Photography Tips on the Tube

You can get a £1 platform ticket from the machine, but if you ask nicely some will let you in.

Don't rush taking them..just point it at the train, and clicky, but all in good time, follow it for a while..

Embarassment is normal, but don't worry, there are pills for your condition It can help if there is another nut, particularly if they are platform-ending..if you really are that self-conscious go to a quiet station! Like Pinner, for instance..

From the machine, hit 'Other tickets and extensions'. It is white and costs a quid. Probably a time limit around the hour mark.

Just don't use a tripod and remember to switch off the 'flash mode' on your camera

My first thought is always "where is the sun?". Nothing worse than a shot taken against the sun or with shadow on the side or across the subject. Fortunately the Underground twists and turns so it's usually possible to find an open section suitable for the time of day. There are exceptions though: the Met Main runs north-west, so the sun is always wrong for afternoon N/B trains - a pity since 'Sarah' tends to be on the north end of heritage trains when they operate. I rarely use a photo where the sun is wrong - see my Flickr photos to prove the point. If it can't be helped then photo-editing software can sometimes improve the result to some degree. I can't believe it when people publish photos if infrastructure - stations etc, with the sun wrong, it's almost always possible to go back another day/time when the light is better. Winter brings the low, golden, sun which is especially bad for long shadowing. The best conditions are bright but cloudy days which allow photos from all angles. Stationary photos are difficult these days as most platforms are fenced in such a way that prevents the subject from being in shot in full, thus a moving arrival or departure image is necessary. (which I use the Sports setting for). Overbridges can be a good vantage point but most are either caged or have had the parapet raised over the last 20 years or so. Moving shots below ground are now at last possible but prevent their own challenges and are usually best avoided.

Some train operators get very annoyed at flashing cameras, so yes you MUST turn it off. I was at Goodge street once, and some Chinese tourists were taking pictures with the flash one. The driver blew the whistle and was shaking his head, he then made a P.A and said that flash photography was not permitted anywhere on London Underground.
Another little tip... If you want to get a cab shot, go and stand right at the end of the platform. When I have done this, most train drivers open the door and let you get a good picture of in the cab. They also sometimes blow the whistle on the way out for you