I have a profile page which has my main contact points: http://about.me/gordontant

currently it is a blank page, the decision I have is which to use:

1. a safe option of a photo of me of which I have an Idea of the shot I want (yet to shoot)
2. a graphically descriptive photo
3. a photo from 2 years ago which still moves me when I look at it.

here are is the photo

Now I personally want to use the last shot as I find it very thought provoking and showing that I am not shy to taking photographs that are challenging, it also grabs your attention.

- What do you think?

“Bletchley Park was home to the WW2 Codebreakers whose breath-taking achievements helped shorten the war by two years saving countless lives. The Bletchley Park Trust’s mission is to transform Bletchley Park into the world-class education and heritage site it deserves to be reflecting the profound significance of its impact on WW2, the twentieth century and the way we all live today.”

When Niki (@mrshb2b) announced at one of last years @stationX social media Meet-ups she was running in the 2010 London Marathon I was a little surprised, but then she said she was doing it to raise money for ‘Bletchley Park‘ (#bpark) I knew she was serious. a few of us instantly said that we would sponsor her and also come down to give support on the day.

During the day I offered to design a T-shirt for her that she could wear and that we could also wear to show support and raise money at the same time. After a few weeks I had come up with a rough design and enlisted the help of Dave (@magiprint) to produce the clothing.

This is what Dave produced from my design:

At the end of January these T-shirts were completed and delivered to Niki so we met up and I took some shots of her for the sponsor site and press release.

Gordon Tant Photography ©2010

Gordon Tant Photography ©2010

There are several ways you can show your support either by sponsoring Niki on her just giving page

Donating directly to Bletchley Park

Or the T-shirts are available with your twitter name down the arm from @magiprint for £15.00 plus delivery and £2.50 from every sale will go to #bpark. you can contact Dave on

‘Magiprint Ltd’
272, Hillmorton Road
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV22 5BW
Tel 01788 334499
E-mail sales@magiprint.com

Bletchley Park is made of myths and legends, with secrets still to be revealed its history is dominated by WWII, even thoug hthe building itself goes back futher. its links with technology are a legend in itself as ‘The Birthplace of Modern Day Computing’ you can’t get a better line than that. Which is why it draws geeks like me and numerous others to its hallowed grounds.

One such meeting is @stationX (taken from the 10th MI6 office) a group of twitterers from various walks who meet to discuss ways of bringing Bletchley Park everyones attention so that it might stay open, it is one of the most impotant museums in the UK today.

at our last meets Adam who helps out at Bletchley Park happended to mention that he ‘thought’ he had found one of the ‘tunnels’ – That was it @documentally was hooked and a group of us set off in search of them.

Venturing in to one of the abandoned blocks we worked our way to the location, and had a look around. The opening Adam suspected was indeed a tunnel and it linked to an adjacent block, for what purpose with out going deep into the tunnel we could not tell. but we do not think that this was one of the ‘Churchill Tunnels’

so the hunt will continue

You can read and listen to our more of our escapades here on Documentally’s Blog

For more information about Bletchley Park, follow @BletchleyPark and @StationX on twitter..

Or better still make a donation to The Bletchley Park Trust

The main act was Lowline, supported by Televox and The Casino’s. I had gone to photogragh Televox but ended up taking shots of all three. You can see photos from all three groups on my website.

Taken from the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 (c.28)

Section 76 Offences relating to information about members of armed forces etc

(1) After section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (collection of information) insert—

“58A Eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of armed forces etc

(1) A person commits an offence who—

(a) elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been—

(i) a member of Her Majesty’s forces,

(ii) a member of any of the intelligence services, or

(iii) a constable,

which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) publishes or communicates any such information.

(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for their action.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine, or to both;

(b) on summary conviction—

(i) in England and Wales or Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(ii) in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.

(4) In this section “the intelligence services” means the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and GCHQ (within the meaning of section 3 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994 (c. 13)).

(5) Schedule 8A to this Act contains supplementary provisions relating to the offence under this section.”.

(2) In the application of section 58A in England and Wales in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) the reference in subsection (3)(b)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.

(3) In section 118 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) (defences), in subsection (5)(a) after “58,” insert “58A,”.

(4) After Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000 insert the Schedule set out in Schedule 8 to this Act.

Another good read http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7888301.stm

One final comment, if this applies to photographers what about film crews?

over 5000 people signed this e-petition which in itself is amazing! This is what the Petitioner Adam Jones wrote:

“Through history, we have documented the world around us, whether through written word, art or photography.

Photography in particular has provided fantastic insights into the past and present, and is a hobby enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.

But today, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to take photos of our surroundings, particularly in cities like London.

In recent years, the price divide between professional and consumer equipment has blurred, and it’s quite common these days to see amateurs and hobbyists carrying around tripods, SLR cameras and a backpack full of equipment.

Yet, we are constantly harrassed by security guards and police officers in the name of preventing terrorism. They seem to be operating under a different interpretation of the law to the rest of us, believing that somehow the length of your lens, or size of your camera is relevant.

We would like clarification by the goverment on the law regarding photography of buildings and landmarks from public locations.”
Here is the reply from the Goverment – I leave it up to you to make your own mind up:

“Thank you for your e-petition asking for clarification of the law on photography in public places.

There are no legal restrictions on photography in public places. However, the law applies to photographers as it does to anybody else in a public place. So there may be situations in which the taking of photographs may cause or lead to public order situations, inflame an already tense situation, or raise security considerations. Additionally, the police may require a person to move on in order to prevent a breach of the peace, to avoid a public order situation, or for the person’s own safety or welfare, or for the safety and welfare of others.

Each situation will be different and it would be an operational matter for the police officer concerned as to what action if any should be taken in respect of those taking photographs. Anybody with a concern about a specific incident should raise the matter with the Chief Constable of the relevant force.”

I feel that this reply wihle is good in one way is also a bit of a wimp out and passing the buck down to the local Chief Constable!