t dead. She just upped and moved to London town where she aimlessly rides the subway wondering why the fuck she is unable to get a signal on her cellphone!
Wrote the following comment on May 11, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Oh Simon you posted her picture when she was trying to remain secret. I wonder if she actually has had any complaints about her pictures?
Wrote the following comment on May 11, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Hi Hannah,
I’ve had a few people disagreeing with the blog but I haven’t had anyone pictured on it contacting me yet.
I’m hoping that if people don’t like it they won’t look at it!
SP
Wrote the following comment on May 15, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Love it!
Wrote the following comment on May 26, 2010 at 9:46 am
Has anyone else noticed that ‘People I see on the tube’ is no longer available. Having followed it since it first appeared on here it now seems to have disappeared. Shame, it was entertaining.
‘Barnickal’ another follower, had mentioned SP’s ‘mean’ comments so I am wondering if a complaint has been made to tube staff. Pity, if that’s the case, because SP made a point of saying she would remove pictures of anyone not happy.
Of course, it might just as easily be another reason but if that is the case it’s a lose to those who enjoyed following it and also to those that appeared on it happily. Hey Simon, maybe you could do something along the same lines, perhaps while out having a coffee?
Also, if you have any other contact with SP would you please find out if it’s a technical blip or has it disappeared for good?
Wrote the following comment on May 26, 2010 at 10:27 am
Don’t worry i’m still blogging away but i’ve moved to WordPress and changed by blog name. It’s still in the same vein but after getting a complaint from TFL I thought I should delete the original blog.
Glad to know that people are enjoying it. Please comment on my posts xxx
Wrote the following comment on May 26, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Well technically it is illegal to take pictures on the tube without a specific permit from TFL / BTP so if a complaint was made it could very well have been closed down as “promoting illegal activity”.
Personally I have found the blog quite entertaining although I know I would be annoyed at my image appearing without my permission and as such feel that perhaps the photographer should ask permission and give details of the blog / site on which the images will appear: espcially as evident on this blog that the images can and will be used elsewhere without permission: remember once something is on the internet, it is likely to be there forever and this could very well make people whose images appear without their consent extremely annoyed!
I seem to remember a story in the news a while back about a families holiday snap being used in supermarket advertising in another country without their permission until a family friend discovered it whilst on holiday. Found link:
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8094420.stm
Obviously this is one extreme however by publishing images on the internet without consent the photographer is opening up other people to suffer similar issues. For example I could imagine someone using “heart shaped box” lady in a london phonebooth calling card: just imagine her, her partner, her family, her friends or her employer seeing that!
Anyhow, be interested in hearing the photographers reasons why the site is down and her oppinions on the issues raised above.
Wrote the following comment on May 31, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Contrary to what some people might believe, it is absolutely not illegal to take pictures on the London Underground. If it were expressly forbidden by TFU (Transport For London) then it would be unlawful, but it isn’t even that. Rather, London Underground are entirely okay with amateur photographers taking pictures.
While I understand Vee’s point about the “heart shaped box” lady picture being used on a sex ad, but then come on, lets be real – that could happen to absolutely anyone from absolutely any site ESPECIALLY facebook and other social networks.
What ‘the secret photographer’ was doing was not illegal in any way. A person on the London Underground has a reasonable expectation of privacy, however it should be remembered that they are in public.
I would be interested to know what the contents of the letter to ‘the secret photographer’ was. If I were her, I would have scanned the letter then posted it on the site… I would have also continued photographing (but removed the ads from the site so as not to fall into the ‘for commercial gain’ part of their open policy to amateur photography on the underground).
The new site, while still fun, is not nearly as cool an idea. Still, it’ll be worth a look from time to time I’m sure.
For more information about your rights as a photographer see the following links :-
https://www.not-a-crime.com
https://photographernotaterrorist.org/
https://www.sirimo.co.uk/2009/05/14/uk-photographers-rights-v2/
Wrote the following comment on Jun 1, 2010 at 1:38 am
I don’t understand how they could threaten someone if her identity is a secret? Are we to believe that London Transport somehow found out this person’s identity, and if so what on earth did they threaten her with? Since when is it illegal to photograph someone in public?
Wrote the following comment on Jun 1, 2010 at 11:00 am
Kimba – ‘are we to believe’. Ha this made me laugh so much. No I am lying. I have made the whole thing up and just fancied moving to wordpress and renaming the site…
TFL did send me an email to my secret email address. Blogger have my name and so I thought that the best thing would be to move.
I am not a professional photographer and do not know the ins and outs of the law but I do know that I don’t really fancy getting into LOADS of trouble.
The new site is more or less the same – mostly tube pics as this is what I find funniest. hope that you continue to enjoy the blog as much as I enjoy taking the snaps.
SP
Wrote the following comment on Jun 2, 2010 at 11:54 pm
No no SP, I don’t mean I don’t believe you, I was just stunned that London Transport had apparently found out your identity. Sending you an email is easy enough, it’s a far cry from actually finding out who you are though. Of course I didn’t think you were making stuff up.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 3, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I don’t get it. How is this site any different to the old one? There are pictures of people on the London Underground on the new one. Surely by posting pictures of people on the tube or street she is going to risk that trouble she wants to avoid? Is she just going to close down her site and move it every time?