'Nazi salute' photographer: 'Fallout was the worst moment of my life'
THE former Lloyds bar photographer at the centre of the 'Nazi salute' row has descibed the fallout as the worst moment of his life.
Kal Patel issued a full apology for the picture, showing revellers apparently performing a Nazi salute - a scandalous snap that has cost the 27-year-old shutterbug his job and, he fears, could ruin his career.
Mr Patel contacted the Advertiser on Thursday afternoon after finding out his photo, taken at the Wetherspoon chain’s Lloyds No.1 Bar (The Milan Bar) had made front page news.
He explained: "I knew what a Nazi salute was but I did not realise, in that crazy environment, the seriousness of the situation.
"It is the worst day of my career. I know it was my mistake."
Kal, who lives in London Road, Croydon, has spent the past three years taking photos of revellers at town centre nightspots including Lloyds Bar.
He added: "I would like to say sorry for any suffering I have caused. I feel sick about this.
"This has been the most difficult week of my life.
"My career has been going well but this is a massive obstacle.
"In hindsight I know I am to blame. I did not mean to hurt anyone."
7 Comments
by Green_System
Monday, February 06 2012, 3:54PM
“Good for this guy to have the guts to come forward and apologise. Shame about the pair actually pictured.”
by Ivor_Shed
Sunday, February 05 2012, 11:48AM
“Whilst waiting for Mrs.Shed to cook lunch I have been 'Googling' salutes.
Did you know that until 1942 the 'Bellamy salute' was used during the pledge of alliegance to the US flag - it was the same as the Nazi salute.
The Roman salute is also similar to the Nazi salute however it is not depicted in any Roman art but is portrayed in 19th-20th century art as being an ancient Roman custom.
The Nazi salute is a criminal offense in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic and possibly Sweden.
Apparently Polish military forces use two fingers to salute - but should not salute a British policeman in this way!
Anyway, I'm still not going to burn my DVD of Fawlty Towers - 'The Germans'.”
by DsDan
Sunday, February 05 2012, 11:08AM
“To be honest, the picture quite accurately depicts the level of humanity that infests Milan Bar amongst other dives in our town centre.”
by Ivor_Shed
Saturday, February 04 2012, 7:31PM
“But remember - they were the losers. Apparently you have my father to thanks for that.”
by AlanofCR0
Saturday, February 04 2012, 7:19PM
“The Harry snapers got big cheques from the tabloids for catching a Royal doing something stupid. The ginger one got a telling off from his Dad.
This bloke was taking photos to promote the bar! He could have deleted the 'Nazi' photo and nobody would have been any the wiser. He no doubt kept it because (technically) it was a good photo of the potato heads having fun and the subject matter came second to him.
Pillock.”
by Ivor_Shed
Saturday, February 04 2012, 12:44PM
“I won't have a pointed stick in the house in case anyone thinks I am a supporter of Vlad the impaler.
Did the photographers who took pictures of Prince Harry dressed as a Nazi lose their jobs, or get big bonus cheques?”
by AlanofCR0
Saturday, February 04 2012, 11:06AM
“Pillock.”