NANPA just emailed this release regarding still photography policy in National Parks. Bottom line - no change.
Dave Showalter
Attn: NANPA Members:
On April 14, 2006, the National Park Service issued a press release announcing the implementation of legislation relating to fees for commercial filming and still photography. Unfortunately, the press release was vague and caused an uproar among nature photographers who did not understand the implications.
We have spoken to a knowledgeable official of the National Park Service and are pleased to report the following:
THE RULES ARE NOT BEING CHANGED CONCERNING STILL PHOTOGRAPHY.
Federal legislation (Public Law 106-206), which has been on the books for several years, provides that the Park Service cannot require a permit or assess a fee for still photography if the photography takes place where members of the public are generally allowed and the photography does not involve models or props which are not a part of the site's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities.
The Park Service is not proposing to require permits for this kind of still photography and, indeed, the Park Service could not legally do so because it would be in violation of the federal statute.
The reason that this is all coming up now is that Public Law 106-206 does provide for permits and fees for motion picture and video photography and the Park Service is now implementing those permits and fees.
So go out to the National Parks and shoot. So long as you are shooting the landscape and the local wildlife at times at which and from places where members of the public are generally allowed, fees and permits cannot be imposed.
NANPA did post this notice on a discussion board a month ago but we wanted to be sure that you are informed about the issue.
Discussion
2 repliesDave Showalter
Attn: NANPA Members:
On April 14, 2006, the National Park Service issued a press release announcing the implementation of legislation relating to fees for commercial filming and still photography. Unfortunately, the press release was vague and caused an uproar among nature photographers who did not understand the implications.
We have spoken to a knowledgeable official of the National Park Service and are pleased to report the following:
THE RULES ARE NOT BEING CHANGED CONCERNING STILL PHOTOGRAPHY.
Federal legislation (Public Law 106-206), which has been on the books for several years, provides that the Park Service cannot require a permit or assess a fee for still photography if the photography takes place where members of the public are generally allowed and the photography does not involve models or props which are not a part of the site's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities.
The Park Service is not proposing to require permits for this kind of still photography and, indeed, the Park Service could not legally do so because it would be in violation of the federal statute.
The reason that this is all coming up now is that Public Law 106-206 does provide for permits and fees for motion picture and video photography and the Park Service is now implementing those permits and fees.
So go out to the National Parks and shoot. So long as you are shooting the landscape and the local wildlife at times at which and from places where members of the public are generally allowed, fees and permits cannot be imposed.
NANPA did post this notice on a discussion board a month ago but we wanted to be sure that you are informed about the issue.