myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hello,

I am a semi-pro photographer looking for an exotic tropical island to photograph while on vacation. I came across a really excellent photo of Pigeon Point that is exactly what I had in mind.

However, I read a few posts on other websites that photography is not allowed at Pigeon Point and armed guards will take your camera from you? I am happy to pay admission to a great beach if I need to, but has anyone experienced hassles from guards at Pigeon Point while taking pictures? Or were these two website postings isolated experiences?

Thank you for any help you might offer.

John

Hi John

Welcome aboard!

Isolated experiences? Whilst thousands of tourists do visit Pigeon Point each year and have absolutely no hassle, I can certainly confirm that incidents are NOT isolated. You will, however, probably get away with it if you adhere to the following guidelines:

• 1) Do not go on your own. Make sure you are accompanied by at least one other person and preferably a family group.
  2) Ensure that your equipment is not on view when you arrive at the security entrance or when you pay the entrance fee.
  3) Do not, under any circumstances, use any kit that looks in the least professional. Use a tiny digital compact and ensure that your lens neither protrudes more than 1inch from the body nor has a front lens element wider than one centimetre.
  4) Do not, under any circumstances, wander onto the beach with your camera while wearing shorts, shirt, shoes or any other form of clothing. It is important that you are stripped to your swim wear and covered in suntan oil. Being burned to the colour of a ripe tomato (sorry, tomayto) will probably help your cover.

Sorry, I am being facetious of course. Many members of this site will have seen and admired the wonderful photos taken of Pigeon Point by David Tihon from the Czech Republic and Dave certainly couldn’t have been taken them with a compact (unless he’s a considerably more gifted photographer than I though possible, not to say gifted technician). So it just goes to show that some serious photographers have managed to get away with it.

I can only tell you that I experienced considerable grief when I tried it and that I know a number of people who have had, or have witnessed, similar incidents. I've also received several reports from visitors confirming that it can be a problem. I hasten to add, in fairness, that it appears to ONLY be a problem if they think or guess that you are taking photos from a commercial/professional point of view - hence my advice to look as 'amateur' as possible.

The biggest problem is that management there, in the form of the very charmless and unhelpful – nay, downright aggressive – Heather McKenna, won’t actually commit herself on how much it will cost. Many people, like you and I, are quite prepared to pay for the privilege but she seems to want a confrontation – and I’m not prepared to play her silly games. Somebody did tell me how much she demanded from them, and it was just plain silly. She’s just on a major ego trip, I guess. Hopefully the situation will be resolved soon and once she's out of the way thing are sure to return to sanity. I look forward to the day when people may be allowed to photograph Tobago’s definitive landscape and help promote the island to the rest of the world.

You could quite legally walk up the beach and take your photos. I’m not actually sure what the legal position is in T&T, but McKenna claims you cannot take photos of Club Pigeon Point property, even though you may be on public land (the beach or sea) when doing so. This seems doubtful to me, but I’m not going to argue with a bunch of burly guards who have a history of violence. McKenna warned me that if I walked up the beach and my lens pointed towards their land “my guards will only be doing their duty”. What can you say?

Hello John,

the two times i visited Pigeon Point this year nobody took my camera and i also did not notice armed guards but you have to pay admission.
I made no bad experiences concerning photography although i only have been visiting Tobago twice.

Have a nice time,
Nicolette

Hi john,

looking at the words of Steve Wooler seems as if i only have had some great luck beeing able to take some great photos at Pigeon Point without getting in some grave problem. And as he really seems to know what he is telling you about take care!

Nicolette

Hi Nicolette

If you or I had a cent for every photo taken on Pigeon Point last year (crikey, I must have several hundred sent to me by people) we both be able to have a free holiday on Tobago.

I wouldn't want to alarm people. It is very, very rare to have problem. In fact, since we first 'outed' the situation at Pigeon Point about a year ago, they have gone very low key and seem to be trying to improve their public image. As I say, I think it is only when they suspect a photographer of taking photographs for commercial purposes that they get uppity. I am sure that 99% of people will have absolutely NO PROBLEM!

Hi Steve
Not often I'm gobsmacked, but this is one time I really AM. I had NO idea about this situation. When I was first at PP (early 1980s) there was nothing. In fact track with the tyre ruts that runs through the grass next to the tarmac road was THE road to PP, and there was no gate, no ownership issue.

I am stunned to hear of this situation. You know what, it damn well serves them - and Heather, by the sound of her - that I can report that PP famous pier is a B&Q shambles compared to what it was back then.

