> What memo is this?
Wouldn't you know it, it's in my camera bag at the
house, not the one I brought with me to work today.
Anyway a year or two on one of the pro lists (stock
photo) this was a big discussion and somebody found
this memo from the office of the Secretary of the
Interior that clarified the policy on professional
photography. We all made printouts of it to keep in
our camera bags.
The policy essentially is that stock photographers are
free to go about their business as long as they do not
alter the landscape, damage plants, harrass wildlife,
etc. What they were wanting to crack down on were the
commercial photographers using landmarks for
photoshoots that disrupted the tourist flow.
Unfortunately many $6.25 an hour "Ranger Gords" (Red
Green Show) take it upon themselves to interpret the
rules as anybody with something other than a
point&shoot camera is a pro and must pay the fee.
They think that this is to protect the sales of
posters, books and postcards at the giftshop.
To nearly everyone on this list, remember that unless
you are specifically a pro using the park for a
commercial shoot (or a filmmaker making a film or
television advertisement) this does not apply to you.
Exceptions are professional wildlife photographers
working in Denali, Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand
Teton National Parks. Several of the "specialty"
national parks which include the underwater parks and
monuments may enforce the rules differently than the
others too.
So unless you meet the criteria in the above paragraph
ALWAYS state that you are shooting for personal use.
The advantage of being a pro AND paying the fee is
that you do get special treatment and occasionally
ranger escort service (no not THAT kind of escort
service) with firearm protection. They can be a
tremendous help. YMMV
Ken Norton
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