Myer

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/us-fo...tions/28234654

This and many other articles have been appearing in the media.

I guess that's one way to reduce the crowds. Reduce the publicity!!!

Over the past couple of days I've been reading some of the articles and interpretations. Such as, how can they tell if a person is media or a professional, etc.

So I came upon the following:

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/np-versus-nf.htm
It appears there's a big difference between a national park and national forest.

National parks have park ranger and national forests have forest rangers.

My interpretation is that the restrictions do not apply to national parks. Maybe. Then, what happens when you are between parks and see something of interest.

One of the articles mentioned that it even applies taking photos with a cell phone or tablet. Huh? That means they cannot determine who is professional or a member of the media just by looking at your equipment.

I guess some people just have nothing better to do.

tomfuller

I'm sure that my Facebook friend who has been a Lookout for the USFS for the past 5 summers will protest this arbitrary policy.
He has taken many photos from fire towers and other Forest service lands. Many of his photos are copyrighted before they are entered in photo contests.
Can you imagine the National Park Service trying to enforce this policy on the National Mall?
There is a new memorial opening on the Mall dedicated to veterans who have lifelong war injuries.
I encourage everyone who has ever taken a photo on National Forest land to file a comment before this stupid policy becomes final in November.

hetismij2

Tomfuller, all photographs are the copyright of the photographer unless they grant a license or sell the copyright. Entering competitions usually involves the granting of a less than auspicious license to the competition holder, often granting them worldwide rights and the ability to provide the image to third parties. Often they are run as a cheap way to have access to thousands of photographs, in return for a few thousand bucks in prizes.

I have no idea how the USFS intends to establish whether someone is a commercial photographer or videographer, given the number of amateurs wit professional class equipment.

Bobmrg

I don't expect this restriction to last very long now that it has seen the light of day.

tomfuller

Rooster Cogburn and several other John Wayne movies were filmed mostly in the Deschutes National Forest.
I worked for 3 summers as a Lookout for the Forest Service. I took a few good pictures but never was asked to buy a permit.
I messaged my friend about the policy and said they were opening a can of worms. He wrote back and said a "big smelly can of worms".
If you watch PBS sometime in the next year you may see him on a special PBS just finished on the life of a Lookout.
Mac worked this year at Mt. Lemmon just east of Tucson until the monsoon season started.
I got to know him when we both worked on lookout towers in the Deschutes NF.

Myer

The National Mall is administered by the NPS not the Forest Service. I assume this doesn't apply in national parks. Maybe.

Myer

And of course, the misinformation, etc, etc.

http://www.wncoutdoors.info/2014/09/...he-wilderness/

obxgirl

How is that misinformation? Seems like clarification to me.

obxgirl

Can you imagine the National Park Service trying to enforce this policy on the National Mall?

Sure, and justifiably so.

This is the proposed policy:

Still photography—use of still photographic equipment on National Forest System lands that takes place at a location where members of the public generally are not allowed or where additional administrative costs are likely, or uses models, sets, or props that are not a part of the site’s natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities.

The language at the end of the sentence could use some tightening but I don't understand what the outrage is about.

Myer

There's outrage because this explanation does not appear in most of the earlier releases and articles.

The misinformation is not the last link but many of those earlier.

Gretchen

Oh for pete's sake. It's about COMMERCIAL photography. Myer is taking her 8 year old GD who is ga ga about photographing wildlife apparently.

Myer

It's not just about me taking my granddaughter on a trip.

Many of the articles are not very clear at all about what is restricted and what isn't.

I belong to several camera clubs. I received an email from one with the heading "some bad news". Some of the members made a living from photography earlier in life. I don't believe any do now. So obviously the person who sent it thought amateurs were affected.

Knowing politicians anything is possible.

doug_stallings

It's very clear from the policy that you only need a permit to do professional photography, video, but especially aerial photography. They're trying to get ahead of the issue of drones. But the policy is clearly (very clearly) not aimed at individual visitors.

janisj

myer - you are seriously over reacting, getting yourself worked up about absolutely nothing.

Myer

PLEASE understand. I started this thread based on a few articles I read.

Whether purposely or not, these articles did not clearly explain the restrictions. Maybe they were written by people affected. They definitely left open the possibility that even casual visitors are affected. Even those using their cell phones. Possibly done purposely.

Some of the more recent articles I have found make it a lot clearer who is and who isn't affected.

We should probably close out this thread and go on with other things.

John

AGREED!!!!!!!!!

tomfuller

You tell me if Mac is a pro photographer or a pro Fire Lookout.
You may see this on PBS soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pstcV...&feature=share
My life is richer for knowing Mac and seeing his great pictures.
The USFS allowed him to use one of their ATV's to get up to his perch in the Wilderness at Lemmon Rock.
They also let PBS do the mini documentary without charge.
Enjoy the 8:05 video.

spirobulldog

It's pretty clear to me that if you intend to use your photos to make money, then your going to need a permit. This is even that way on Tribal Land. Just look at all the commercials shot in Monument Valley.