My advice for anyone even wanting to take professional quality picture at PP of the legendary pier and sunset? Forget it. It's a tacky dump. The pier used to be wood; wooden legs, wooden boards. The hut used to be wood and palm construction. Now the pier is a concrete lump with a crappy galvanised steel frame topped with palm leaves attempting a sad recreation of it's beautiful past. A grotesque, sad parody of its former self. Somehow, the name Diana Dors comes to mind.

Tobago is stunning, but don't be fooled that PP is the most beautiful place. Why not stand unharrassed (and entirely alone) at Pirate's Bay instead?

Thanks for enlightening me to the situation at PP. I only went there this time because my partner had never been to Tobago and had heard about PP and wanted to see it. The last few times, I didn't even bother myself.

A few years ago I walked up and down the full length of Pigeon Point with a camcorder stuck to my face ... no problem.

However, I took exception to wearing armbands and, for this reason, I and my family were approached by guards while we sat in one of the bars.

Even though I produced the bands the guards decided that we should be seen off the premises, although after some very tactful and lengthy negotiations and an assurance that I would put the armbands on immediately they eventually allowed us to stay ... it was hanging in the balance for a while as one of them discussed the protocol they should follow with someone on a mobile phone.

Later during that holiday, we visited Pigeon Point again and, for a laugh, we all strapped the bands around our ankles and stuck our legs out of the car windows as we approached a waiting guard on the way in which got us a smile, so they can be human after all.

On the subject of Heather Mckenna ... is she the one that sits in the gatehouse taking your money? ... she once got a real strop on with me when I politely declined tickets for a glass-bottomed boat trip !!

Otherwise, I have to agree with Sam's view ... there are other threads in this forum about the general decline of Pigeon Point ... it really is not worth the trouble anymore as there are countless other beautiful places for those photo opportunities.

Regards

Hi all,
All the times I've been to Pigeon Point - the last time was 1987 - pre ANSA Mc Al(Anthony Sabga) There was an admision fee about TT $5 or TT$6 and by no means was it strictly enforced. The fees were primarily for the use of the huts, the showers and for the general up keep of the property. In my many visits I've seen people walk on take pictures without a hassle and if they occupied one of the huts, they were politely asked to leave the hut, but were'nt chassed off the property like dogs. As a Trinbagonian, I am in total shock when I read the various posts describing the treament that visitors receive for not wearing an armband or for taking pictures ?
This is exactly what Dr. Eric Williams did not want to occur, there is a law on the books that forbids private ownership of beaches for exactly the same reason. Our beaches are a natural resource that is meant for the enjoyment of all. Soon the Pigeon Point fiasco will come to an end, with the impending take over of the property by the THA.
Paul, If it were me wearing one of those armbands, I would have thought of more "creative" ways of diplaying the armband, which I'm sure crossed your mind !
Roger.

Hi Roger

Steady on ... I wanted to leave the place with all my pride and virtues intact !!

It does seem a real shame all this ... seeing historical accounts ... it may look beautiful for the more recent first time visitors, but a closer look just shows what really beautiful places the Point and the surrounding Buccoo Reef areas once were.

People like you Roger that have seen it all those years ago, I guess, would be truely shocked to see it now.

Lets hope the THA can do something.

Regards

I dont understand the 'beauty' of pigeon point, it has been ruined beyound all belief, fences, guards, bad treatment, rules, where does this equate in a beautiful beach, my idea of a beautiful beach is onw where there are not many people, it is calm and beautiful the sea is clear and not full of seaweed like PP and above all peaceful, there are far better beaches in tobago than PP, why go and encourage these people?
Sure it has the whitest sand, but all the bars and trappings of commerlism ruin it, i mean benidorm beach was beautiful once.............. this beach is not exactly Robinson Crusoe land.........try Englishmans bay...............more rugged, more natural and yes more beautiful

Oh, yes Paul, eh em, Pride and Virtues, just don't know what came over me
I do not recall Pigeon Point ever being fenced off at the times that I've been there, from what I remember, there were coconut trunks, laid horizontally as you came up to the gate, which added a nice touch, that was the fence, if you wan't to call it that.
I remember that days when I would put a bottle of rum in the freezer, transfer it to the cooler the next morning and sip it gently on the beach, nothing short of heaven. I always wound up in hell somehow the next morning though !
As Sam said, the Jetty was made of all wood and yes, Pigeon Point was picture perfect. Those memories of Tobago in the 70's and 80's will forever stay with me.
I'm just worried that Tobago does not become overrun and over developed.
Roger D.