Following on from my earlier posting, I was approached by a company who wanted some 'Iconic photo's of Livingston'. My first thought comprised a shopping trolley sitting in the midst of the River Almond with, perhaps, a shot of the new coucil buildings as a backdrop.

What d'you think would make an 'Iconic' representation of Livingston - and go easy, this is the town I call home, and rightly love.

being another livingstonian how about -

1. the Skatebowl
2. the roundabout at the BP / Deer Park
3. You should be able to get something of the Dual Carraigeway from the bridge from Dedridge to Mid Calder? or down the way from the one from Ladywell to Craigswood

DOH!!!!

Never thought about the skatepark!

hahahaha ya numpty!

Get some sunset shots of the roundabout and that might work too

Another iconic one would be the director of the football club in the dock, but you would get into trouble for photographing in a court.

You could well be on a sticky wicket at the skate park too with kids there under 18, I got stopped and questioned by police close to there a couple of years ago because I had a “big camera” even though all I had been photographing were ducks etc on the river some ½ mile or so away, the skate park wasn’t even visible from where I was, obscured by a big concrete bridge, the point of the police stopping me was because I could have been photographing the kids had I walked further along, to be fair though they didn’t make a big deal of it, just doing their job I guess.

I think though if you are going to photograph anything or anyone at the skate park, you need to be make enquiries and or even contact local police and announce your intentions, I have found the police to be very helpful and supportive if you are upfront with them, plus they will know who you are and that your intentions are honorable.

Whenever I think of Livingston, I have an image in my mind of that big arch on the roundabout as you come off the motorway.

That and the strange layout of housing which seems peculiar to new towns......

Bruce wrote:

Whenever I think of Livingston, I have an image in my mind of that big arch on the roundabout as you come off the motorway.

That was my very first experience of Livingston at about 3AM after driving for about 10 hours, 3 hours in fog and that loomed up in front of me, I have never been the same since

Sorry for opening old wounds Simon.........

But I bet you regard as it a beacon for home at the end of a long journey now.......

There is another on the bottom end of the A899 too, actually they seem to be quite popular photographically locally, I guess they are fairly decent looking things, not really my kinda thing, horses for courses and all that.

Not Livingston as such, but Binny Craig is quite distinctive, also the disused Bangour Hospital has some historic value (erm permission needed to shoot there)

Quote: "Another iconic one would be the director of the football club in the dock, but you would get into trouble for photographing in a court. " - Bill

Classic Bill. I knew the man quite well, and I have to say that I hope the next time I see him is on crimewatch.

@Simon: Jeez, Simon, I'm beginning to get a bit paranoid about going out with my camera at all now. I think I'll just sneak my kit in and out of the studio in a large sportsbag and hang a sign saying private property. Therin, I shall be warm and safe. PS. Where do I apply for permission for Bangour All three of my boys were born there and I could maybe get them back for a kind of 'bewildered nostalgia' shoot.

The rest of the world is paranoid about people with cameras.
All I am saying is, that doing a little groundwork beforehand won’t do any harm, know and understand what you can/cant get away with.

Bangour was sold by the NHS to a private owner/developer, I don’t know who they are, I think there are security on the premises who can probably give you the info you would need, I know of a few people that have been up there shooting the old buildings etc with no problem at all, they don’t seem concerned as long as you aren’t causing any damage.
If you are going to use images of the buildings for publication, getting permission and probably a property release would be a wise move.