PHOTOGRAPHERS--STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

READ THIS:
Fees proposed for photographing public lands:
www.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/...3.html

AND THEN READ THIS:

Photographers did nothing while, local and state beaches, and cities, decided
to write new ordinances that made photographers cash-cows to the government.
I suggest photographers do something now, before it's too late.

Problem:
Define "commercial". By letting local landmanagers be responsible for implementation and enforcement, there will
be mistakes, over-zelous rangers citing people when they probably shouldn’t–it happens. I liken this to what
happend at local state and city beaches, if the rangers or officers catch someone with a really nice camera they
will probably ask you to leave or cite you. They just can’t tell who is who when it comes to photography. With the
advent of cheap digital SLRs, just about everyone looks like a professional. What really sucks is the fees, they
will be straight across the board expensive, and have insurance requirements too. So wether you are a newbie
wanting to take a picture to sell a few postcards at the local gift shop or wanting to do stock photography (with
no guarantee of income), it will COST YOU…. Even if it’s personal, you will get hassled, because you look
“professional.”

The photo-journalist are worried about how it affects their news reporting of non-breaking news. I think that
freelance photographers and advanced hobbyists should be the ones really worrried–they are the biggest cash cow,
because there are more of them.

I would suggest everyone that has a camera voice out against permit requirements for photography. It simply does
not require the large crews that the film industry requires and all the strings attached to it. Photography permits
are just a cash cow to the government, and it’s time ALL photographers voice out against being victimized by our
government. We are NOT wallets to be tapped at whim. Some suggest we be taxed reasonably like fisherman or hunters.
But even that is soooo ridiculous, we are being taxed for photographing nature, without exhausting its resources.
It is a sad, sad day when we are nothing more than wallets to our government.

Voice out, you can write to the department of interior individually or as a group…
www.doi.gov/contact.html

DO SOMETHING…


Fact:
Anyone who enters a national park is already paying an entrance fee.

City beaches already have photography permit requirements in the tripple digits, as well as
insurace requirements in the million dollar category. The same thing can be expected to happen now at National
parks unless photographers unite and do something.

This basically walls out small and independent shooters from
even attempting anything entrepreneurial. (commentary: I guess only rich people can have their portraits taken at
the beach by rich photographers--so much for equality).